Curious: Easiest Foreign Country to Drive In
 

Other than Canada what country is most similar to the US with regard to driving. Having never driven in a foreign land and witnessing Moscow traffic first hand (madness) it left me curious.

I don't know... I guess Kiev wasn't too bad. I think NYC driving is worse than Kiev.

I know the OP is looking at this from the standpoint of an American travelling overseas. But I thought I might put in my 2 cents worth (as you say) here.

Of the few other countries that I’ve driven in, I find the U.S. to be the nicest to drive in. I just love the roads, the signage & the way things work over there. You guys really have got it together !! ^

I thought Canada to be a little less well organised than the U.S. Their signage leaves a bit to be desired, but still a very pleasant driving experience.

Australia was a pudding to drive in too, largely helped by the fact that they drive on the left, just like we do. So I guess asides form being on the other side of the road, an American might find Oz to be quite nice.

The UK is very good too. Although London is hectic, but then that’s London isn’t it ?? Great city though. :cool:

Coming from the US, it is definitely much easier to drive in countries where you still drive on the right. I found Germany quite easy to get around.

Germany is not bad to get around, other than that tricky "traffic from the right has the right of way at intersections stuff".

Are there countries outside of North America that allow right turn on red?

The traffic from the right stuff seems to be known in at least some US states.

The right turn on red exists in a number of European countries; it's either legal (but usually more structured, e.g., when a sign tells you that it's ok to turn), or occurs because of the local understanding of the flexibility of road rules.

As for the original question, I'd assume that Scandinavia would be very easy for American drivers (and I'm not assuming you're from New York here, but rather rural Oregon).

I was very impressed with the lane discipline on the Italian Autostrade (autostradi?). Stay out of the left lane unless you're supposed to be there, speed limits vary based on the lane you're in. It was very difficult to get used to the sloppy driving styles on my return the the US.

And the automated toolbooths took credit cards and wished you "Arrivederci!"

Most similar is not necessarily easiest. For example I would consider Cook Islands to be easy. You have to get a local license (token fee and simple almost non-existent instant test). While driving is on the left, there is really only one road on the island and little traffic. Very simple.

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I have driven extensively in France, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and the other Central European Countries.

I have found them all to be quite easy to navigate and the driving was as easy as America. Big cities are a problem everywhere in the world.

I do have problems in left side countries like OZ and NZ.

The South Island of NZ was some easy driving. Good roads and no traffic. Sure, it's the "wrong" side of the road if you're from the United States, but I found adoption to be fast and easy.

It was actually harder for me coming back home and getting used to driving on the right side than it was for me to go there and get used to driving on the left.

My driving in Australia was limited to Cairns to Cape Tribulation and back, which was also a very easy drive. I'm sure Sydney, for example, would have been a much different experience. I did notice that drivers in Australia handled traffic circles with much more aplomb than I've ever seen here in the States.

Personally, I find it just as easy to drive on either side of the road, as long as the steering wheel is on the correct side for that country! I try to avoid driving whenever possible, as I find it horrendously dull, but have generally found places like New Zealand and Scandinavia to be the easiest, purely due to the courtesy of other drivers. This is the bigget factor for me.

The trickiest place I've had to drive was Morocco. There's some 'interesting' roads there... Made the Place de l'Étoile in rush hour seem like child's play.

The answer must be Vietnam...

>Their signage leaves a bit to be desired, but still a very pleasant driving experience.

As a Canadian, I have to agree. The signage in the USA is a pleasure. In Canada it drives me crazy how an exit is signed at a point where it's too late to do anything about it. For example, an exit might be signed "Airport," whereas in the USA there'd be signs for miles before saying "Airport, Exit X" then "Airport Next Exit" and then finally "This exit for the airport."

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver

Couldn’t have put it better myself !

That’s precisely the failing of the Canadian signage system. :(

BTW. That’s a beautiful part of the world you’re living in Geoff ! ^