If America invented the car with the steering on the left, why did they change it overseas?
2007-02-05 04:24:16 · 11 answers · asked by GirlUdontKnow 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Europeans have been driving all kinds of vehicles on the left side of the road for centuries. This dates back to medievil days when knights would joust on the left hand side. It was America who decided they wanted to break all ties with the mother land and drive on the otherside of the road.
2007-02-05 04:35:01 · answer #1 · answered by Brenda R 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
America didn't invent the car - it was Germany (Benz 1889, I think).
PS: Digory - sorry, but you're wrong. When cars have the steering wheel on the left, they drive on the right. If the steering wheel is on the right, you drive on the left side of the road. Thus, the driver still gets out on the traffic side, but seating the driver nearest to the centre of the read makes it easier to avoid oncoming vehicles.
2007-02-05 09:18:26 · answer #2 · answered by Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you shouldn't generalize.
Most countries have the steering on the left even in europe. Britain and Australia are the exceptions that I know of.
I thought about this too, but I think it is safer for the driver to not have to open the door on the traffic side if you're parked by the curb, you can step out and not worry about getting hit. Maybe I'm wrong.
2007-02-05 04:34:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Note that in Europe you also typically drive on the opposite side of the road. So in each case, the driver is closest to oncoming traffic. I can't state definitely why that is better, but it certainly "feels" better to me (perhaps only out of familiarity). If I try to imagine driving on the passenger side but driving on the right side of the road, that feels freaky.
Now of course that might just change your question to "why do Europeans drive on the left side of the road".
2007-02-05 04:33:23 · answer #4 · answered by dpawson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
America didn't invent the car, sorry.
For a good examination of why countries drive on different sides of the road, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right
2007-02-05 04:33:41 · answer #5 · answered by InitialDave 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because Europeans drive on the left.
The wheel location is closest to the center of the road, which marginally extends the driver's line of sight.
2007-02-05 04:32:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
because the mexicans making your volkswagenchronic on an identical area of the line that you do. (maximum "eu" autos are not made in europe, they're made in mexico, us of a, or canada the position wechronic on the right area of the line; that is also why there are "kms" on maximum dashboards).
2016-11-02 09:37:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To drive on the other side of the road.
2007-02-05 04:47:10 · answer #8 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they think they are better than every other country!! IM Me!!!
2007-02-05 04:32:29 · answer #9 · answered by Frylock31 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
battle of countriess..
2007-02-05 04:29:17 · answer #10 · answered by orlyandsa 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋