Driving in Scotland

[@Beardychiel]

Thanks for the nice NC500 plug. I live in Thurso and local businesses are starting to see trade getting better as a result. Single track roads are something to get used to, even for us natives. Sadly we have fatalities every year caused by people forgetting what side of the road to drive on and travelling at speeds above what is safe for the road. So be careful everyone your families want you home safely.

[@galoglaich3281]

That would be similar to the wild atlantic way in that tourism has picked up in parts of ireland that get as much tourist traffic.The southern portion would have always got huge tourism ,but the wild atlantic way has definitely increased it in the northern atlantic counties like mayo sligo and donegal.

[@nutyyyy]

First study the highway code. I really mean this because there is a lot of differences between the UK and US. The driving tests you take in the UK are a lot harder as well.

[@theblackdouglas3253]

Those narrow roads you talked about are Single Track roads. Normally passing places are close enough to be within sight of each other, which helps. I like them for the places they take you through. You should try them on a motorbike. The North Coast 500 is fantastic, and very popular. So much so that the numbers are starting to cause problems. It's become too popular too quickly.

[@lanceroark6386]

4:44 “stay to the right.” Ummmmmm

[@marceloguaraldo]

Last may, I went to Scotland, rent a car and drove 513 miles around the country in a opposite side. I hd no problems, After a few miles, it seems that I aways drove that way.

[@GlobetrotterGranny]

Your advice is very timely for me. I’m going to be in Scotland last half of August 2022 and will be driving all through the country. I have a small rental car reserved as I was aware of the narrow roads and wanted both economy and ease of being able to navigate the narrow roads.

[@jays2877]

If you want to practise roundabouts, go to East Kilbride :>

[@willneverforgets3341]

It is very weird at first, for me the most challenging was changing gears with my left hand... The "passing places" is a gentlemans rule, who has it nearer is expected to reverse...

[@mattscott573]

Definitely go to Applecross and make sure you drive back over the Pass Of the Cattle. If you thought country lanes were scary that road will terrify you!!

[@Celtic_Amy]

Keep left if you intend to leave on the first exit or are going straight ahead. If your exit is on the right, use the right side/interior of the roundabout.

[@redteam77]

Be careful of the hedge rows. Did you notice under the greenery is a rock fence. All the tour busses have scraps on the front corners. Now for driving in the US, I first did it in 2004 then 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2014. Got a big scare in San Fran, then a Bosnian mate told me when driving through a multi lane intersection or just pulling on to the road, say to yourself "median strip to the left" and you will drive to the right side of the road. When you come to Australia, "median strip to the right" and you will drive to the left side (or the correct side - right). So for your next trip to Scotland don't book a hotel. book a castle stay. Totally unique.

[@bobroberts6155]

British drivers in rural areas subconsciously note passing places and field entrances as they go. Oncoming drivers will be doing the same and the driver who feels they are best situated will pull in, or reverse if necessary and vehicles will pass with a wave of acknowledgment. Surprisingly, two cars nose to nose with neither yielding is rare, unless one is a tourist. Many of our minor roads were intended to allow horse drawn farm carts to pass and can be narrower than that. The motor car is a recent innovation, when I was a kid our school had a birthday party for our village because it was 1000 years old!

[@nokoolaid]

I've only driven in other parts of Europe: Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany and a lit bit of France. Italy and Germany were a trip. People haul ass there. Germany and Austria had the best roads. Smooth like a pool table, at least where I was. DK what it would be like to drive on the left. A motorcycle would be easier.

[@wayneprimeaux5597]

Driving on the left side of the road, in the Land of the roundabouts was challenge at first. Unlike here the traffic coming from the right side has right of way. I had trouble the first day. I found it best not to overthink it, while driving on those narrow roads, and it got better. By the third day I drove like a Scotsman!

[@GlobetrotterGranny]

Thankfully I’m used to round-a-bouts. I just have to remember to look right-left-right and NOT left-right-left.

[@Retrospective.]

Just discovered your channel. I lived briefly in the USA, and i found the roads to be an absolute waste of space! they are huge! and a symptom of this, is close car control. In Scotland, people are used to driving in and out of tight spaces and parking spots, i seen some cars parked in the USA that where that far from the kerb, i thought they where abandoned! As for the cities ending abruptly, it's strange i thought the same thing of the USA! Las Vegas just "appears" out of the desert, like an inflatable city someone left there! it's good to see another two of Jock Tamson's bairns, from the American side of the family. Slainte.

[@rattytattyratnett]

Clipping wing mirrors isn't just something that happens. Regarding roundabouts, I had some Japanese friends. In Japan there are no roundabouts. The girls hired a car and drove to London. I asked the girls "how did you get on driving in London? " she replied, were young, were pretty and we just smiled. If you are young and pretty you can get away with anything.

[@deeblack9393]

It's actually easier to ride a motorcycle over there with the tradeoff of you will spend most of the time in raingear.

[@colinp2238]

Apart from the obvious, driving on the left, there is a rule that says we give way to traffic coming from the rtght. this includes roundabouts and if you are being overtaken, yo must cede the road to the car overtaking (do not race it). If cars are parked on the right side of the road oncoming traffic, on that side must make sure that the way is clear before passing those cars. Pedestrians have right of way, and we have no jay walking laws. "Stick shift" we call manual gears as oppossed to automatics. Eric and yes, we call trucks lorries and swearing is almost part of our culture.

[@galoglaich3281]

The irish version of the NW500 is the wild atlantic way though a good bit longer 3 times longer.

[@lemagreengreen]

It's mostly good advice but I can assure you clipping mirrors isn't just something that happens! Slow right down if there's limited space and try not to drive into the ditches that are frequently on either side of Scottish roads, hidden by vegetation 😂 If you have to reverse to find a passing place then you just have to accept that as well, be prepared. I have pulled more than a few tourists out of those ditches though so be careful! Also that roundabout diagram might get you in trouble, when turning right and exiting onto a two-lane road you exit onto the right lane, pulling over into the left too early might cause you to hit someone.

[@colinp2238]

Cars shouldn't be passing you on the left, give way to the right at all times.

[@lespaddick6248]

In Scotland we have laws about Passing Places there are Laws about it also there's ettiquette

I have clipped mirrors while doing 70 mph it’s loud and you will shit yourself

[@pipsheppard6747]

"Happy motoring?" Eric just gave his age away.

[@Arthur-hg7ny]

Stay to the left

[@alexbleks]

Eh, do you Americans know how to drive a manual car at all? 😂😂😂