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Why do they drive on the other side of the road?

18 replies

Santi said on June 23, 2004 04:05:

I have learnt that in the time of horse-drawn coaches it was decided that these would drive on the left side of the road because they used whips to drive on the horses and as most drivers were right handed it was the best way not to harm people walking on the sidewalk.
Then the cars powered by engines came, and most countries changed the rule and now drive right hand, making the UK look like they drive on the wrong side (while they were one of the few that simply didn’t change). But... why did this all happen?

PS.: I have a hypothesis on it but I want to know what you people think.

LittleSpooky said on June 23, 2004 04:09:

I figure that since here in America, we drive on the right side, exit on the left... it’s population control... not paying attention when you get out of the car.... BAM!!!!

You start a new career as a hood ornament!

TheRain1981 said on June 23, 2004 04:11:

*lol*

Santi said on June 23, 2004 04:41:

Well, but as you well know since you have lived in the UK, brits drive in the left side but they get out of the car in the right, so it is the same :D

Ferdan said on June 23, 2004 04:49:

Countries that drive on the left:

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 Pakistan
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
Uganda
US Virgin Islands
Zambia
Zimbabwe
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Wales

Enough info to make theories :P

LittleSpooky said on June 23, 2004 04:55:

Santi: True enough *lmao* I forgot about that. Then again, when I was there, I wasn’t old enough to drive.

Vixzter said on June 23, 2004 05:37:

Here’s why the UK drive on the left.....it all comes from the Romans where the majority of Soliders were right handed so if ure marching down the road and u meet and army coming the other way ure soliders will be ready to draw their weapons.
So there you have it....history lesson number 1, as for why we drive on the left now.....well its coz we don’t want to be like the rest of u :P

Vixzter said on June 23, 2004 05:40:

And also the cars are right hand drive coz ure then closer to the centre of the road, which makes it easier for your road positioning. :P hence the reason why everyone who drives on the right has a left hand drive car.
History lesson number 2

Santi said on June 23, 2004 05:42:

lol I had been told the story of the coaches, didn’t know that one of the Romans :D Anyway you misunderstood the question, it’s not why you drive on the left, but why we do on the right :D

@Ferdan: ... Islands and developing countries do not change their minds so easily? :D

Santi said on June 23, 2004 05:44:

Yes, but either if you drive a Ferrari or an Aston Martin, you’re the same distance from the centre as long as you drive in the right country for those cars...

Vixzter said on June 23, 2004 05:46:

@santi: the whole of Europe decided to drive on the right for some reason, we choose not to.....so it was probably a french idea ;)

Ferdan said on June 23, 2004 06:26:

well, actually it’s said it was Napoleon’s idea :)

England evaluated a switch of sides, but it was going to cost too much money and it didn’t really matter because it´s was an isolated island.

So that also makes sense in the former brit colonies because many of them are isolated islands aswell.

LittleSpooky said on June 24, 2004 04:47:

I still like my answer

coyboyusa said on June 24, 2004 12:35:

it has alot to do with human genetics as well, about 90% of all humans are right handed by genetic disposition, so as nature would have it we usually direct traffic be it human vehicular or otherwise from the right side

Vixzter said on June 24, 2004 17:33:

@Ferdan: see....I knew it was a French idea!!

per4me said on June 25, 2004 00:05:

i like littlespookies reply too! i wonder how much being a headornament would pay*lol*;D

LittleSpooky said on June 25, 2004 04:05:

Not much. Tried it a couple of times.

Needless to say, I don’t walk through that particular intersection any longer. I RUN!

sfchemist said on June 30, 2004 22:29:

I know sweden tried to change from right to left hand drive (in the 70s, I think) they just set a date and changed but they changed back, don’t know why...

This did give rise to one of my friends asking how they did it in one day which made me laugh(consider the alternative).

Santi said on July 1, 2004 06:09:

I thought that Sweden was actually the last country to shift from left to right hand driving! I read in a magazine, that in 1969, Sweden changed the rule and joined the rest of Europe.