Tips For Driving on the "Wrong" Side of the Road

One of my favorite methods of traveling is seeing a place as independently as possible, to chart my own way and get slightly off the beaten path. That often includes hitting the tarmac, and getting the lay of the land at my own pace via a comfortable rental car.

But driving abroad has its own unique challenges, and in some very specific circumstances (Amalfi Coast, I'm looking at you), should be left to the professionals. However, there are times when challenges present themselves that, with a few quick reminders, can be overcome relatively easily. And one of those challenges is driving on the wrong side of the road.

I won't presume to speak for everyone here, and say that my "wrong" side of the road is the same wrong side of the road for you too. I will say, though, that the "wrong" side of the road for me is driving on the left, but depending on where you're from, it's could just as likely be the opposite. C'est la vie, as the French say. The point is, whatever the wrong side of the road is for you, these tips below should also work, and help you navigate a less familiar way of doing something you could probably, under normal circumstances, do in your sleep.

Gentlemen (and ladies), start your engines.

1. Make sure you're on the "right" side of the road.

This sounds easier said than done, as anyone who has driven in a country that drives on the wrong side of the road will likely attest. For me, it's always started off in the car rental parking lot, and getting my bearings. This means giving myself constant mental reminders when I first sit down to make sure I do things correctly. As I write this, I see myself in the Europcar car rental pick up area in the Auckland, NZ airport, the first time I ever drove on the wrong side, telling myself, "Stay left, stay left, stay left."

The first time you back up or get going, everything that has heretofore come naturally to you will no longer be natural. You will have to fight against all of your instincts and do the opposite in order to successfully navigate your brand new upside down world. Taking the time to remind yourself where you should be has helped me handle this challenging, but not impossible, new hurdle.

2. Speaking of which, make sure you get in the "right" side of the car.

You're used to getting into the car based on whether you're a passenger or a driver, but when you're driving on the "wrong" side of the road, it's the opposite. Don't be surprised if you find yourself in the passenger side when you meant to be the driver, and vice versa. Also don't be surprised to find yourself on day 12 doing this, even after finally getting a hang of this "wrong side of the road" thing. However, you may also find that when you're back home in your own country that you now find yourself in the opposite seat than you intended. Congratulations! You're now a professional "wrong side of the road" driver. :)

3. Your blinker is your wiper, and your wiper is your blinker.

This rule is pretty self evident, but it doesn't matter how many times you tell yourself this in advance, you will inevitably turn on your wipers when you want the blinker, and the blinker when you want your wipers. It's better to accept this new reality and slowly ease into this new way of living.

When I got home from my third trip to New Zealand, I was proud of myself for only turning on my wipers once after 3 days home. New old habits die hard.

4. That exit off the highway is on the other side of the road.

If you've just landed after a red eye, and you're trying to navigate the highways of Auckland in an attempt to get to your hotel for some shut eye, even if it's 7am, you will miss your exit, head over a bridge, figure out a way to turn around, and then try to do it all over again, almost missing your exit again.

That example mayyyyyy not get the same milage for everyone, but the point is, do the opposite of what feels natural, and that's how you'll best get to your final destination. If you're used to exiting on the left, stay right. If you're used to exiting on the right (howzit, fellow "wrong" side drivers), head on over to that left lane as soon as possible.

5. Pulling out into an empty street requires a reminder of what side you should be on.

Seriously. Remind yourself where you should be. Don't get cocky - a nice little mental reminder (in my case, "Am I on the left side?") can help you avoid a serious accident. When you first pull onto a road without any real indication as to which side you should be on (i.e.: no immediate oncoming traffic, no arrows or signs to help), you'll naturally resort to doing what comes instinctually, which means you're on the wrong side of the road, just in this case the for real wrong side. Try to make reminding yourself a usual practice, and that will help you correct any serious errors before a fellow traveler greets you head on.

6. You'll mix all of this up when you get home.

As I mentioned above, you will at some point, after a long trip of successfully navigating the wrong side of the road, start to feel quite comfortable doing it. In fact, you may begin to forget what it feels like to drive on the right side of the road.

Sadly, all good journeys must come to an end, and that includes our jaunts on the wrong side of the road. And once you descend back to reality, you'll be confronted by a new problem - ensuring you're driving on the right side of the road that is your natural right side of the road.

You may find yourself in a parking lot casually driving, slowly coming to the realization that, um, hmm, I think I'm doing this incorrectly. Or maybe you turn on a side street with no lane markers and you hedge to the opposite side than the one you should be one. And, I don't know, just maybe you put on your wipers to swish away the dry air and dust that you really meant to wipe away and didn't actually want to use your blinker, what, are you crazy, I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention, my dear (slightly judgmental) passenger.

I'm not saying all of this will happen to you, but if you've managed to successfully find yourself navigating the mean streets of the world on the side opposite to the one you're used to, coming back home will be an amusing treat as you attempt to find that the things that had always come to you so naturally perhaps were not always so natural after all.