Why didn't it become the same everywhere?
2006-06-11 12:32:41 · 8 answers · asked by crystal89431 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
When road systems were set up, there was no desire, need or ability for different countries to communicate with each in order to establish which side of the road should be used.
So if you have two sides of the road, it's a 50-50 tossup as to which side of the road will be chosen, right?
An interesting question would be "why did country (X) choose to drive on the (right/left) side of the road?" You can probably guess that cars generally drive on the same side that vehicles before them used ... buggies, chariots, horses, etc. So it becomes a history lesson ... for another day ....
2006-06-11 12:37:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This goes back before transport, when people walked. In days of old, when English knights were bold, a man would walk with his woman on the left and his right hand, his sword hand free, and would ensure that everyone passed him on his right so he could defend his woman. So it was natural progression for vehicles to follwo suit and drive on the left. All the countries civilised by the British Empire drive, as they should, on the left. Uncivilised Asia, America and the rest of Europe drive on the wrong side.
2014-04-07 22:37:53 · answer #2 · answered by Pete 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the thugs, ruffians or the more adventurous and enterprising ran from UK, or were forced to run-away, and they reached here and then dominated the local populace of America, they did many things against the norms of their country of origin out of, perhaps, vengeance or in an effort to carve out their own individuality. They drove on the 'wrong-side' of the road, ate with 'wrong' hand, fixed their electricity switches opposite to how they were fixed back there - to put the light up, in stead of switch the light on. Many followed them in Europe as they had gained influence by then.
2006-06-11 13:36:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
people in england for whatever reason would pass that way for hunreds of years before cars. that's why they drive on the left. even though austrailia was a long way from england, it never became officially free from england and so they pass that way too. america did become free of england and so we pass to the right, though i don't know how it came about.
2006-06-11 13:25:00 · answer #4 · answered by Stuie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on which side of the car the steering wheel is on. people are too lazy to switch something like that and then who decides which way is right or wrong, it may get confusing
2006-06-11 12:35:10 · answer #5 · answered by lily 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be like too boring, ya know. Gotta shake things up every now and then just to make things interesting. :)
2006-06-16 11:32:19 · answer #6 · answered by Airplanegirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some countries are just a$$ backwards...
2006-06-11 12:36:17 · answer #7 · answered by truthteller 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep...U.S is the right side....England or Europe...is left side
2006-06-11 12:34:56 · answer #8 · answered by celine8388 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋