PalenQ

Why do some countries drive on the right and others on the left ?In Europe, the remaining left-driving countries switched one by one to ... Territories, however, which bordered other left-driving countries were exempted. ...
users.pandora.be/worldstandards/driving%20on%20the%20left.htm

web site for above post i made

interesting why U.S. and some other countries 'teamsters' switched us to the right. they sat in the front of the wagon and used their right hand to control the horses and expected folks to pass them on the left.

anywhere interesting site on this topic.

flanneruk

We never ran China, and the bit that drives on the left accounts for less than one-hundredth of one percent of the country's surface area. 100% of China's human rights, democracy, uncensored access to international media, freedom of speech and religion, rule of law and governmental accountability, of course, but how important is any of that compared to the side of the road they drive on?

We DID run their Customs for a while. But it'd be even greater news to most Americans (can't you remember the "who lost China?" debate in the late 40's?) that Britain EVER had more influence in the other 99.99% than Washington.

Except of course in Kashgar, where the former British consulate was the beacon of light and hope during the great anarchies of the early 20th century.

PalenQ

Shanghai wasn't virtually a British colony at least economically - no they did not want the dirty work of actually trying to rule that many folk - just took the money.

kerouac

Cambodia is a pretty scary country for drivers (and passengers!). About half of the cars on the road are imported (or stolen?) from Thailand. So half of the cars have the steering wheel on the right and the other half on the left. (Cambodia theoretically drives on the right.)

sheila

France drives the wrong way- on the right.

mrkindallas

"In the interests of safety, you are advised to practise this in your country of origin for a week or two before driving in the UK."

Does anyone else see this as humorous?

The next time I accidentally turn the wrong way on a one-way street, I'm using this as my defense.

Seriously though, I'm sure they don't intend for you to practice on public streets, but if not on public streets, then where? And how could practicing on empty or one-way streets (or parking lots?) be good practice for sitting on the right hand side of the vehicle, driving on the left hand side of the road, and maneuvering traffic signals and other moving vehicles?

Mucky

I read that France are planning to switch driving sides. It will be phased in over a 3 day period.
Day 1 Motorbikes and cycles will switch sides.
Day 2 Cars and Vans
Day 3 Lorries and Busses.

;-)

Muck

SmittyOz

being from Oz means that we drive on the right side... that is the lefthand side of the road....as does the majority of humans on this planet (China India and all of Asia drive on the LEFT HAND side of the road)
BUT

being the itinerant traveller like most Aussies..we get around however we can even if its on the wrong side..that is the right hand side of the road!

got that?

Jolie

Since I'm right-handed, I can see the appeal of being able to shift gears with the right hand versus the left. If I were a minority left-hander, I might feel differently. Do they have more lefties in England, Australia, and Japan?

rkkwan

UK wasn't the only country in China in the late 19th C. In Chinese History, they refer to the war with 8 countries.

And when you go to Shanghai, one of the main commercial areas today in central city, just west of the Bund, was the French-occupation area.

Russia and Japan were the two countries that had actually occupied large Chinese territories in NE China. What the German, French and British occupied paled in comparison.

Most will consider Hong Kong a real British colony.

And Portugal had Macau as part of its territory for about 450 years.

Anyways, Hong Kong and Macau still drive on the left.

crazy4Hawaii

Waring surmises that "America will switch to the left"?! Heck, I'd just be happy if we could get a little closer to the middle again...LOL! And speaking of politics, if you tell George that the French like the right side of the road too, he MIGHT just decide to switch us over after all. Maybe it has to do with both governments being born out of revolution...

bob_brown

In Paris it seems to me that the French drive where ever they can, right, left, middle, you name it. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they drive all over the place.

My father once told me a joke about New York Cab drivers. A New York cabbie, a Baptist minister, and a Catholic priest all arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time. The two clergymen were told to wait; the cabbie was given instant admission. When the two clergy protested, St. Peter said to them, "That cabbie has scared more hell out of people than you two ever dreamed of."

Well after a few French cab rides, particularly in Vernon (Giverny) I should be pure in heart and soul for an eternity and the next life as well.

I will say one thing for Parisian drivers. They have the most accurate depth perception of anybody around. I have watched bicycle riders pedal along the street, between the traffic line and the curb, and never get hit even thought the clearance on either side looked to be less than 2 inches.

I also accept the fact that Parisian bike riders are gutsy in the extreme.

PatrickLondon

Was that the cabbie who died peacefully in his sleep (not even disturbed by his passengers' screams)?

bilboburgler

I understand the swedes changed over county by county over a 2 week period. Now I know the country is sparsley populated but it must have lead to interesting junctions

Clifton

<i>Cambodia theoretically drives on the right</i>

Too true kerouac. In reality, Cambodia drives whereever it pleases... and at whatever speed is most convenient. I love the intersections in cities, almost none of which have lights or stop signs. Crossing seems like more of a process of automotive osmosis. If you're lucky, the moto you're hanging on to the back of sort of magically re-appears at the other side, having missed all the tuk-tuks and Camrys with the wheel in the wrong place.

PalenQ

I think 'Red' Ken has it right - do driving at all in London.

Dukey

In the US Virgin Islands they drive on the left, also.

Rd

Yes they do drive on the right side of the road in France. Our first holiday in France was a driving holiday and coming from a left road drive country I was quite proud of myself on how I managed in Paris until I hit the circle around the Arc de Triomphe!!!! I got into the circle but could not get out. No-one but no-one would allow me out! We were in the lane closest to the Arc so we could not see the names of the roads leading off the circle. Panic set in and my wife suggested that I close my eyes and veer off. After about 5 revolutions I tucked in behind a cyclist and manged to escape. Have avoided this ever since.

kerouac

I'm ashamed to admit this, but as an &quot;Arc de Triomphe&quot; specialist, I adore whizzing around as fast as possible and cutting everybody off on my left. I even sometimes win battles against taxis, so I must be getting pretty good. I'm afraid to say that I am probably not the only person who enjoys such behavior. It is just too tempting to watch 90% of the cars hesitating in terror.

wombat7

Sorry - can't keep it in any longer but this really was a somewhat dumb question - still it makes a change from &quot;can I wear jeans?&quot; &quot;will people laugh at me if I wear white sneakers&quot; &quot;should I take travellers checks or change money here&quot; etc etc