I guarantee your first challenge will be getting into the correct side of the vehicle. Remember the driving wheel is now where the passenger side used to be. You'll feel a real a plonker if you open the wrong door. Once you've mastered that the rest will come.
Don't stress about it. Its fairly easy to adapt. I remember the first time I drove off the Ferry from Ireland driving to Zurich I was a little nervous. I quickly found that everything just leads you to the right side of the road. Its no worries really.
The only issues are if you are on a one way street driving on the left side and you go into another street that is two way you need to think about getting back onto the right hand side.
I've driven a RHD car here on numerous occasions... I've also driven LHD cars in Ireland. Its more difficult to overtake, but other then that it's not a huge problem.
What really gets me, when I'm in the UK, is all those idiots from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Italy... who keep driving LHD cars.
To the OP. I switch sides quite regularly now, and LH and RH drive cars. As others have said, it's just a matter of concentrating, especially at roundabouts and when coming out of one-way streets.
The trick that worked for me is - For few days, just observe the driver of the bus/cab you are using. I started sitting in front row of bus and front seat in car (Of-course the off driving side). I used to observe the road like i'm driving myself. The oddness, i felt otherwise, was gone in 3-4 days.
Then I simply started with my own car, it was easy.
One more tip - as soon as you feel to wonder why people are driving on wrong side - don't curse them. Remember - you may be on wrong side
In addition to the comments above which I also found I recommend you get a copy of the driving regulations/highway code as some rules are different and you are expected to know them. Take a few lessons in a dual control car and practice driving around trams, turning across tramlines, how to overtake trams and trying not to kill sucidal cyclists.
Read the driving threads on here. In summary the Swiss compensate for their usual impotence by driving fairly aggressively. This means honking their horn if you don't move off within a nanosecond of the lights turning green. Tailgating. Not stopping at pedestrian crossings. Driving in the middle lane of the autobahn at exactly the speed limit. Solothourn number plates are often bad news too, give them space.
Enjoy once you are used to it I find driving here much better than in the UK.
Had to make the switch to driving on the "wrong" side of the road, and it was fine. The car was automatic so I didn't have to shift gears with my left hand. That might have taken some getting used to. When I did get confused was on visits back home where it seemed I always went to the wrong side of the car.
Well thanks everyone for your time and suggestions.
I'v been driving in Switzerland for the last 4 months on my international license. Its cool to drive here if you dont wish to use your brain.
Yes, ur right. The swiss have patience of like 0.5 second. I was driving in a small lane and had lost my way so slowed to check the turn, and pronto...i got honked from the car at the back. i mean like hello???? If you drive like fraction of a second faster or slower, you'r honked on and i guess considered 'foreigner'. Grump!!! Atleast when i get honked upon in Italy, i know its normal. hahaha!
But all in all, i think its easy to drive in Switzerland and people are overall decent. I still drive in Italy time to time to keep life exciting.
Did my first "driving lesson" yesterday night (when the road was empty of course :P) The car naturally makes you drive to the right so that wasnt a problem.
My major problem though was that i was driving too close to the curb on the right (or so my teacher told me) so i will take care of that and it should be fine. Looking at wing mirrors and reversing is completely opposite but with practice i will be ok. And lets hope i dont scratch the car while i try to park :P
So if you find a driver late at night in Geneva who sticks annoyingly to the speed limit in an empty road thats me!!
Afternoon all. Time is passing so my move to Basel is getting closer and now I am working on all the logistics! One thing that popped into my head the other day is this: for those who drive on the other side of the road to the Swiss (UK, Australia etc), how did you go about driving in Switzerland? Just jump in the car and work it out as you go along, or did you have a few lessons? I have driven on the right, some years back, but haven't done since and just wondering if I should go about it in a more structured way than getting behind the wheel and crossing my fingers!
The first thing to remember is to open the right door, which is the left one. No wait - the right one. No, no it's the left one.
Driving on the rhs after all my life of not, is like learning a new language, great brain exercise. Which is why all us Aussies up here, are much smarter than what we was down there.