Any reansons?
2006-06-30 04:00:58 · 21 answers · asked by Lynn 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Goes back to feudal/mediaeval and earlier times when people would always pass to the left of oncoming persons to the left, in order to keep the sword (right) hand available to strike a blow if attacked. Was also kept up by horse riders for the same reason, and this was maintained as a tradition eventually becoming accepted as the way for carts and people to drive in cars!
Europeans and other people chose to pass on the right to show trust. We Brits trusted no-one!
2006-06-30 04:05:37 · answer #1 · answered by Chris M 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Not so long ago the same question came to me. The solution I tried was to drive on the right side of the road. I was willing to initially run the experiment over a 2 week period. Unfortunately the experiment had to be cut short as my vehicle, a 15 ton flat bed Leyland turbo diesel 5000, became undrivable on the first day. The only conclusion I could draw from the truncated experiment is, that due to do with the over whelming amout of traffic heading towards you on the wrong side of the road if you drive on the right, (its full of nutters especially on the M62 just outside Leeds) its best to stick to the left hand side where the drivers are far more intelligent and don't seem hell bent on driving straight at you. Hope that helps
2006-06-30 11:15:10 · answer #2 · answered by Zecca 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The story I read was that it all started back in the days of horses and stage coaches.
If you are riding your horse and carriage on the left, if someone (like a highwayman or other robber) comes up to you you can use your right hand and sword to defend yourself. So the convention was to ride your horse and carriage on the left hand side. For similar reasons spiral staircases in castles all turn in the same direction to allow the defenders of the castle maximum ability to swing their swords at the attackers coming up the stairs.
This convention continued as roads got bigger and cars were invented. So the real question is what prompted other countries to start driving on the other side of the road.
2006-06-30 11:06:05 · answer #3 · answered by ZCT 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's related to the fact that ships dock on the port (left) side, so carriages stop with the left side to the edge of the road.
The question is, why do people drive on the right hand side of the road outside of the Commonwealth?
2006-06-30 11:03:19 · answer #4 · answered by k² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people are right handed. In the old days it was considered satanic to be left handed, or at least witchly. When riding your horse, you always had to have your right arm ready to do battle in case a 'highwayman', a robber' came upon you. If you ride on the left, your right hand is free to defend yourself from a robber.
TFTP
2006-06-30 11:06:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the same reason why the people in the US drive on the right-side.
2006-06-30 11:13:31 · answer #6 · answered by j o s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Historically all roads were used on the left hand side over here due to knights and their weapons.
Using the left hand side allows one to pass others on the fighting side of your mount
2006-06-30 11:04:16 · answer #7 · answered by ogenglishman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first car might have been made that way.All otheres followed.There is no other reason.In many countries Left Hand drive is popular.
2006-07-07 00:10:51 · answer #8 · answered by leowin1948 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it has always been this way.
And also in the older times Britain did not want foreign cars to be imported in so they changed the sides to save their car industries.
2006-06-30 16:00:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
listen to me, ok?
we in england invented you americans, we were here first, so was our culture
you are the ones who diverted from the accepted norm
so the question is, why do yanks drive on the right (or wrong) side of the road?
2006-06-30 11:05:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋