Guide to Driving in the UK

The most important thing about driving in the UK is that the traffic is on the left-hand side. Any overtakes should be performed on the right. We can definitely say that the road is in decent shape; in some areas you may encounter cubic rock which might become slippery when wet. The road markings are often in good shape, helping the drivers to get a better orientation. Road signs are in English so there’s nothing to complain about. The cars have the steering wheel on the right so you should take your time and get used with the feel, in case that you’ve never drove such a vehicle before. In rural areas the streets are narrow so you should drive with caution. Parking in large cities like London can be a real headache. You should avoid parking your car in unmarked places as you can be fined even if you’re gone for like 10 minutes. There are special areas, marked by an indicator, where you can park and pay at park-o-meters. Note that 3-point turning is allowed on any road if no road sign indicates differently, so you should pay attention to drivers attempting such a maneuver.

The police cars around the UK are painted in white with blue and green squares - similar like ones on a chess board. The word ‘POLICE’ is printed on the hood and on the sides. Police officers often have hand-held radars for monitoring the traffic; there are also remote speed cameras on many roads across the UK. In terms of documents you need your domestic driver’s license, the car’s registration certificate, third-party insurance and your identification card.

Essential Driving Information

• It is mandatory to drive with your dipped beam on when the visibility decreases, even due to the rain. It’s a good idea to drive with the dipped beam on rural roads, especially when the road is winding often.
• You are not allowed to make phone calls while driving, neither to send text messages or to do any other activity that might distract you from the road; you should stop the car on the side of the road and then make the call
• It’s not allowed to sound the horn in built-up areas anytime between 11:30 PM and 7:00 AM.
• All the passengers in the car must wear the seatbelts, including the back ones when fitted.