2006-07-17 20:06:16 · 14 answers · asked by Mounty 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
I read in the Irish Times that Ireland are having a weeks trial next year using heavy goods and commercial vehicles only.
2006-07-17 20:18:03 · answer #1 · answered by gordon-21up 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nobody knows which is better or worse. In the UK the story is that centuries ago when men rode horses, they would have a sword on their left side, to draw with their right hand to face any opponent who would then be on their right. It appears that it worked an we subsequently rode and drove on the left. The Americans being the Americans were just bloody-minded and said we'll drive on the right because they don't. There are still quite a few countris that drive on the left. Such as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Japan (surpisingly), some Caribbean Islands and places like Malta and Gibraltar. If you're thinking about left handed people at the beginning of the story they were considered the spawn of Satan at birth and were never allowed to hold any position of worth. i.e having enough money to even purchase a horse!
2006-07-18 03:33:18 · answer #2 · answered by Ian W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The people who drive on the left are traditionally correct. Back in the days of horse and carriage, the carriages "drove" on the left so that the guy at the reigns had the reigns in his left hand which meant that his right hand (sword arm) was free to use a weapon if they were attacked by highwaymen. I'm not sure why other Nations chose to drive on the right hand side, but they're a bit odd anyway ;-) I prefer keeping to traditions, so I think driving on the left is much better... I am a Brit too.
2006-07-18 03:15:51 · answer #3 · answered by genghis41f 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it has to do with who colonized the country, and wether or not the people there wanted to pay to change the road systems. I think driving on the right side is supposed to better for some reason, i'm not entirely sure why though, i dont really remember. This was before international car trade.
2006-07-18 03:12:36 · answer #4 · answered by Julie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both system are safe. As the matter of why some drive at right and some drive at left, basically it was the British who started system of left side drive. At the time of American Independence they were not willing to follow British laws so they made rule of right side drive.
2006-07-18 03:12:40 · answer #5 · answered by Abhilash Jain 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You(US) drive on the right. We(UK) drive on the Correct side of the road.
2006-07-18 14:06:18 · answer #6 · answered by Fizzbob 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone in Europe travelled on the left until Napoleon decreed otherwise. For some reason he wanted to march his troops on the right. That is why we still drive on the left in the UK - he never got here!
Rule Brittannia !!!! ;-)
2006-07-19 09:41:26 · answer #7 · answered by prospero 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think either is better - think about it: When we drive on the right, the steering wheel is on the left, which means we normally exit the car into traffic. When we drive on the left, the steering wheel is on the right - again, we get out into traffic....
It's a plot... someone hates drivers...
2006-07-19 16:08:28 · answer #8 · answered by merigold00 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because in the other countries the car makers put the driver side on the left.... so that's why....
2006-07-18 03:10:51 · answer #9 · answered by dahmsjohn2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ummm, only here in the uk and in japan peopledrive on the right side - evryone else drives on the left , and i dont know why
2006-07-18 03:18:48 · answer #10 · answered by Adam (AM) 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋