Humanity is incredibly diverse. There are many factors that make cultures different and distinctive, from the location of the country, to age-old traditions, to driving culture. For example, in Portugal it is not customary to use turn lights, while in Finland, Sweden and Norway it is an unwritten rule to be disciplined when driving. Thus, each country has its own peculiarities, dictated by the way of life, traditions and landscape. Today we will talk about the driving culture of Great Britain.
Features of roads in the UK
The first roads in Britain are considered to be the earliest surviving roads. An example of such a road is the Sweet Track in Somerset. It is worth noting that it was designed to simplify walking, was only two kilometres long and was built between 3807-3806 BC. Something similar to the roads we are accustomed to, the English also managed to make it, who in 1866 began to use a steam roller for its laying.
In addition, it is England that is considered to be the progenitor of left-hand traffic. There are two versions of how it originated. The first is less plausible and is related to ship navigation, which was very developed because of the geographical location of the country. In order to make travelling by ship safer, the country’s government passed a law to avoid oncoming ships on the left side. There is a theory that such a tradition took hold on shore as well.
The second version, still stretches from the time of the Roman conquest. The point is that the Romans had their own rules of arrangement of weapons in their hands: in the right side there was always a weapon, and in the left side – a shield. That is, going to meet a man should always be on the side of the sword. It was this version that was confirmed by excavations in 1998. On the legislative level, left-hand traffic was adopted in 1756. According to the British driving trends survey to date, the UK road network covers 262,900 miles of paved roads, which is more than a trip to the moon.
Side mirrors. Features and necessity
Side mirrors themselves are necessary to ensure safety. Looking in them, the driver looks whether there is an opportunity to rearrange and not to collide with a neighbouring car, assesses the chances of safe overtaking, controls the movement in reverse and so on.
In addition, it is worth noting that unlike European rear view mirrors, English mirrors have several differences. Most often from the driver’s side the mirror shows the picture without distortions, and from the passenger’s side the glass has a convex shape, which makes it possible to increase the angle of view having a visually distant display of objects.
Symphony of signals. Communication on the road
To begin with, it is forbidden by law in Great Britain to use a sound signal in densely populated areas in the period from 23:00 to 7:00. And in general, it is not accepted to “honk” demonstrating your discontent. It is allowed to honk only in case of emergency, which, for example, may end up in an accident. As for “flashing” headlights: you should only do this if you need to identify yourself to other road users. In other words, it is unacceptable to use them for communication (for example, to show that a car is letting another car pass) or intimidation.
Driving style in the UK
The UK has a very polite driving style. Drivers follow the rules and pay attention to signs and markings. If you get lost, drive slower than others – no one will honk at you or dangerously shorten the distance. As some roads are very narrow and completely devoid of kerb, the speed of a motorist can be up to 30 miles per hour, no one will go to overtake in this case, as it may lead to an accident. Thus, the inhabitants of Great Britain are careful and sensible on the road.\
Sources of information:
More details about wing mirrors – www.sparepartstore24.co.uk
