Why do we drive on the left? - Page 5

mattylad · 05-07-2004, 09:11

We drive on the left because otherwise the Left Car tyre & tracking alignment companies would be out of buisness through all those left side tyres not needing replacing or the tracking not needing re-adjusting when we no longer hit the kerb.

Of course they could always setup in buisness doing right hand side tyres instead

acertun · 05-11-2004, 19:48

If you are not driving on the right side then you must be driving on the wrong side or is that a wrong conclusion

acertun · 05-11-2004, 19:52

In Accrington they park on the left and right sides so they must therefor drive in the middle

WillowTheWhisp · 05-11-2004, 21:02

This afternoon on Blackburn Road a guy reversed into the main road on the wrong side of the road. That just about takes the biscuit.

acertun · 06-11-2004, 15:33

If he had reversed into the right side of the road would that have been the left side

WillowTheWhisp · 06-11-2004, 16:33

He was on the right side which was the wrong side and he was going backwards facing the traffic coming forwards but at least they were all going in the same direction which is something I suppose.

acertun · 06-11-2004, 16:51

If the left side is the right side and the right side is the wrong side then the wrong side must be suicide

acertun · 06-11-2004, 16:54

Was that your right or his right and who has the right to be right in that case

Tricia · 09-11-2004, 01:36

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

Caz · 09-11-2004, 01:55

The sanity was already there - amongst the "gobbledygook"

Quote:

...and france changed to the right cos Napolean was left handed.

This and other info here.
http://www.2pass.co.uk/goodluck.htm

http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html

Quote:

..Because your sword arm is normally your right arm. If, 500 years ago, you were riding your horse along Hyndburn Road and you saw someone like Wingy coming towards you on his horse, you made sure you passed on the left, holding the horses reins in your left hand and with your right hand resting on your scabbard, ready to draw and use should their be any nonsense from the approaching horseman.

................

So there

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricia

But because Napoleon was left-handed, and because he wanted to make his mark on society, he decreed that traffic would drive on the left.
Tricia

to the right I think!

WillowTheWhisp · 09-11-2004, 08:18

Quote:

If, 500 years ago, you were riding your horse along Hyndburn Road and you saw someone like Wingy coming towards you on his horse........

If he looked anything like Wingy did the other Saturday night at the Stag I would pass him on the right or the left!

pendy · 09-11-2004, 18:15

In answer to an earlier post, we do have the system here where you can drive for a year on a foreign licence, but after that you have to take a driving test. Having read all this, it's hardly surprising that so many people fail!

One word of warning if anyone goes to Malta. In the UK we drive on the left. In Europe they drive on the right. In Malta, they drive IN THE SHADE!! - be warned!

Seriously, it is not before time that we are getting driving licences with photographs. A policeman I know in Hampstead told me once that he had had five different people trying to present "their" driving licence - just one licence between five.

eggstoocool · 02-10-2006, 00:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

Thirty years ago, Nigeria changed from driving on the left to driving on the right. They phased it in. On a monday, all private cars switched to driving on the right...the following wednesday, all lorries & buses switched to driving on the right.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by AccyStanFan

Makes Sense

How can that possibly make sense???? It would be chaos!! Head on Collisions all over the place!!!

carrerahill · 02-10-2006, 14:11

In 1963 the Sweedish changed over, they had a day "Dagen H" Right hand traffic day, starting at 5am where NO ONE between 1am and 6am except emergency services, and real emergencys at that, could drive on the road. Longer in some cities...

They had all the signs and junctions altered and they went about in force unmasking the signs and making the new layouts active.

talentedbutslow · 03-10-2006, 09:16

In Saigon they drive on all sides of the roads.........
as you can see here..........

YouTube - Saigon Traffic