Training for driving on the left in the UK

Question

In contrast to the rest of Europe, the UK has a drive on the left policy. It is not easy to follow the rules, coming from Europe. Is there a written or in person training for this?

I have found this:

https://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/road-safety/cyclists/cyclist-training-schemes.pdf

but this does not seem to address my problem.

Answer 1

It's worth reading the whole Highway Code (the rules of the road for the UK), including the bits that only apply to those you'll be sharing the road with. That's not to say people follow it, of course.

I've done the opposite, and switching from riding in the UK to France or Spain wasn't too hard. As a general rule signalling your intentions early and moving into the centre of the lane buys you time. Note that in the UK there is no rule saying bikes have to stay close to the kerb; taking the lane is officially advised in many circumstances though drivers aren't always aware.

One thing to watch out for is local variations in driving/riding culture within the UK. The rules don't change, but the behaviour does.

As an extreme example: in central Cardiff it's very dangerous to stop on an amber light, and often safer to go through a light that's just turned red than to stop sharply - because the bus behind probably isn't stopping. This is illegal, but stopping at lights without a shoulder check is suicidal. In most other UK cities I ride in, it's safe to actually follow the rules.

Even more locally: In a small area in Bristol that I ride daily, drivers seem particularly bad for not indicating their turns on roundabouts, or when turning left crossing a bike lane - meaning if you want to use the bike lane as designed, you have to be very careful that you can get to a safe spot when the lights change (generally a good idea).

Answer 2

I haven't heard of any bike-specific training or anything like that for transitioning from riding on the right to riding on the left. I have lived on both sides of the channel and it does take some getting used to. But in my experience, I have only really had a hard time adjusting when there's no other traffic around. I've accidentally ridden on the wrong side of an empty road, but as long as there are cars around it's easy enough to adjust.

Read up on the rules that differ from your own country, and practice on quiet roads. Keep in mind that the UK's rules for priority at intersections are different from, say, Sweden and Germany (where you yield to traffic from the right, unless otherwise indicated). In the UK, most intersections have road markings or signs indicating who has priority and who should yield. When no such markings exist, the rule is that whoever gets to the intersection first that has priority unless you're turning right in which case you need to yield. You'll mostly find unmarked intersections on small country roads and such. Obviously if you're on a bike you should cross unmarked intersections with great care. I would not expect a car to yield to a bike just because the bike got there first.

Answer 3

The biggest problem is not normal riding, it is what happens when something goes wrong. If someone spends their formative years in a country where people drive on their left, they form a habit of heading further left when in danger of a collision (including pedestrian to pedestrian collisions). Naturally right-handed driving countries do the reverse. Now if you are driving or riding in the UK, and encounter an oncoming vehicle, the instinctive thing is for you to go to the right, and the other person to the left.

Answer 4

I am not sure where you are based, but my local council offers "Refresher cycling training" courses every so often, for adults to gain confidence cycling on the road/local cycling infrastructure. I believe the training is done through British Cycling. It may be worth checking your local council website and/or British Cycling. Cycling UK may also have something.

Whilst it does not specifically address your concerns of switching side of the road, it would help with general "cycling in the UK".

Answer 5

Be advised that in the UK there are customs too not captured in the highway code, like flashing someone when you yield in situations where taking right-of-way would inconvenience either or both parties. And to also thank someone with a short flash of the lights/hazards or a hand gesture when someone permits you to proceed in such scenarios. Think: allowing someone to merge into your lane at your (slight) inconvenience.

As a native driver in the UK who drives abroad semi-frequently, I learned quickly that other nations just get confused when I flash them to proceed, so I think it appears to be mainly a British custom.

TBH, these are things that are quickly learned and I don't think you have anything to worry about. But these may confuse you to begin with as a non-native person.