The Bureau of Justice Statistics doesn't keep figures for the number of carjackings that result in murder but with $6.1 billion being spent on prevention programs and, apparently, not tackling the problem I would like to argue that changing your driving position on the road from right to left is likely to save lives.
In the UK we drive on the left because we used to get robbed by highway men in the good old days of horse drawn coaches, now with our right hand drive cars, we are (in theory) better able to defend ourselves with a concealed weapon as most of us are right handed (although gun ownership is frowned upon in the UK) mainly due to the fear the upper classes have that we will get sick of our taxes being spent on their friends loft conversions.
Your views/comments please:
2007-03-02 22:54:49 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Am I missing somthing?
I don't see how what side of the road you drive on would have ANY impact whatsoever on carjackings...
It really doesn't matter what side of the road a country has it's drivers drive on, the driver is always toward the CENTER of the road, unless for some reasons the steering wheel is on the other side in special cases.
The the UK they drive on the left and the steering is on the right, placing the driver toward the center of the road. In the USA they drive on the right and the steering is on the left, again placing the driver near the center of the road. What possible difference could that make for carjacking avoidance? By the way, on the off chance that I had a gun, the center of the car being on the right side makes is LESS likely that the carjacker would be able to grab it from me.
2007-03-05 05:14:12 · answer #1 · answered by todvango 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once upon a time (into the early 20th Century) parts of the USA did actually drive on the left. Many cars had right-hand drive.
It was mostly Henry Ford putting the steering wheel on the left side of his cars that forced them all to drive on the right.
Significantly, there was less crime in the USA 100 years ago. There could well be a connection, but not for the reason proposed.
There is excellent evidence that the Roman Empire drove on the left. They didn't carry guns, it was more to do with how right handed people mount horses and load wagons etc.
In the UK we still get robbed by highwaymen, these days they're called HMCE and DVLA.
By the way, don't get all political about loft conversions. The enormous majority of gun owners in the UK are not aristocrats but farmers (legitimate) and (sadly) criminals.
2007-03-03 20:29:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The entire highway system in the U.S. is designed for drivers to drive in the right hand lane. Left hand lane is used mostly for passing. For us to change to left hand drive would mean changing the entire road system, and that probably wouldn't be feasable.
As for robberies on the road, we generally don't have that problem here. Mostly "road rage" by folks who have tempers and want to get where they're going faster. If by some chance we do have such robberies, we have the luxury of being well armed here, and many people utilize that priviledge.
God Speed, whichever side of the road you may be driving on!
2007-03-02 23:08:41 · answer #3 · answered by C J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My concealed weapon (yes, I am licensed) is in the seat pocket on the right side of my seat, easily accessed by my right hand. I can hit either door, or anything that tries to get in that door. I see no problem there.
The only problem is that if I drive my truck on the left, I will kill innocent people that are driving on the correct side of the road.
2007-03-03 00:23:59 · answer #4 · answered by J.R. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, I considered it. It's just everyone who disagreed with me that made it difficult, especially that policeman. He sure was in no mood to try a new system.
In all seriousness, the difficulty of changing the American system would be so expensive and difficult to adjust to that the danger in the first month of driving would outweigh the benefits for dozens of years. It's simply too impractical. Plus, this is America. We love guns so much, we can shoot with either hand!
2007-03-02 23:04:34 · answer #5 · answered by BDOLE 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Crossdraw from a shoulder holster works pretty well when in the driver's seat. In the case of attempted carjacking, as well as shooting, you have the option to drive away or run him over. No need to drive on the left.
2007-03-03 03:16:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wondered why you guys drive on the left. Too bad about your guns. Hope you never really need them. Poor distribution of wealth is going to make things very ugly one day. BTW, car jacking is not really a big problem in the US. It's mostly people stealing and fighting for drug money.
2007-03-03 02:08:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you think that changing our entire roadway system here will SAVE lives??? Can you even fathom the logisitics of such an idea?
You obviously have not driven through Atlanta during rush hour at 85 miles an hour.
There are enough distractions to kill drivers here in the U.S. other than carjackings.
2007-03-02 23:00:28 · answer #8 · answered by SouthernGrits 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I sit in the left side of the car all the time.
2007-03-02 23:03:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll drive on the left if you drive on the right
2007-03-02 23:03:00 · answer #10 · answered by Boston Mark 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋