Teen point of view:

Taking a ride, UK style

Text and photos by Megan Kroeger

If you ever go to the British Isles on vacation, you might want to think of your transportation. If you are going to be driving, you might want to think again.

In the United Kingdom (UK) transportation is a little different than the US. The road signs look a little similar, but they are different. The streets themselves are smaller, and they are winding. The roads flow with the land. If you want to drive in the UK, you might want to take a short driver’s education class first.

For starters, you will be driving on the left side of the road. No matter how many times you will picture that in your mind, it will still seem very different. The driver’s side in a car is on the right side. That will also be a new thing to get used to.

UK car terms

Their car terminology is a little different as well. If your car breaks down and a person asks, “Did you look under your bonnet?”, they don’t mean your hat. They mean your car hood. If you pull up to your hotel and the bellhop asks, “Could you open your boot, please, so that I may get your luggage?”, they mean to open the trunk of your car.

UK street signs

Street signs are a whole new story. One thing that is similar is that the color of the sign is the same. What I mean is, when a sign is green, it is telling you how far to a destination. They also have yards and kilometers to a destination, but they will specify in abbreviations like mls, km, and yds.

On almost any sign there will be an arrow in the direction you need to go. Speed signs are in kilometers per hour, instead of miles per hour. Warning signs are red and white AND orange.

One sign that is not similar to ours in the US is the speed bump sign (see the "Humped Zebra Crossing" sign photo at right). It means a concrete speed bump with diagonal white stripes.

If you are planning to drive in rural areas, there will be signs that will warn you of sheep and/or cow crossings.

Streetlights over there are similar and different at the same time. When a light is going to turn green it is a little different. The colors will go red, red and yellow, and then it will turn green. When it will change to red it will do just the opposite.

If you are in England and/or Wales, and you wish to go to Ireland, I would recommend you take the ferry. Ferries are small ships that will take you over the sea in a matter of hours. They are very luxurious with restaurants, gift shops, game rooms, and so much more.

All in all, transportation overseas is not that much different than in the US. You have road signs, traffic lights, cars, and other things that we have here. From winding narrow roads to ships across a sea, traveling in the British Isles is a great big adventure.

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