Why does the British traffic system drive on the right side of the road and the French on the left side?

Question

There are 2 system of road traffic. The British system drives on the right side of the road and the French system drives on the left side of the road. Why do they have to create 2 different systems? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each of the system? Why don't they have just one universal system? Has anybody think of the future road traffick system?

Answer 1

The fine folks at Ask Yahoo have already answered this: http://ask.yahoo.com/20060929.html.
Apparently most of the world drove British style, before there were cars to drive, except France who probably drove differently just to spite the Brits. Then the French revolution, and ensuing Napoleonic wars, exported more than democratic ideas. Now you have a weird combination of countries that drive on one side, and others that drive on the other. For example, why does Australia drive British, but America drive French? At least it's good that the U.S. and and Canada drive on the same side, lest American drivers have larger complications than converting to metric when they go north.

Answer 2

Actually the British drive on the left and the French on the right.

Left Hand Drive dictates the position of the steering wheel - and all countries will position the driver closest to the centre of the road as this gives a better view when over-taking.

There are no real benefits. In Britain it's easy to turn left from a major to minor road, and in France it's easy to turn right in the same situation.

Answer 3

It isn't just Britain. They do it in Japan and Australia (and probably other places) too.

I have no idea why. But I'll agree it can be disconcerting. Just like that crappy measurement system I had to get used to when I moved here to the U.S.

Answer 4

no you got it wrong uk drive on left france on right

Answer 5

couse these guys dont like eachother