I have been in America for so long and gotten so accustomed to it that I really have forgotten that most of the rest of the world drives on the other side of the road I remember how damned disorienting it was initially.
As far as the general handling of vehicles in the game I think it is actually pretty good. Up your driving skill, mod your cars particularly transmission, suspension and traction (braking if you rely on it) and generally just drive better cars. I recommend Grottis. The driving skill and the upgrades on the car make a significant difference and handling varies greatly from car to car.