Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pest2]

Hey, American going to Australia next week here. I know they drive on the left side. I've only had one experience doing that; in Thailand. And i nearly died several times. Anyone else had problems with this?

[sojukettle]

Had the same problem changing from driving in NZ, Australia and other asian countries before coming here.

Best rule ever been told " keep your body to the centre of the road"

This keeps you on the correct (left) side both when driving and when doing left and right corners.

[safeblad]

the body in the center of the road is a good one...

i have the same problem driving in korea, its actually much easier than you would think.

sometimes though when i am on a small sidestreet and a car approaches i suddenly think 'what side of the road should i be on?'

also i have been driving an automatic up to now...

korea is different though, its ok to drive on the wrong side of the road if your hazard lights are on

[pest2]

[normalcyispasse]

Oh man, the worst was going from driving a motorcycle (my daily transportation) on the right side of the road to driving an SUV on the left side of the road in Indonesia.

That SUCKED.

[that guy]

I'm Canadian and was in Australia for about a year. I never really got used to driving there but didn't have too many problems.

Remember to go to the left on traffic circles. It got a bit exciting for my passengers when I went right.

Don't be embarrassed when you hit the windshield wipers instead of the signal.

If you're driving a standard, be prepared to bruise your knuckles every time you put the clutch in.

Don't turn left on a red (our right).

[davai!]

In Bermuda, they were tired of all the Americans getting in accidents, so they now forbid us from renting cars. The island is only 11 miles long, so the moped is ok, I guess, as long as you don't have young kids, etc.

The best is the Russian Far East, where all the cars are right hand drive (Japanese hand-me-downs) but you still drive on the right. Trippy

[pest2]

Im thinking definitely automatic not manual.

[The evil penguin]

It's all about the mind set.... stop thinking it as being the "wrong" side of the road but rather.. the "correct side of the road for this country". Seriously, it's like trying to speak chinese while focussed on english grammar rules.

Embrace the country and culture you're in... try not to hit too much wildlife on the road (don't worry about swerving around the kangaroos, newzealanders and cane-toads...we can afford to lose a few of those...) and you'll get the hang of it in no time.

Oh, and if you drive an automatic everybody will think you're gay.

[Natalia]

Exactly.

Don't you mean 'driving on the OTHER side of the road'?

It's not WRONG.


But seriously, avoid the kangaroos. They're everywhere where I live and they cause MAJOR damage when you hit them. Plus the authorities leave them there to rot (apparently they are safety warnings ).

[Horangi Munshin]

I had no problem at all adjusting from NZ to Korean driving.
My brother in-law was worried I would be uncoordinated changing gears with my right hand. HAHAHAHA!!!!!

I read up on give way rules, and the odd difference hear and there. I really wondered why people were making a big deal about it. Then again along came this thread.

[pest2]

[pest2]

[indytrucks]

[pest2]