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why does the uk drive on the left hand side of the road and the majoriity of the rest of the world drives on the right
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Driving on the right came about by whim. As long ago as the days of knights on horseback, they - being mostly right-handed, as we mostly are today - approached each other right side to right side. This was so that they could wield their swords effectively if the need arose. In other words, they rode "on the left".
Driving on the left was the rule in Roman times, too. There is archaeological evidence for this in the form of excavated cart-wheel ruts at the entrances to quarries. One pair of ruts is deep - obviously created when the carts emerged laden with stones - and the other shallow, where they entered unladen. The deep ruts prove they drove on the left.
Later, it is recorded that London City Council appointed three officials in 1722 to keep traffic on London Bridge on the left.
Napoleon imposed the drive-on-the-right rule in Europe for no other reason than to stamp his authority...that was the original whim.
Virtually all early automobiles, created by the pioneers both in Europe and America, had the steering-wheel on the right. Just like the knights of old, it made sense, therefore, to drive on the left. By doing so, the driver could easily see to manoeuvre his vehicle past approaching traffic and could judge when to overtake without endangering himself.
What happened to change things was that Henry Ford suddenly started mass-producing cars with the steering-wheel on the left. So, just as it had made perfect sense to drive on the left before, it now made perfect sense in the USA to drive on the right. Why did he put the steering-wheel there, when practically no-one else had ever done so and nothing was forcing him to buck the trend in Napoleonic style. Well, obviously whim...nothing more...sheer whim once again! Two whims made a right, you could say!
If you click here, a link will take you to a page with lots of additional information.
Driving on the left was the rule in Roman times, too. There is archaeological evidence for this in the form of excavated cart-wheel ruts at the entrances to quarries. One pair of ruts is deep - obviously created when the carts emerged laden with stones - and the other shallow, where they entered unladen. The deep ruts prove they drove on the left.
Later, it is recorded that London City Council appointed three officials in 1722 to keep traffic on London Bridge on the left.
Napoleon imposed the drive-on-the-right rule in Europe for no other reason than to stamp his authority...that was the original whim.
Virtually all early automobiles, created by the pioneers both in Europe and America, had the steering-wheel on the right. Just like the knights of old, it made sense, therefore, to drive on the left. By doing so, the driver could easily see to manoeuvre his vehicle past approaching traffic and could judge when to overtake without endangering himself.
What happened to change things was that Henry Ford suddenly started mass-producing cars with the steering-wheel on the left. So, just as it had made perfect sense to drive on the left before, it now made perfect sense in the USA to drive on the right. Why did he put the steering-wheel there, when practically no-one else had ever done so and nothing was forcing him to buck the trend in Napoleonic style. Well, obviously whim...nothing more...sheer whim once again! Two whims made a right, you could say!
If you click here, a link will take you to a page with lots of additional information.
Brilliant explanation Quizmonster..!
the link doesent work for me.but I hope you find this interesting gaz_far.
here
blimey,didnt know that japan drives on the left to.
the link doesent work for me.but I hope you find this interesting gaz_far.
here
blimey,didnt know that japan drives on the left to.
Australia also drive on the left, so do Singapore and Malaysia, and I believe Canada do too. In fact I also believe they do so in India. I'm sure there are many more examples, so it is not as unusual as it might appear.
p.s. The thing about Napolean. I've heard it argued that he was left-handed. And as the French had influence in much of America, before the British, when Henry Ford begun production, the steering wheels went on the left, as they already rode horses/carriages on the right of roads... hmmm!
p.s. The thing about Napolean. I've heard it argued that he was left-handed. And as the French had influence in much of America, before the British, when Henry Ford begun production, the steering wheels went on the left, as they already rode horses/carriages on the right of roads... hmmm!
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