US drives opposites from the UK driving. The stearing wheel is placed on the left side for the US and in the UK it is on the Right side.
2006-10-25 22:50:01 · 4 answers · asked by Ricky666 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The English drive from the right side of the vehicle due to having the right hand available for a weapon or sword from days of old when they needed it while on horseback. In an attack mode, they would try to pass the oncoming adversary on the left, enabling them to strike with the right arm,as in jousting. When they started drivng cars, they put the steering wheel on the right. I'm not kidding. You can look it up. I think the US manufactured vehicles with the steering wheel on the left side, so the hand controls could be operated with the right hand, which made common sense.
2006-10-26 02:18:45 · answer #1 · answered by Fred C. Dobbs 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most people are right handed. Imagine that you are sitting driving a horse and cart. In your right hand you have your whip. Naturally you drive down the road leaving the trees and their overhanging branches to your left so as not to interfere with your whip in your right hand. I am led to believe that Napoleon Bonaparte imposed the change on Europe because you would also use a weapon in your right hand. Early motorcars imported from Europe to the U.S. would have been left hand drive.
2006-10-28 20:40:20 · answer #2 · answered by john b 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it has to do with Nautical Navigation, or Piloting of River Barges. In the UK barges are steered from the Starboard Side, and in the US they were steered from the Port Side.
2006-10-26 06:04:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
And I have always thought that the USA did the opposite, just to be different - and to prove that they were not British - even though most of the founders came from Britain. LOL
2006-10-26 21:48:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋