Why in the Uk we drive on the left hand side of the road and say in USA they drive the opposite side? Why is this! cant think of a logical explanation.
2007-01-01 07:43:45 · 8 answers · asked by sherminator 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
the tradition of driving on the left side of the road in Europe dates back thousands of years. In feudal times, travelers would walk on the left side of the road so that they could draw their swords with their right hand (most people being right handed) and have said weapon ready to strike adversaries coming by on the roade they're walking.
In the US, the tradition of driving on the right side of the road dates back to the early 19th century. Teamsters (those who drove teams of horses) would sit on the left side of their wagons so that they could whip horses with their right hands (most people being right handed. Because they sat on the left side of their wagons, they needed to ride on the right side of the road in order to have better visibility of the road ahead.
So, that's the answer to the old question. impress your friends with that one!
2007-01-01 07:52:35 · answer #1 · answered by croato87 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The original reason for driving on the left side of the road started long before automobiles or even firearms. When you were meeting people on the road, your sword arm (most people were right handed) was always towards the potential enemy.
Not sure why us Americans changed it, probably has something to do with some war back in the 1700's or something.
2007-01-01 07:50:19 · answer #2 · answered by kc_in_kc 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It all goes back to medieval days when knights riding towards wanted to be able to draw their swords to defend and being right handed is the most common it was done so a knight can draw his right hand and fight. the french changed it when they let a short dictator take over Napoleon was a left handed gentleman and he changed it to suit him.
And that is why most of Europe drive on the right while the British drive on the left. the reason the yanks drive on the right is they wanted to be different to Britain after they gained Independence so copied their allies of the time the French.
2007-01-01 07:52:44 · answer #3 · answered by Dirty Rob 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have a read of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right
It explains the various reasons that driving on one particular side became the norm in various countries.
2007-01-01 09:16:31 · answer #4 · answered by Neil 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Simple. Our cars here are right hand drive.
2007-01-01 07:51:33 · answer #5 · answered by Kissplus 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because the rest of the world wanted to be different to britain
2007-01-01 07:47:45 · answer #6 · answered by chip c 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cos if we all drove on the same side of the road we would crash........
2007-01-01 07:46:22 · answer #7 · answered by Carl 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
duh if we all drove on the same side of the road we would just crash into each other.
2007-01-01 08:31:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋