Driving On The Wrong Side

[Milton Bradley]

I have always wanted to ask ( poke fun at ) Brit's, Aussie's, and others who drive on the ( incorrect ) left side of the road what they thought about that particular practice, particularly in the ever globalizing world. It's not far fetched to think there will be an auto tunnel under the English Channel in the very near future.


So, what will happen when you can drive from England to the Continent where they all drive on the ( correct ) other side of the road?


Does anybody know when the tradition of driving on the wrong side of the road, or flouting convention started, or who initiated the practice, or why?


[sarcasm]Why don't you people revolt, and right this great wrong? You could handle it just like we handle Daylight Savings Time, and just have everybody agree that at 12:01 AM the next morning, the rules change, problem solved.[/sarcasm]


It would be easier than us switching to the metric system.

[Chris]

erm...

The tunnel was completed in 1994.

I heard that the brits drive on the left hand side so they could keep the sword hand free - and it goes all the way back to the middle ages.

Teamsters in France and the US were driving huge teams of horses and -somehow drove on the right hand side. You sit on the left hand side so you could see if your wheels had enough room when meeting someone else. Likewise in the UK and former provinces like India, Africa. England had convinced the minister of Japan back in the 1850s to use left hand drive too.

And wasn't Sweden Left hand before they switched in 1960s?

I read all this from the straight dope so I dont know if its true or not.

[Scribbler1]

Either way you STILL drive on the side facing the middle of the road. The Brits should change sides and do it the way WE do it. Instead of worrying about the sword hand you just have a passenger hang out of the window with the sword. Or in Americans' case, the baseball bat to swing at the mailboxes.

[tman_ndsu08]

Except for those damn USPS workers who drive on the right side with the steering on the right.

[Jack]

Which side of the road would Jesus drive on? (I admit WSOTRWJDO? is much less elegant than WWJD?)

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: Scribbler1 Or in Americans' case, the baseball bat to swing at the mailboxes.

A bat to hit mailboxes? That sounds dangerous.


We always just threw beer bottles, or bowling balls ( we had a bowling ball source, OK ), or just ran over the garbage cans. Ah, the sound of a metal cans be partially crushed, and sticking under the vehicle as you speed away, good times.

Quote by: Isherwood Which side of the road would Jesus drive on? (I admit WSOTRWJDO? is much less elegant than WWJD?)

Heh, but just as funny, wiseguy. :)


I got a truly good chuckle out of that one, made my eyes water.

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: Milton Bradley A bat to hit mailboxes? That sounds dangerous.

That used to be something of a sport in these parts a long time ago. It was dangerous but considering who did it, brain injury was considered impossible.

[G. Adams]

You read and write from the left hand side, right? See, makes sense.

[PatrickHenry]

The Red v. the Blue. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:D..._standards.png

The ones driving on the left do so because they are LEFTIES and their nations should all be NUKED. Their agenda of tyranny is evident from their driving posture. They are EVIL and should be ELIMINATED...

When will the world WAKE UP!

[Nono]

It's hell adjusting to driving on the other side. A bit like writing with your left hand (if you're right-handed) from right to left across the page: you have to reverse eveything you always do so instinctively.

When I see a car with British or Irish plates, I always grant the bugger plenty of leeway.

Not to be underestimated is being a pedestrian in London, Nairobi or Bangkok. You have to remember to look first right, not left. All you hafta do is forget once. That'll do you.

[Chris the Chees]

From what I read, it comes from the riding of a horse.

It is easier to mount a horse, if right handed, from the left side of the horse, especially if armed with a sword and they then kept to the left while riding.

But then again, I have also read that the Romans rode on the left side of the road, so perhaps it comes from that.

As far as I am concerned the left hand side of the road makes much more sense than the right hand side, simply because junctions are easier. Having driven in countries which differ, both right and left, I certainly found the left to be a convineint side when it came to junctions. Per haps thats just a result of my habit from driving on the left, being British, but I still stand by my my judgment.

[Jack]

I like the idea of getting out of my vehicle on the curb (kerb?) side rather than the way we do here...stepping out into passing traffic.

[Pooeypants]

Driving on the left hand side makes most sense if you're right-handed. For example, when changing gear you want your stronger and better honed hand/arm to be controlling the steering wheel which in most people's case it is the right hand.

[tman_ndsu08]

That makes absolutely no sense.

When shifting, you want the strongest hand to be changing the gear.


I'm right handed and I steer with my left hand all the time.

But I'd never be able to shift with my left hand. And pushing in the clutch with my left foot? Forget it.

[Chris]

Quote by: Scribbler1 Either way you STILL drive on the side facing the middle of the road. The Brits should change sides and do it the way WE do it. Instead of worrying about the sword hand you just have a passenger hang out of the window with the sword. Or in Americans' case, the baseball bat to swing at the mailboxes.

heh but we are talking about the middle ages, where each horse had one rider. No passenger seat to speak of.

And there are already 60 Million people living in the Uk alone so switching would be incredibly difficult.

Quote by: tman_ndsu08 That makes absolutely no sense. When shifting, you want the strongest hand to be changing the gear. I'm right handed and I steer with my left hand all the time. But I'd never be able to shift with my left hand. And pushing in the clutch with my left foot? Forget it.

One of my biggest problems in the Uk. I found it most difficult to shift with my left hand. The clutch is on the same side though, so using your left foot would not be any different than driving an American car.

Another problem I had was judging where the left wheel was and its proximity to the curb (kerb). Its all about perspective. And not to mention most Americans never drive through roundabouts (rotaries) - proper ones anyway.

So if I am driving in the UK I have to use an atuomatic (which at last visit only came on higher end cars such as Audis BMWs Mercs and VWs etc.)

[Chris]

Quote by: PatrickHenry The Red v. the Blue. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:D..._standards.png The ones driving on the left do so because they are LEFTIES and their nations should all be NUKED. Their agenda of tyranny is evident from their driving posture. They are EVIL and should be ELIMINATED... When will the world WAKE UP!

I guess this answers the question of What sid of the road would Jesus Drive on...:)

[Keith Hamburger]

Quote by: Pooeypants Driving on the left hand side makes most sense if you're right-handed. For example, when changing gear you want your stronger and better honed hand/arm to be controlling the steering wheel which in most people's case it is the right hand.

But, I have heard that Brits go up and down stairways and down hallways walking to the right (mostly, I know not everyone follows convention when walking). Why would they walk in one manner and drive in another?

Keith

[Chris the Chees]

Quote by: tman_ndsu08 That makes absolutely no sense. When shifting, you want the strongest hand to be changing the gear. I'm right handed and I steer with my left hand all the time. But I'd never be able to shift with my left hand. And pushing in the clutch with my left foot? Forget it.

Have you ever tried changing gear while stearing a slowely moving car which has no power steering?

Well I have and your right arm, should you be right handed, makes it far easier than using your left hand.

Anyway, 'shifting' takes no effort.

[Chris the Chees]

Quote by: Keith Hamburger But, I have heard that Brits go up and down stairways and down hallways walking to the right (mostly, I know not everyone follows convention when walking). Why would they walk in one manner and drive in another? Keith

I can't say I have ever noticed....

However, pedestrians are theoretically at an advantage when facing oncoming traffic as opposed to having it coming from behind. So you are supposed to walk on the right hand side of the road so you can see oncoming traffic. I guess that could have drifted into home life.

[Milton Bradley]

Interesting stuff, thanks for all the replies people.