I Bought a 1992 FDS that's a RHD. I live up in Canada. Just wondering what are some peoples thoughts on driving a RHD car on our streets. I test drove the car but i didnt really have to much trouble merging or anything. Does anyone else have difficulties driving a RHD car in North America? Any tips or anything i should look out for? Thanks.

 

My only imput would come from driving a LHD car in England..

As far as actually learning to drive a RHD car, it's cake.. everything is the same, you're just using your left hand to shift instead of your right (you will find yourself groping at the door to shift when you are tired and/or not paying attention).

As for interacting with your surroundings... visibility is a pain in the *** on roads with a single lane of traffic (not one-way streets.. but your standard two lane road with the double yellow line). The problem only really comes when you want to pass a vehicle because in order to get the same visibility you would normally have you need to get about half of your car into the oncoming lane... definitely NOT safe! Just be really careful about picking and choosing when you will pass a vehicle and you will be good (the plus side is that you can drop back to get a better view around the car ahead of you, and 7's have enough "get up and go" to make the pass happen when you decide to pull the trigger). It may take you a week or so to reorient your perception regarding where you need to be on the road, also pretty easy though.. the shape of the hood is perfect for lining up where the edge/middle of the road is when you are sitting on the side closest to the curb.

Have fun!

Levi

 

i dont think it would be a problem. I am in Japan right now and have been used to driving on the left side of the road. Now and then I have to drive a government vehicle which is still LHD and some of these roads are tiny but I have no problem driving a vehicle with the steering on the opposite side of the all the other cars in the country. (if that makes sense)

 

Don't get me wrong.. it's not hard. Just something you need to be aware of if you are driving a car with the steering wheel on the "wrong" side of the car. Playing peek-a-boo to find out if you are clear to pass a vehicle is not what one should consider safe, especially if there is oncoming traffic. Other than that, yeah.. no problems after you are accustomed to shifting with your left hand.

 

or have your passenger stick their head out the window

thats what i do when driving my US spec cars here in england

 

Lol, there is always that =P I rarely have passengers though, and if I do than they are too drunk to be any use =P

What part of England are you at?

 

You definitely need to re-learn your new blind spots, and WELL. And also keep in mind that many places (drive-throughs, for example) are laid out for LHD vehicles, so it can be a slight hassle at times.

Man...you're bringin back memories...

 

well i would think everyone should be "glancing" at their blind spots....no matter what car you drive. So LHD or RHD, you should still "glance" and see if there is oncoming traffic. thats just me though

 

Um...

perhaps I'm reading your last post wrong FDdragon...

the blind spot is the space not covered by your peripheral vision, side or rear view mirrors behind the driver seat... if you need to check your blind spots to view oncoming traffic than you need to stop drifting on populated roads =P

 

yeah you are right, ive been drifting in town, he he. ok, i didnt mean oncoming traffic but traffic that is coming with you. (dont know the technical term for it) aahhh, you know what i mean.

 

it has some upside. you can drive realy close to the side of the road. and parralel(sp) parking is so much easyer

 

semi truck mirrors.. it can be the new northern style

 

if your a fan of drive in fast food your gonna run into some trouble.

 

he has to eternally go to rallys/checkers. they have 2 drive up windows for just that!

 

^_^

Just gotta (as they say in the UK) take the **** outta ya =P

 

I went thru a drive thru backwards in a skyline gt-r. solved the problem and gave me some much needed reverse practice. The kid in the McDonalds window looked like his head was going to explode from the hilarity.

As for the original poster, the only problem is with the left turn issue but anyone who thinks and stages themselves properly can get around this. There are two things i do:
1) when your entering the lane, before you do so, look at what is comming behind the car that is making a left turn infront of you..also, while ur waiting, more often than not you can see right thru their windows and get a good view of all traffic. sometimes some ghetto fabulous wanna be thinks your eyeballing his girl and flips you off but at least you don't T-bone an oncomming car.

2) just wait until the light goes yellow/red and then make the turn cautiously if your view is impeded. It may irritate those behind u, but so be it. it's better than crashing once again.


you get used to it, it becomes second nature and i dont see it as a big deal.

 

Only problem that i had when i first time drove my jdm 7,
was the wipers and turn signal...

Turning left and here comes the wipers : )

The passing another car is bit tricky as well.