2006-12-25 09:06:45 · 5 answers · asked by robbie 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
probably has something to do about how north america still uses the SI units (miles, inches, mph, etc). we're nonconformists! plus we're stupidly complicated.
2006-12-25 09:12:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like it says "because it is the RIGHT side of the road. we americans drive on the RIGHT SIDE of the road meaning that everyone else is driving on the WRONG side of the road.
Not really.
It might also have something to do with the fact that the steering wheels on all the cars over there are on the right side of the car instead of the left.
supposedly it all dates back to the time around 1300 AD . It was because when people passed each other on the road they needed to be in the best possible position to reach for thier sword to defend themselves. and in 1300 ad a popal edict by pope bonefice told all his pilgrams to keep to the left of the road. nothing changed until 1773 when an increase of horse traffic forced the UK gov to introduce the general highways act of 1773 which kept the left recommendation and became law in the highay bill of 1835. The french being catholic followed the popes edict but in the build up of the french revolution in 1790 the french aristocracy drove thier carriages at a great speed on the left of the rode forcing the peasants over to the right for thier own saftey. come the revolution instincts of self preservation resulted in the remains of the aristocracy to join the peasants on the right side of the road the keep right ruling was introduced in paris in 1794. I know it still doesnt explain why in america we drive on the right . If you look at it another way tho we really drive on both sides since the people who are going the other way are on our left and alot of drunks drive down the wrong side of the road. I think it has something to do with when they first started making cars in the states and the driver sat in the middle at first .
2006-12-25 22:28:09 · answer #2 · answered by hersheynrey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Us picked up driving riding on the right hand side of the road because, when teamsters in the United States and France began hauling farm products in big wagons pulled by several pairs of horses. These wagons had no driver's seat; instead the driver sat on the left rear horse, so he could keep his right arm free to lash the team. Since you were sitting on the left, naturally you wanted everybody to pass on the left so you could look down and make sure you kept clear of the other guy's wheels. Ergo, you kept to the right side of the road.
2006-12-25 17:20:16 · answer #3 · answered by cannondale96 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because WE'RE AMERICAN. and we just have to do things differently.
Or........ The Brits have always done it that way. <-Make your choice.
The story I heard from w-a-a-a-a-y back (when I was in world history class (my soph. yr. Hi school) is the Brits drive on the left-side just because the King ordered it that way because he was left-handed.
And the American's drive on the RIGHT-hand side to allow the milk delivery boys of the time and locale (U.S.A. upper midwest) easier access to their delivery ports of their vehicles without having to cross in front of their heated radiators that would spoil thier deliveries.
Which story has more reasoning is still up for debate.
2006-12-25 17:24:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea, but it's a good question. I'd also like to find out.
2006-12-25 17:17:49 · answer #5 · answered by sternchen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋