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Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #1  
Old 17 Feb 2003
usl usl is offline
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Change of Lanes
Hi ;

I am a driver who is used to driving in the right lanes, but about to start riding in the left lane for a long time (Pak.+Ind.+Nepal).
And, maybe funny but, my greatest concern is; because all my reflexes and instincts are "rightlane" oriented, how long will it be till i get adapted to change of lanes ?

I rode in England in '81+'83,but that was ages ago.
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  #2  
Old 18 Feb 2003
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Hi,
I found that the worst time to learn that "left is right" is on the first day, and then early in the morning on the days that follow. What I did: I forced myself to repeat as often as possible, starting early in the morning each day the mantra: "left is right......." After about a week conditioning has taken place, and you'll be O.K. Enjoy. It's fun.
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  #3  
Old 18 Feb 2003
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The mornings are the worst. Especially if you don't see an example and just take off, still doozing from the warmth of your sleepingbag... Don't ask how I now....

Find a trick to remind you each morning that you should ride on the left side and after a while you'll be fine.

Pieter.
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  #4  
Old 18 Feb 2003
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As a general rule i think it is something you get used to quite quickly and you just go with the flow, in the right direction of course!

However, the time to be especially aware of it as a potential danger are times when you are a little distracted, like pulling back onto a road after filling with petrol, when you are lost, when you are looking for land marks or road signs, when you set off first thing in the morning after packing your bike up with an audience etc They are the times that you are more likely to make the mistake.

But on the whole it really does become automatic quite quickly.

Will
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  #5  
Old 18 Feb 2003
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You may want to mark an arrow on the inside of your windscreen. It may help on that first mile of the day.
John
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  #6  
Old 19 Feb 2003
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Hi,

When I rode through southern africa I wrote: "ride left!" in my mirrors. Worked fine, especially for those early mornings.
But after a while you get used to the text in the mirror and dont notice it anymore. Then I wrote it on the tachometer... and so on.

Peter
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  #7  
Old 22 Feb 2003
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A piece of bright ribbon tied around the handlebars, for as long as you can bear it!
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  #8  
Old 22 Feb 2003
usl usl is offline
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Hi everyone;

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I will write to my left mirror+tie a yellow ribbon. Anything to remind me "left is beatiful".

Cause i am used to riding in right lane, when some bump or hole is comes on the way, by reflex i glide the bike to left, where there is more room.

I think practising when the road is suitable, might help to adjust the reflexes.

Do you think it will help ?

SAFE! rides..
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  #9  
Old 18 Mar 2003
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I dont know what the fuss is :P driving on the left is a piece of cake... its natural..

Kuma
Australia
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  #10  
Old 21 Mar 2003
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Hi,

It's not the driving on the left that course problems for me, although like Wil say's: "Take care after a short stop"..
For me the bigest problem is crossing the street... I look the wrong way for trafic... So take specially good care!

Maarten
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  #11  
Old 30 Apr 2003
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I live and ride in Australia(on the left),since we are "down under" anyway,why not ride on the left.
Coming from a minor road into a major highway,turning right into the highway was the biggest shock I had while riding in Mexico,I went straight into oncoming traffic travelling at high speed. I had already travelled from Los Angeles and still my mind kept thinking "left",yes you must be carefull.Especially if you get into an emergency while riding,your reflexes will send you LEFT.
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  #12  
Old 19 May 2003
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it never goes away for me..

I've ridden/driven countless miles both on the left and the right, and every time I change I always pull out from a driveway/carpark and turn the wrong way at once or at most twice.

It last hyappened to me 2 days ago after being back in NZ for a couple of weeks. I've never had a crash from this but the shock seems to dramatically accelerate the acclimatization process!
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  #13  
Old 28 Jul 2003
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Its easy on a bike, being from Hawaii and now in Australia the hardest thing is to remember which side of the car is the steering wheel when you're getting to drive.
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  #14  
Old 2 Nov 2003
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I think everyone will aproach this problem in different ways, recently I was in Germany Italy and France. I was working for a company in Munich but drove my right hand drive car from UK. Once in Munich, I had to drive the works van, which was ok because it was a native already :-). The problem became a headache when I was sent to UK in the works van, so I am now 'back home' but I'm driving a German van. Believe me it is TOO easy to make a mistake, especially on the smaller roads leaving a garage or exiting from a factory. The strange thing is that when I ride my Goldwing in Europe I never encounter any problems.
What ever you do, where ever you ride, just take it easy for a while in the early mornings. And try not to ride too fast anywhere because your 'normal' reactions will 'kick-in', then you could find yourself in dire straits.
Ride safe
Oletimer
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