2007-09-24 19:16:50 · 23 answers · asked by less 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Other - Car Makes
WE DONT
you do
2007-09-24 19:32:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Hello!!
The English drive on the 'wrong' side of the road because...
We have been 'driving' on that side of the road 'before' the invention of the car!
It was needed, for a rider of a horse, a knight or civilian who wore a sword, to be able to defend himself with his right hand.
Most people are right handed, the sword was worn down the left side of the body.
Pulling out the sword was easy and they were very prepared to pull it out, to defend themselves.
We carried on 'driving' on the left, even after the car was invented, because we were used to it.
We had been driving on the left, for two thousand years or more!!
A little arrogant perhaps, to say that it is 'Britain' that drive on the 'wrong' side of the road!?
Ps...
Thanks for your reply, to my question before!
I do not hate Americans or America!
I am unhappy with a lot of things that i think are not good, just like many dislike the English!
I do believe that if Hitler had invaded England, we would have never surrendered.
Also, you know where Hitler had his thoughts set on next?
America!!
Think about it, he would have also invented the atom bomb before America and the hydrogen bomb, before England!!
We have also paid back the debt to America, if that is what you meant?
To get the loan, we had to allow America to trade with 'any' British commonwealth country 'tax free' and give up the pound-£ as international currency, to be replaced by the U.S dollar!!
Now is that how 'you' treat a friend and ally, especially after the huge losses Britain had experienced??
2007-09-25 15:16:09 · answer #2 · answered by Paul222@England 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It originates way back in time - even before me. A horseman would always ride on the left of the road to keep his right arm clear to "repel boarders", and to reach over to draw his sword. I know that doesn't figure with left-handers, then or now, but a majority of riders would be right handed. This, then, became the norm, and continues in many countries to this day. The cost and inconvenience of transferring to the other side would be astronomical, and a bit pointless. Although The Swedes did it a few years ago.
If you want to experience driving on both sides of the road at the same time, try Cairo!!
2007-09-24 21:51:15 · answer #3 · answered by ALAN B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We don't, we drive on the left, as do all these countries:-
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bermuda
Bhutan
Botswana
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Cayman Islands
Channel Islands
Cyprus
Dominica
Eire-Ireland
England
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Grenada
Guyana
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Isle of Man
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Lesotho
Macau
Malawi
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Montserrat
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
New Zealand
Northern Ireland
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Seychelles
Scotland
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
St Kitts & Nevis
St. Helena
St. Lucia
Surinam
Swaziland
Tanzania
Thailand
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uganda
US Virgin Islands
Zambia
Zimbabwe
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Wales
2007-09-24 20:50:59 · answer #4 · answered by champer 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Reggie's Ebbie is basically correct.
Most people were and are right-handed and it made sense for them to ride on the left side of the road, a practice that goes back as far as Roman times at least. It left them to keep their right-hand free to offer friendship to a passing rider, or to defend themselves with a sword.
The practice survives in Britain and most of the former British Empire, but Continental Europe and the USA eventually switched to driving on the right.
2007-09-24 21:06:12 · answer #5 · answered by Mental Mickey 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually three quarter for the world are driving on the "WRONG SIDE" of the road, in case you don't know.
The fact is, US always thought they are special and different so they design things differently. Even when it comes to calculation, three quarter of the world is talking about kilometer but US wants it to be miles.
So now you wonder who is on the wrong side of the road.
2007-09-24 19:34:38 · answer #6 · answered by Beach bum 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Its one of those Historical things. To change it would cause too much trouble when there are 30 million cars on the roads.
When Sweden changed in the 60s there were very few cars on the roads so it wasn't so much of a probem
2007-09-24 19:45:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was to do with the days of the hansom cab and horses. In order for ladys to get out of the cab to the pavement without being splashed by vehicles driving by. The left the cab by the left so they drive on the left.
2007-09-24 23:44:07 · answer #8 · answered by malc1945 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we don't ..its the others who got it wrong !..unfortunately i see the Irish are going to do a years experiment to sort of try driving on the right ..apparently as from December all cars and motor bikes will drive on the right ..if this proves successful ..then the following year they will include the lorries !..incidentally it was the Brit's who made the first car ..a long long time ago ..it says in the bible that moses came down from the mountain in his triumph !
2007-09-24 21:40:31 · answer #9 · answered by boy boy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For all you ignorant Yank's out there - you should be referring to Britain, NOT England! Why are you so ignorant to the fact that Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland are in fact separate countries? But then again, a nation of people that can't point to their own country on a globe, must just be stupid and uneducated!
2007-09-26 23:50:36 · answer #10 · answered by bob6575 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who says we drive on the wrong side??? you are out of step asking this question.It all started over London bridge in history they deemed that traffic should ride on the left so as to ease congestion on the bridge,please read up on your history.
2007-09-24 22:36:10 · answer #11 · answered by restfullone 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋