this post was submitted on 07 May 2024
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Mildly Interesting

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Driving in Japan with the wheel on the right side. The first time I did that last year I drove on the wrong side of the road about 5 times and got a shock every time when I saw all the ghost drivers just to quickly realize that it's me who is driving the wrong way. This year it only happened one time, so my brain seems to adapt to that better and better.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 44 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

Driving in North America

I once took a trip to the UK and was brave enough (or dumb enough) to rent a car in London and drive around the country side. I drove down small town streets the wrong way several times and I nearly killed myself trying to navigate a roundabout twice.

As a passenger it was frightening. You sit there in what has always been the drivers seat to you yet you have no control over the vehicle.

It all completely screws with you brain.

We got to see Stonehenge tho, so that was great.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

Oh rofl only now I realize it's my picture, just mirrored ๐Ÿคฃ. I was thinking wow he has the same infotainment system in his car.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Ah good thing is, there are almost no roundabouts in Japan.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The best part is ..... you're in Japan! ... that in itself is amazing. Good for you.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

I live on Korra so it's only a 1.5 hours flight ^^

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Hmm, what do you have against roundabouts? They are usually seen as a safer and more efficient type of intersection in most scenarios as compared to traffic lights.

[โ€“] olutukko 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

the fact that it would be extremely confusing to get to one when you're driving on a opposite lane than you're used to?

which is what they were talking about

[โ€“] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago

I'm in the same boat! It's a tough transition after driving on the right my entire life. Luckily my wife is always in the passenger seat and will remind me on every turn with "SHARP LEFT" or "WIDE RIGHT". It helps me immensely.

[โ€“] cosmicrookie 7 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I haven't tried it myself but id believe that for me the greatest challenge would be the gear shift with the left hand!

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That is solved by the fact that all rentals seem to be automatic.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Even in countries that have been historically dominated by manual transmissions, they're starting to disappear. Where efficiency was once their main selling point, most modern automatic transmissions can do it better. Sure takes the fun out of it though.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

thankfully the pedal arrangement is the same.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

Awesome that another country drives on the correct side of the road too.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Driving on the left side of the road while sitting in the right side of the car would be weird. I can't even get used to it in video games.

[โ€“] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I think the weirdest part would be shifting a manual trans with the left hand.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You are all crazy, it's how the world should be, drive on the left

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Well technically we do all drive on the left, though sometimes that means the left side of the car and other times the left side of the road.