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Tricia · 09-11-2004, 00:36

To bring a little sanity into this discussion before it descends into total gobbledegook, and to answer the question:
Napoleon has a lot to answer for. Until he came to power everyone drove (and walked) on the left because most people were right handed and they wanted to face oncoming danger with their sword arm at the ready. You never knew where the footpads and highwaymen were lurking.
If you watch a jousting competition on film, you will see that they are "driving on the left" - attacking with their lance in their right hand.
But because Napoleon was left-handed, and because he wanted to make his mark on society, he decreed that traffic would drive on the right. Of course, in those days it was not such a big deal to change over, because they did not have all our traffic signs, traffic lights, etc. Nowadays it would cost billions of pounds for us to change. So in spite of the pressure from Europe it is very unlikely that we shall be driving on the right in the near future!

So there...

Tricia

09-11-2004, 00:36	#69
Tricia Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Surbiton Posts: 59 Liked: 0 times Rep Power: 0	Re: Why do we drive on the left? To bring a little sanity into this discussion before it descends into total gobbledegook, and to answer the question: Napoleon has a lot to answer for. Until he came to power everyone drove (and walked) on the left because most people were right handed and they wanted to face oncoming danger with their sword arm at the ready. You never knew where the footpads and highwaymen were lurking. If you watch a jousting competition on film, you will see that they are "driving on the left" - attacking with their lance in their right hand. But because Napoleon was left-handed, and because he wanted to make his mark on society, he decreed that traffic would drive on the right. Of course, in those days it was not such a big deal to change over, because they did not have all our traffic signs, traffic lights, etc. Nowadays it would cost billions of pounds for us to change. So in spite of the pressure from Europe it is very unlikely that we shall be driving on the right in the near future! So there... Tricia Last edited by Tricia; 09-10-2006 at 11:58.