eli5: How do countries just allow tourists/visitors from places where they drive on the other side to just rent a car and get behind the wheel without any sort of test?

Question

I just saw a headline about an American tourist in the UK who hit a cyclist because she drove on the wrong side of the road. I’ve always wondered why it is so easy for one to just rent a car and drive in a country where the road laws are all backwards from what they’re used to. Seems like there should be some kind of test involved but it feels like most countries will just give you the keys and let you take to the streets without any worries. I’m learning to drive and the thought that I could just go to England and rent a car seems crazy to me

In: 29

Answer 1

I see a couple of answers about the situation you’re referring too. But not really an answer about why.

There are a series of international agreements where countries went, “you know what, our driving rules are pretty similar. If you let people from our country drive with their license then we’ll let people from your country drive with theirs.” And other countries went, “sure! There might be some differences (e.g. right side vs. left side driving), but it’s close enough because the fundamental rules we have are the same.”

Yes you sometimes run into issues with accidents such as the one you’re talking about. But the vast majority of people can adapt to the relatively minor differences when driving in a different country, as long as the rules are pretty much the same in both countries.