RHD in the UK

[elwarzio]

Quick question (mostly curiousity) - is there any historical reason why British cars are RHD (or why most other countries are LHD)?

Other than obviously road traffic also going the other way round I mean

Any info or links about this appreciated.

>> Edited by elwarzio on Monday 26th September 23:25

[camper]

the majority of Countries drive on the same side as we do apparently

camper

[up-the-dubs]

It has something to do with how the Royal family used to carry their sword while on horseback. You would pass on the left so that if accosted, you had swoard on left and could quickly use right hand to grab your sword and attack.

I think

[Balmoral Green]

camper said:

the majority of Countries drive on the same side as we do apparently

Yep, pretty much even RHD/LHD around the world. It's only North America and most of Europe that drives on the right. South America, Africa, Asia and the Antipodeans mostly RHD.

[fish]

We drive on the left so that you have your sword at the ready on the right. I think the others used the right as it was a decree from Napoleen who was lefthanded that they did the reverse. This thus effected America due to the dutch etc and there you go... They then make cars LHD thus anyone who bought Amerian cars will be LHD and old Empire countries will tend to be RHD

[Andrew Noakes]

For a while in Italy it was up to individual cities and regions to decide which side of the road they wanted people to drive on. You could drive through the countryside on the left then have to switch to the right for the next town... or vice versa. Must have led to some interesting accidents.



Lancias were usually RHD until quite late - 1950s I think.

[krusty]

It was Napoleon Bonaparte who made the order to change sides. Originally the French were on the left as well but NB thought it would confuse the enemy so they changed.

[speed8]

Not quite a 50/50 split, more like 35/65



Details here http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/driving%20on%20the%20left.htm#leftdriving

Left - 74 countries
Right - 166 countries

>> Edited by speed8 on Tuesday 27th September 09:10

[Eric Mc]

What do they do in Gibraltar?

[Andrew Noakes]

Sweden changed on 3 September 1967.

Gilbraltar, apparently, drives on the right.

[Eric Mc]

Makes sense, I suppose.

[NAS]

Sweden crash rates and death toll actually went massively down the first year people started driving on the right side. People were just that much more carefull. 2 years afterwards, the rates were back at their old level again.

[dtmpower]

Balmoral Green said:

camper said: the majority of Countries drive on the same side as we do apparently Yep, pretty much even RHD/LHD around the world. It's only North America and most of Europe that drives on the right. South America, Africa, Asia and the Antipodeans mostly RHD.

I think the world is dominantly LHD/RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD:



www.brianlucas.ca/roadside/

[XM5ER]

Andrew Noakes said:

For a while in Italy it was up to individual cities and regions to decide which side of the road they wanted people to drive on. You could drive through the countryside on the left then have to switch to the right for the next town... or vice versa. Must have led to some interesting accidents. Lancias were usually RHD until quite late - 1950s I think.

Ah Ha, that would explain why they all still drive down the middle of the road.