Driving in England

Driving in England, what we learned today:

Is there Left turns on red? No.

Why do they drive on the left? Years ago, everybody used the English system. You kept to the left as a safety measure. Staying to the left hand side ensured your sword arm would be facing any oncoming, unknown, or threatening strangers. If a stranger approaching (on your right hand side) proved to be unfriendly, you wanted to make sure you could swiftly pull out your sword.

Did you know? Most American cars produced before 1910 were made with right-side driver seating and remained in common use until 1915. The 1908 Model T was the firs of Ford’s cars to feature a left-side position.

The speed limits, you rarely see a sign unless you are in a Village (aka town). So the rule is that on Motorways and Dual Carriageways you go 70mph, on single carriageways you go 60mph, and through Villages you go 40 to 30mph. You can’t always drive as fast as that, although I think these British people do…they pass us a lot – scare the crap out of me. We have to adjust our speed a lot. The roads are narrow, have no shoulders, guard rails, or safety barriers. There are also ditches along the sides of these roads, some for like drainage from rain and stuff. Thing is these ditches are deep, sometimes as deep as 35 feet! Very scary!!!

Give Way – means to yield to traffic already on the road to your right. There are a ton of these signs.

Roundabouts – are traffic circles that keep the flow of traffic moving in a clockwise direction. You have to “give way” to traffic on the right before entering, but be careful of stopping before entering, because you might get rear ended. They also have mini roundabouts – which are double roundabouts…2 small one – going different directions, but still clockwise…if that makes sense.

Oh get this “Honking” for the heck of it will leave you facing a fine. So like you get ticked off that the dude cut you off and you honk, you get a fine. You can only use your horn in a real emergency or danger. Watch out America if you ever get that rule! We use our horn as a voice sometimes. Thank goodness that’s not too bad of a habit for me. Some American’s though, I think would have a really hard time with that.

Lights, Camera, Action – you can’t leave your fog lights on in clear weather or you get a fine…so let’s pray we know how to turn them off. There is not a whole lot of police cars from what we’ve noticed, but there are a lot of cameras or speed traps. There is a ton of them as well.

Parking lot = Car Park. If you can’t park there, there are double yellow lines. Single yellow lines mean parking is not generally allowed…it maybe like just between certain times or something. Dashed yellow lines means parking is allowed but check for restrictions too. No lines at all mean parking is free! White zigzag lines means no parking and red lines means no parking or stopping at anytime. Lots of lines, and lots of colors!!!

If you get caught eating or drinking while driving, you could get fine. They recommend you NOT do it. That one will be hard on who ever is driving…we all, always have drinks with us.

Mobile phones while driving will cost you a fine. Hands-free is discouraged as it still distracts you. So they recommend a safe place to park before you talk on your mobile phone.

Fire Wagons = Fire Trucks. Nice name uh? You have to keep driving until it’s safe to pull off to the left, of course haha. Everything to the left, which means you pass on the right, not the left. Weird uh?

Drink Driving = Drunk Driving. Thing is here, if you are drunk, have the keys to your car in your hand, even if you do not plan on driving it, they can charge you with a DUI. Same thing if you try to sleep it off in your car.

There is an annual road tax you have to pay to drive on UK roads. Approximately 150 pounds = around oh $300 probably, maybe slightly under.

Did you know? The most common objects hit in one-vehicle accidents are lamp posts?

Okay new words – this is the fun part!

England = American

Bonnet = Hood
Boot = Trunk
Car hire = Car rental
Car park = Parking lot
Call box = Telephone booth. They have these all over the place!
Dual Carriageway = Divided Highway
Estate = Station wagon
Fuel consumption = Gas mileage
Handbrake = Parking brake
Kerb = Curb
Lorry = Truck
Manual gearbox = stick shift
Motorway = Freeway three or more lanes in each direction
Number plate = License plate
Overtake = Pass
Pavement = Sidewalk – oh and it is illegal to ride your bikes on the sidewalks…you have to use the road.
Petrol = Gasoline
Petrol Station = Gas station
Queue = Stand in line/line of traffic (aka traffic jam)
Roundabout = Traffic circle
Ring Road = Town Center bypass
Registration number = License plate #
Saloon = Sedan
Silencer = Muffler
Sliproad = off ramp/exit of a highway
Tyre = Tire
Verge = Shoulder
Windscreen = Windshield
Wing – Fender


Interesting uh? I’ll have to post pictures of road signs once we get good and settled…you’ll love seeing those! They are pretty self explanatory for the most part. I like trying to figure out what they mean. The elderly people sign still gets me…I don’t understand why you’d announce that. Oh and their handicap sign is the same but it’s Disabled, not handicap. Lots of new things uh?

Okay, so that’s enough about driving. Now, I’ve a prayer request. This evening we found a home that we all like. The first home we’ve all been able to agree on. It’s very roomy. It is in a nice quite area of a Village. The Village itself is very nice. The home is within walking distance of a Library, School, Grocery store, and Park. We are very interested in it. However, a couple looked at it yesterday – so of course if they want it they have first dibs basically. We would really like to have it. It’s within our price range, we hear the school is good, and we would just really like it, even if we have to wait till October. So if you could please keep us and the issue of a home in your prayers we’d appreciate it. We are getting tired of searching and yet we know we must be patient and let God iron out the wrinkles for us.

Well, that’s about it for today. Tomorrow – we’re taking the day off and going to find something relaxing to do I guess. We need that, this driving around day after day, with a whole set of new rules to follow, while looking at houses is really wearing on us. So time for a play day! Don’t you think?

Well, goodnight and good afternoon. Talk to you again soon!

~T~