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

Switching sides isn’t a difficult thing, it really is, as you say, no worries. It would not really serve the purpose of catching incapable drivers, but it would be a barrier, and thereby prevent people from renting cars. i.e. “I didn’t rent a car because it we too much of a hassle” vs “I didn’t rent a car because they realized I was a bad driver”