when the french told them to do it
2007-11-12 22:39:16
·
answer #1
·
answered by infobod2nd 4
·
0⤊
1⤋
This is from the first site: 'The United States of America drove on the left when they were British colonies, and gradually changed sides of the road beginning in 1792.' BUT in his book The Rule of the Road: An International Guide to History and Practice (now out of print), author Peter Kincaid states that he could find no evidence that left side driving was ever widespread in the USA. He attributes this to the influence of European settlers used to driving on the right, and also the fact that vehicles such as carts and the postillion-controlled Conestoga Wagons were popular in the colony and favored right-side driving. However, there may have been some parts of the country that did adhere to left side rules for a time.
2007-11-12 22:42:01
·
answer #2
·
answered by uknative 6
·
2⤊
0⤋
When right is wrong and left is right?
Heh, sounds like politics to me...
To answer your question, it dates back to the late 1700's. That's really when the shift from left to right took place in countries such as the United States, when teamsters started using large freight wagons pulled by several pairs of horses. The wagons had no driver’s seat, so the driver sat on the left rear horse and held his whip in his right hand. Seated on the left, the driver naturally preferred that other wagons overtake him on the left so that he could be sure to keep clear of the wheels of oncoming wagons. He did that by driving on the right side of the road. It stuck.
The British, however, kept to the left. I guess they had smaller wagons!
Today, nealy two-thirds of the worlds population drives on the right. Not to say that it is right, in fact there are some good physiological arguments that make a good case that driving on the left might actually be safer. People's left eyes are slightly "lazier" than their right. The issue is that once the choice was made, it made if difficult to change it. In today
s world, it's proably just too dang expensive to change now for any but the smallest of countries. Consider that all the road signs, road markings, ramps, vehicles, etc. are all set up to support the side that was selected years ago. In fact, no country has "made a switch" for nearly 30 years.
More backgound information, maps, and information about different countries can be found on wiki...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right
2007-11-13 06:58:25
·
answer #3
·
answered by todvango 6
·
0⤊
0⤋
I live in Canada, and we agree with the USA.
Is it just a coincidence that USA is the same as France (who helped them rebel against Great Britain) rather than their homeland England?
I think not!
England & France disagree on everything.
The English "French Horn" is the same funny looking instrument that the French call the "english horn".
You may not believe this, but England dressed it's garbage men in uniforms that were a copy of the French sovereign's favourite outfit.
But I think the reason may be the side of the wagon drivers sat with a passenger, even before cars were invented.
The first car was in Germany. I forget who they agree with, England or America. As the inventor of cars, you would think germany would set the standard.
But maybe road etique pre-dates the automobile to horse and buggy days!
2007-11-12 22:48:34
·
answer #4
·
answered by Anonymous
·
2⤊
0⤋
well what is wrong and right???
But if your talking about the most common way of driving rules. It is mostly the right hand side of the road, which all of north america uses!!! So concidering the right side of the road the wrong side... it is a paradox question
2007-11-12 22:38:59
·
answer #5
·
answered by Marcus Paul 3
·
1⤊
0⤋
1776. They don't, they drive on the right side of the road. It's nor wrong just different from whomever drives on the left.
2007-11-12 22:39:39
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
1⤊
0⤋
This reminds me of the lady watching a military parade and commenting that everyone was out of step except her son. Do you have "Yield the left of way" where you live?
2007-11-13 04:04:58
·
answer #7
·
answered by sensible_man 7
·
1⤊
0⤋
Actually I live in uk and I'm certain we were going to change sides in the sixties then the government did a "u-turn".
2007-11-12 22:41:39
·
answer #8
·
answered by Anonymous
·
1⤊
0⤋
Actually, your the one driving on the wrong side, majority rules darlin' ;)
2007-11-12 22:38:38
·
answer #9
·
answered by Anonymous
·
2⤊
0⤋
i think its more like ur the one driving on the wrong side....
2007-11-12 22:43:01
·
answer #10
·
answered by Brittany T 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
Weren't cars invented here? Everyone else is on the wrong side.
2007-11-12 22:38:41
·
answer #11
·
answered by just browsin 6
·
0⤊
2⤋