Driving on the left side of the road: a study on human terror

Fortunately, no physical harm came to the occupants of our motor carriage in the making of this study. Psychological harm was unavoidable.

There's five disturbing factors about driving in Scotland: (1) Driving on the left side of the road, (2) Driving from the right side of the car, (3) extremely narrow roads, (4) different traffic signs and signals, (5) managing the panic and terror from the passengers inside the motor vehicle.

During the course of one day's driving in the making of this study, over 400 miles was covered. Good fun!

As many people are aware, Blogger prides himself on his handling of a motor carriage. He has driven 1500 miles into mexico (2000 total, but other drivers covered the rest) in three days, once went on a memorable Yosemite/Death Valley/Las Vegas/Grand Canyon weekend tour http://flibbydibby.blogspot.com/2007/06/road-trip.html much of it covered on back out of the way roads, including the very obscure Sherman Pass), and generally drives way more than the average man with somewhat scary levels of self confidence. However, driving on the left is a different proposition.

First of all, your depth perception is completely different on the right side of the car. Stress analysis results from passengers show that other than the one attempt to go the wrong way on a one way street (seth TOLD ME too!) and Bloggers exit from the vehicle while it was still in drive (we stopped that baby a good four inches from the parking garage wall. I think it's in my left arm's union contract that it does not touch the gear shift. At least it really didn't want to do anything once the car stopped), the highest indicators came from the left side of the vehicle being closer to objects than the passengers were comfortable with. Ahem.

We evidently scraped some curbs (very lightly, I didn't even notice. I think that's just good driving myself) and were within a few inches (according to Seth, and we know that he never stretches the truth to make a point) of a parked bus. As previously discussed, the roads are quite narrow and for better or worse, lane occupation is looked on as a privilege, not a right.

In Inverness, my inner Seth came out when I find myself talking through the open window of my car to the college girl occupants of the car in the adjoining lane (which I needed to be in to continue on the right path) and telling them "I'm a tourist. I have no idea what I'm doing. Please let me into your lane." Which they did.

So anyway, driving was an experience. Seth drove the last 150 miles and I can honestly say that I have a much better understanding of the terror. He did a fine job, but brushing against tree branches at 30 miles an hour does show you that things are a "wee bit crowded nie awhn ta glen."

Which brings us to our actual driving route. We left in rush hour traffic from Edinburgh, traveled through the center of the city, and then made our way via Perth to Inverness. Walked around a bit (they actually had a pretty impressive mall. It's scary to see what influence we American's have had on our their culture.) with particular glee in the more old fashioned part of the city.

Then we drove south along the shores of the beautiful Loch Ness home of the very famous monster of the same name, who we didn't see once the whole entire time. Unhospitable brute.

We drove along to Ft. Williams, saw the waterfront, then made our way via the mountain pass by way of Glencoe to Glasgow. From Glasgow we made our way to the town of Biggar. I'm sure that you're all aware that when my ancestors came over from the country, they changed the spelling of our last name from Biggar to Bigger. So coming back to Biggar was a home coming of sorts and I was happy to do so as a Bigger instead of a Beggar.

At Beggar, we played Hearts for several hours until Seth got into his whole "the system is fixed, it's all luck, and all goes against the bloody irishmen" losing funk. Teresa kept on beating him. He hates to be beat by a girl. It's very amusing.

We ventured home in the dark to Edinburgh. I love these country roads. Tons of fun. I felt the swagger come back. No speed cameras on the country roads. Good times.