The question of the day. :)
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The question of the day. :)
Up to the late 1700's, everybody travelled on the left side of the road because it's the sensible option for feudal, violent societies of mostly right-handed people.
Jousting knights with their lances under their right arm naturally passed on each other's right, and if you passed a stranger on the road you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and him.
Revolutionary France, however, overturned this practice as part of its sweeping social rethink. A change was carried out all over continental Europe by Napoleon.The reason it changed under Napoleon was because he was left handed his armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and any opponent.
From then on, any part of the world which was at some time part of the British Empire was thus left hand and any part colonised by the French was right hand.
In America, the French colonised the southern states (Louisiana for instance) and the Canadian east coast (Quebec). The Dutch colonised New York (or New Amsterdam). The Spanish and Portugese colonised the southern Americas. So The British were a minority in shaping the 'traffic'.
The drive-on-the-right policy was adopted by the USA, which was anxious to cast off all remaining links with its British colonial past
Once America drove on the right, left-side driving was ultimately doomed. If you wanted a good reliable vehicle, you bought American, for a period they only manufactured right-hand-drive cars.
From then on many countries changed out of necessity.
Today, the EC would like Britain to fall into line with the rest of Europe, but this is no longer possible. It would cost billions of pounds to change everything round.
The last European country to convert to driving on the right was Sweden in 1967. While everyone was getting used to the new system, they paid more attention and took more care, resulting in a reduction of the number of road accident casualties.
all these other countries are "stupid" too:
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bophuthatswana
Botswana
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
US Virgin Islands Cayman Islands
Channel Islands
Ciskei
Cyprus
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Gambia
Grenada
Guyana
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia Ireland
Isle of Man
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Lesotho
Macau
Malawi
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Montserrat
Mozambique Pakistan Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
St Kitts & Nevis
St. Helena
St. Lucia
Surinam
Swaziland Tanzania
Thailand
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
United Kingdom
Venda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Namibia
Nepal
New Zealand
source: http://www.2pass.co.uk/goodluck.htm
Hey...I wasn't saying anyone was stupid. :) This is a poll...I haven't even voted yet! :p
Clif
I didn't say that you called anyone stupid. guilty consciounse ? ;)Quote:
Originally posted by clifgriffin
Hey...I wasn't saying anyone was stupid. :) This is a poll...I haven't even voted yet! :p
Clif
I was stoped while driving a friends RHD car once.
The police officer was nice and keen enough to inform me that the steering wheel was on the wrong side, but he wasn't going to write me a ticket for that.
how about a new poll....
why are American cars all automatics?
a. because americans are to dumb to change gears.
b. because americans are lazy.
j/k :D
interesting info though swampy.... i always wondered that :)
I like the way the poll is going :D
xup....considering the fact that i am an american..there are tons of cars that are manual, but! i have to go with choice A....alot of people are to stupid to drive them
the scary thing is that in england if you take your driving test in an automatic you only get a licence to drive autos, in america I believe you can take the test in an auto and then jump in a manual and lurch down the street.
:eek:
Personaly I hate this thread.
"Why do Brits drive on the wrong side of the road?"
We drive on the origanal and correct side of the road, two main people made the rest of Europe drive on the right, Napoelon and Hitler.
They drive on the left in Japan, and they are very smart.
If the title "Why do Brits drive on the wrong side of the road?" is allowed I am allowed to call everybody who drives on the right a Nazi.
:)
TE
some people just take things to far....
did you ever see "the Blues Brothers"?Quote:
Originally posted by asheep_uk
I am allowed to call everybody who drives on the right a Nazi.
* follows the line out of the thread*
No I didn't, but I will now - does it have Nazis driving on the wrong side of the road?Quote:
Originally posted by TallGuyLittleCar
did you ever see "the Blues Brothers"?
* follows the line out of the thread*
:)
TE
no but as 2 neo-nazi's are about to die in their car they hold hands and confess their love for one another. its quite funny.Quote:
Originally posted by asheep_uk
No I didn't, but I will now - does it have Nazis driving on the wrong side of the road?
:)
TE
Okay, thank you - I will watch it.Quote:
Originally posted by TallGuyLittleCar
no but as 2 neo-nazi's are about to die in their car they hold hands and confess their love for one another. its quite funny.
:)
TE
Am I allowed to say that Hersheys sucks and its the worse chocolate ever ??
i'm having serious withdrawal symptoms - you cant even get Maltesers here lol <<<< now that's a crime !
:o
and thats my contribution to the thread as I don't drive :D
there ....
a
ps- asheepuk chill ! Just look at the rest of Europe. No one drives on the left yet we dont make fun of you Brits do we ? we accept you and cherish your eccentricities and weirdness as part of the diverse EC community that we are :D
i need a beer !
Quote:
Originally posted by asheep_uk
Personaly I hate this thread.
If the title "Why do Brits drive on the wrong side of the road?" is allowed I am allowed to call everybody who drives on the right a Nazi.
:)
TE
no
Fair enough.Quote:
Originally posted by david petley
no
:)
TE
I am right handed and just don't see myself driving on the left-hand side? :confused: I guess I have been driving for too long now. :p
Aria - I was going to post a poll about the types of chocolate between UK and US. I guess from your strong reaction, UK's chocolate wins. :D
nah I hate Cadbury's too - it's not even made with real cocoa just flavourings :(Quote:
Originally posted by tonytryout
I guess from your strong reaction, UK's chocolate wins. :D
I like Ritter (i think its German) and Swiss/Austrian/Belgian chocolate.
Especially their dark bitter ones like Lindt noir :):)
drool ....
a :p