What are the laws considering cars and driving in the United Kingdom?

LadyV: What are the laws considering cars and driving in the United Kingdom?
I’ve been wanting to attend college in the United Kingdom (specifically southern England) and possibly even live and work there. So, can anyone tell me what automotive laws exist there? For example, what are the speed limits like there, and do you have to pull over every time an ambulance passes? Things like that. Thanks!

Answers and Views:

Answer by Love Canada
Very similar to North America, once you get the hang of everything being on the other side.
They travel just a little bit faster, virtually no speed cops, but cameras will get you in the well marked areas.
You may have trouble with the roundabouts for a while.
Driving on the highway is easy as you follow the traffic, but on a quite country road you can automatically start driving on the right, until you see a car coming at you.
Twice I have damaged the left side of the car, I think because I’m not used to having so much car to my left.
and of course you will be driving stick shift (unless rich)
I passed my driving test for the first time in the UK, but my mind is North American now

Answer by Nick G
Each country has very specific laws and you would be well-advised to check the law of a country before you drive there.

In the UK, there is a manual of good practice called the ‘Highway Code’, available for a small cost from all good bookstores in the UK. Included in this publication are explicit laws which are an offence to break, and also good practice which are not offences in themselves, but can amount to careless driving, dangerous driving or agravating factors to an accident. I would heavily recommend you purchase and study this book before driving.

Also visit the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency website ( https://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/ ) for queries regarding vehciles or licences.

Regarding speed limits, these are measured in miles per hour (mph) in the UK. the limit in a built-up area is 30mph unless otherwise stated. The maximum speed for a car on a dual carriageway or motorway is 70mph (but only 50mph or 60mph for some larger vehciles or vehicles towing trailers).

In the UK, you should always move as quickly but safely as possible out of the way of emergency vehicles, making your clear your direction.

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/index.htm might help you understand the law on foreign drivers in the UK.

I hope that this is helpful.

Best wishes.

Nick
🙂