Curacao driving question

[AGUINNES]

Driving is on the right hand side of the road with drivers side on the left (same as U.S.) correct? Just want to confirm this before I rent a car. Don't care either way with an automatic transmission, but don't want to have to deal with a stick if it is a u.k. setup. When I was in Cayman I constantly signaled my turns with the windshield wipers

 

[jd950]

You are correct. Right side.

 

[Marek K]

Curacao Driving Tips & Road Signs: "Driving is on the right-hand side of the road."

Which makes sense, since until a few days ago Curacao was a Dutch territory -- and still is a part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. And they drive on the right in The Netherlands.

I know what you mean about driving in the Caymans, having rented a car there a couple month ago. I've driven in the UK on vacation, but don't remember the turn signal stalk being on the right... :shocked2:

Um, what does that have to do with an auto vs. manual transmission?

 

[CT Sean]

Um, what does that have to do with an auto vs. manual transmission?

Assuming because the gear pattern in a manual stays the same regardless of where the steering wheel is, so in US 1st gear is (usually) towards driver and up where it would be away from drive and up in a left hand drive car.

 

[bkpix]

Just remember that many of the people out there drive like they got their license from a box of Cracker Jacks.........if at all. Roads are very narrow and some people don't want to give you any room, easy to get forced off the road.

 

[AGUINNES]

Curacao Driving Tips & Road Signs: "Driving is on the right-hand side of the road."

Which makes sense, since until a few days ago Curacao was a Dutch territory -- and still is a part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. And they drive on the right in The Netherlands.

I know what you mean about driving in the Caymans, having rented a car there a couple month ago. I've driven in the UK on vacation, but don't remember the turn signal stalk being on the right... :shocked2:

Um, what does that have to do with an auto vs. manual transmission?

Cayman was weird because some cars had the steering wheel on the left (u.s.) and some had it on the right (u.k.).

Probably not a big deal but I wouldn't want to deal with shifting left handed in a u.k. style car on top of focusing on staying on the correct side of the road.

Thanks for your responses!

 

[Damselfish]

JRoads are very narrow and some people don't want to give you any room, easy to get forced off the road.

plus you have to squeeze between the potholes and the goats.

 

[Marek K]

Assuming because the gear pattern in a manual stays the same regardless of where the steering wheel is, so in US 1st gear is (usually) towards driver and up where it would be away from drive and up in a left hand drive car.

Yeah, if it were the opposite with a RHD car, that would be a problem (every car I've ever owned has been a manual).

The OP seemed to indicate his problem was with operating the turn signal stalk. But his right hand would stay on the steering wheel to operate the turn signal, no matter what kind of trasmission.

Which, now that I think about it, is probabaly why the stalk is is always on the opposite side from the gear shift lever...

 

[jd950]

plus you have to squeeze between the potholes and the goats.

Avoiding the potholes is just about impossible

Avoiding the goats isn't usually too hard, if you don't mind AL 80s flying around in the back of the truck and driving on the wrong side of the road now and then.

Avoiding the iguanas and lizards (if you do) is where driving around Curacao really turns into a sporting event.