BS: driving on the wrong side of the road

Subject: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Airymouse
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 05:20 PM

This message addresses 3 different topics:
1) I am convinced that the better way to drive is to drive on the left side of the road. I base this on these two assumptions: more people are right handed than are left handed; it is easier for a right-handed driver to handle a right turn than a left turn. If you drive on the left and leave your high beams on you will blind a driver who is making a sharp right turn, but not a driver who is making a sharp left turn; the opposite is true if you drive on the right side of the road.
2) I have driven on the right side of the road, since I got my license and even before, and I am terrified of trying to make the switch, especially as I had a friend in college who was killed in England by a driver who was unsuccessful in making the switch. I would like to wander about Great Britain popping in on sing-arounds and such.
2a) When (say 14 to 17 days) and where would be best if I had to rely on public transportation and taxis
2b) I understand that starting next year England is going to allow Google's driverless cars on the road. Will they be for rent? Is this technology a solution to my problem?

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 06:03 PM

For an interesting summary of which countries drive on which side and why: http://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/driving-on-the-left/

That's the first I've heard of England allowing driverless cars next year. Have you a source, or did you hear about it in the pub?

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Rumncoke
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 06:08 PM

I have only ever driven in England, so I have no experience of driving on the right hand side of the road.

You might try experiencing the delights of Sidmouth folk week - the first week in August, though I think it is spread out over nine days now - and when it finishes on the Friday you can go straight to another festival for the weekend, then you'd probably feel like lying down in a darkened room for a few days to recover. You should be able to use the festival busses and public transport, maybe even get a lift in between festivals.

As for driverless cars - I think that they are just about legal, but practical is another thing altogether.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ed T
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 06:11 PM

A couple of links for consideration.


Coping with driving fears 

Dextrophobia 

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 06:38 PM

The UK is intending to run a test of driverless cars in one city next year, that's all. It will presumably stop when they kill somebody and that will be the last we hear of them.

Probably your best bets for folk by public transport would be urban northern England (Sheffield, Liverpool, York, Manchester etc) or urban southern Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk, Lothians and Borders). Sidmouth is only feasible for campervan owners, there is no accommodation.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Airymouse
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 07:03 PM

"When it comes to driverless cars, there seem to be legal roadblocks popping up all over America. The FBI and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have also expressed concerns over the self-driving vehicles. Meanwhile, the UK will allow the cars on roads starting in January. So is the U.S. falling behind the curve?" (From a Yahoo finance article about Ford) I have decided to wait a few years to allow you all to perfect the driverless car, although riding with my wife must be a pretty close simulation.
So I have levophobia. I will work on urban northern England, rather than Sidmouth, and try for early August. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: michaelr
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 08:56 PM

I can say from experience that the switch does not take long to get used to. Yes, you'll be white-knuckling it for an hour or two, especially in roundabouts, but it will seem quite normal in no time.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: olddude
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 09:50 PM

No its just how you are taught and how much you drive. You could say driving backwards is best if that's all you do every day. Driving is learned behavior not instinct

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Mrrzy
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 10:39 PM

Spent a week in Ireland driving on what was, for me, the wrong side of the road, being the right side of the road. The rental company said it was the first time Americans hadn't had any accidents at all - it was our honeymoon and we took turns driving, looking the wrong way at corners, getting honked at but not hit, even the time we (well, I) went the wrong way round the roundabout. It was harrowing but OK for not two days in a row!

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Janie
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 10:50 PM

What Dan said. I'm a leftie who has never driven outside the USA, and a good driver, or so I often have been told by folks ranging from impatient teenagers to old aunties. I don't think handedness is an issue.

Regarding the headlights. Getting seriously night-blind and avoid driving at night as much as possible. Hard for me to see how it would make a difference if driving lanes were reversed from what I have grown up with.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Bert
Date: 17 Nov 14 - 11:31 PM

It is not the switch TO that is the problem, it is the switch BACK.

Everyone used to drive on the left because they used their right hands to either greet the opposing traffic or to defend themselves.

Then Napoleon went mad and thought that he could conquer the world. He switched to driving on the wrong side to throw confusion amongst his conquered nations.

And of course other idiots decided to copy the madman. If you think that driving on the right is the thing to do then you are one of those idiots.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 12:32 AM

My dear husband and I have been to the British isles several times, and we have some suggestions.

1. Don't try to drive in big cities. Fly in, take a train to a smaller city, rent a car there and start driving in more peaceful surroundings.

2. Before you go, get some toy cars. Then go to Google Earth or Google Maps and using pencil and big sheets of newsprint, make copies of the complex urban centers of old cities. Now drive your toy cars on the maps. This is more fun if you do it with friends.

Don't forget to go in and out of parking lots.

This really helps!

Now do the same with freeways and roundabouts. You go around roundabouts clockwise. Your route is a question mark facing backwards.

3. It really helps to remember that the driver always rides in the middle of the road.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Bert
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 12:58 AM

The driving is not so bad because everyone else is doing the same. The biggest problem is for pedestrians. You tend to look the wrong way first then you step out into the traffic before you look the right way.

If you are in a foreign country ALWAYS look BOTH ways before you put a foot out into the street.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 04:23 AM

An interesting aside regarding "roundabouts" is that carousels or merry-go-rounds tend to go round in the same direction as the road roundabouts in the country they are in - English ones go round clockwise, and in France and Belgium they go anticlockwise. The illustrations in Wikipedia show that the same is true in the US - though there is one Spanish exception in Galicia.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 04:33 AM

There is of course the "Magic Roundabout" at Hemel Hempsted, which is well worth avoiding....6 mini-roundabouts around a main central one, with some of the traffic going "the wrong way" for British roundabouts:


Magic Roundabout

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Musket
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 04:51 AM

I have worked in countries using both sides and one country where they use either side.... (Looking at you India!)

Being British, driving on the left is my natural way, but funnily enough, whilst I fairly instantly adapt to driving on the right when I go abroad, it feels more strange (for the first ten mins or so) when I return. The roads leading out of our airports get more than their fair share of bumps, and more often than not caused by British drivers returning according to a traffic police programme on the telly recently. I can understand why.

I used to tell a colleague in Chicago that he may drive on the right side but we drive on the correct side.

I heard the Napoleon reason too, and something to do with drawing swords. Interesting that the Romans marched on the left because Italian DNA leads the buggers to drive in the middle of the road and put their trust in fate....

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 05:20 AM

Another exception to my earlier post is the 1960s television Magic Roundabout, which goes round clockwise in spite of having been created by a Frenchman in Paris.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 05:29 AM

Airymouse - It is very easy to get round a variety of Folk venues in London - Lots of choice every night of the week and relatively straight forward Public Transport . Also , lots of UK Folkies are only too happy to help with lifts and / or advice

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 05:59 AM

I once had to negotiate that Magic Roundabout in a school minibus full of kids that I'd only driven for about half an hour previously, having never driven anything bigger than a Morris Minor before. I have a feeling the rules may have been tightened up since then!

Driving around Sidmouth is easy. All you have to do is be at least 88 years old, partially sighted and drive at no more than 15 mph. You will be completely indistinguishable from most of the natives thereof. Further hints and tips for driving around Sidmouth: rarely signal (alternatively, just leave one indicator on all the time); to turn right, position your car so that no-one can pass you on the inside, no matter how wide the road, then wait for a gap in the oncoming traffic of at least half a mile; when the lights turn green, don't move until you've heard at least three angry blasts of horns from behind. And, if that upsets you, contemplate leaving your hearing aids at home next time. Nothing to it!

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 06:08 AM

Speaking of roundabouts, I've driven in Cyprus a few times. They drive on the left, so that's ok. But roundabouts are a relatively recent innovation, and older drivers never experienced them when they were learning to drive. Most people haven't a clue what to do. The only safe strategy is to ignore what you might have thought were the rules and just charge across the buggers as fast as you can!

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Stu
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 07:39 AM

It's a piece of piss once you get used to it as long as you don't allow yourself to get too tired, but that applies wherever you drive. I've driven in the US several times including for long journeys and once you get used to the little foibles (turning right on a red for instance, or not if you're an American driving in the UK) then you'll be fine.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 07:58 AM

I hired a car in Malta many years ago; they officially drive on the left (due to early British influence i suppose).
When i double-checked at the rental place the man there said " we drive in the shade"...which turned out to be largely true!
He also advised "When you're approaching a roundabout, if you see any other car coming, just give way!" :-)

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Nick
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 09:50 AM

I came to USA recently and hired a car and we drove about 1500 miles (should see you round a lot of UK) and as soon as I got off the airplane drove 250 miles home in England

It is not a big deal honest. And though young I am over 60

I got honked at once in Boston (so did everyone else) but apart from that no hassle or problems. Soon got into turning on red lights - though I suggest you don't do it here

Worst bit was driving at night back from Cape Cod in torrential rain with one tyre throwing up a constant flume of water and feeling that I was holding people up driving at 40-50mph. But then I don't enjoy conditions like that at the best of times

The one thing I noticed is that you don't have roundabouts in the USA. Noticeable by how few there are

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 10:33 AM

'feeling that I was holding people up driving at 40-50mph'

You did right. In fact, the torrential rain might have meant that 40-50 was too fast. Some other drivers may have felt you were holding them up, but others were probably grateful that you were leading the pack and making sense.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 10:34 AM

Hi

I have extensive experience of driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

I live in England and drive on the left, but have lived and holidayed in several European countries that drive on the right.

I found it was quite simple to get used to but you do have to be very aware; for instance getting up and driving early in the morning when there no traffic about. I have on more than one occasion in this situation , forgetting momentarily , started out on the wrong side and driven a few yards before realising I was on the wrong side. Luckily I realised more or less straight away and changed over.

In Spain I heard of three or four fatal accidents where people did what I did but ran into oncoming traffic.

After my lucky escapes , whilst on holiday my wife was usually with me and we got into the habit of when I was starting out she would say " think left". That helped enormously.

It also helps if you are driving a left-hand drive car.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 11:42 AM

As far as I'm aware there are NO plans to legalise the use of Driverless cars on U.K roads in the near Future.
Ignore the nonsense above about Driving in Sidmouth !! I live a few miles outside the town and its no worse than any other small town, and its small enough that you can walk to anywhere within the Town in 10-15 minutes .

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Musket
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 11:52 AM

Driving in Sidmouth is easy. Try not to knock over the man walking in front of the locals' cars waving red flags though. It only upsets them and lynch mobs aren't frowned upon down those parts.

A bloke from Sidmouth was driving up the A303 to see his daughter. She heard on the traffic news of a problem because someone was driving the wrong way up the dual carriageway. She rang her Dad in the car to warn him. "A car, you say? Not just one, there seems to be hundreds of the buggers!"

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,Steve "The Stig" Shaw
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 01:27 PM

Well no worse than driving in Budleigh Salterton, Otterton, Newton Poppleford, East Budleigh, Woodbury, Yettington, Sidbury...heheh!

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 04:03 PM

I think I would easily adapt to keeping track of which side of the road I;m supposed to be on....I just tell my brain "I'm in a different system>"
What I would worry about is operating the car's controls with different hands... gear shifts & such. I am very right-handed and I worry that would be harder to adapt to than the roads.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Nick
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 04:47 PM

Ah yes I forgot gears. If you are not used to them it would be odd to drive round England in 1st gear for a week...

It was odd to drive an automatic for a week. But driving a car with a gear lever on the wrong hand is surprisingly easy.

Now the thing I did find really odd was that each time I got in the car I found myself pawing empty air with my left hand trying to find the seat belt. I did that loads of times.

The main thing in cities is to concentrate on not hitting others rather than being bothered whether anyone hits you (generally they won't). Worked in Italy (interesting driving and not for the indecisive), US and London.

For no reason it reminds me of an Australian friend I worked with years ago in London. He is the only person I know to have multiple accidents in the space of about 10yards. Driving a flame orange Plymouth Barracuda round Hammersmith Broadway after an evening out with (it turned out later) brakes that you could see through (hence little ability to stop the car) he managed to hit a taxi, reverse back to 'get out of here' and hit a bus, and then hit the taxi again. When quizzed by the police he gave a false name... All not recommended.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 05:06 PM

I can't remember which side of the road they drive on in Egypt. Most of the time, cars there swarm, and son't seem to behave in a rational manner. If most of the traffic is on the right side of the road and traffic on the left is rather light, some drivers will take over a lane or two on the other side of the road.

Traffic signals? I think I saw two in all of Cairo, a few more in Alexandria.

And crossing a street on foot? Well, let's just say it's an adventure.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Rumncoke
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 06:06 PM

Driving in Sidmouth, Devon is less hair raising than driving here in Poole, Dorset. My sister refused to drive when on holiday here, and my brother in law - a bus driver, remarked - 'they're bloody barmy' after his first encounter with our locals.

This is where they put the first traffic lights - I have heard, because the drivers were so inconsiderate they would not let people out at junctions.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,CB James
Date: 18 Nov 14 - 08:28 PM

Some years back the Rhinoceros Party of Canada ran on a platform that the Empire should be revived by switching British North America from right-hand drive to left (as in the "old country").

To allay concerns over such a drastic realignment, they proposed a phased changeover - trucks and buses first, followed by passenger cars a week later.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Musket
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 01:10 AM

An old business colleague told me he was in Sweden when they changed over. There was a two hour period when no vehicles were allowed on the roads and then when they returned, it was on the right.

Their main reason was that most car manufacturers made more left hookers so there was a commercial advantage in buying the cars they made more of and allowed for better trading with mainland Europe.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,DaveRo
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 02:51 AM

The Magic Roundabout at Hemel might seem complicated but you just have to break it down into its components. It's 6 mini-islands joined by 6 very short roads that happen to be in a big circle. It works really well!

The words roundabout and island are more-or-less interchangeable, BTW. A mini-island is one with no middle to go round, or just a painted circle or a raised lump. It's acceptable to drive straight over it. I call it a 'logical island'.

More common than the Magic Roundabout (are there others?) is the double island, two logical islands with co-incident edges. Sometimes three. These need caution! Again, break it into parts: it's just two island with a zero-length road between. I call them 'occluded islands'

Aylesbury had a nice collection of doubles and triples but has recently taken to reinstalling traffic lights which is a backwards step IMO. (I was driving in the US recently; God! All those traffic lights!)

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 05:22 AM

There are two horribly complicated multiple roundabouts in Launceston in Cornwall, one just by Tesco and another by the multi-storey car park, both on hilly terrain. No-one seems to know what you're supposed to do, and it doesn't help if you're not sure exactly which turn-off you need. Nightmare!

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 07:36 AM

Having spent many years driving on both left and right sides on the road my advice is to remember that you as the driver should be next to the road centre line. Assuming your driving wheel is on the side that suits the country. It always worked for me during moments of lapsed concentration.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Nick
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 08:55 AM

I think I have read that the way to create safer roads is by switching the side of the road that people drive on. Though counter-intuitive it is because people are much more cautious during the period of change and so accidents tend to drop. Once they are used to it the accident rate tends to rise.

The obvious answer is to change the side that people drive on a random but regular basis (so that people don't plan for it and get blasé about it)

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ed T
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 09:23 AM

""The obvious answer is to change the side that people drive on a random but regular basis (so that people don't plan for it and get blasé about it)""

Do it gradually based on the size of vehicle. Small cars would be first, followed in a few months by larger cars, and then trucks, busses and vans. When all vehicles have changed over, start changing it back to the other side, in the same sequence.

;)

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ed T
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 09:24 AM

An alternative would be to alternate sides based on licence plate numbers. Odd ending numbers drive on one side, even ones the other side?

:)

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 10:35 AM

I like those ideas... one result of trying them would be a drastic reduction in drivers with slow reflexes and the terminally timid.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 10:51 AM

Sidmouth has accommodation. Most of it booked from year to year but there are cancellations and you might put yourself on a waiting list in more than one hotel/B&B. It is a gamble but a sensible one.

As for driving in the correct side of the road, it is a doddle - just ask 30 million drivers here.

I did the switch in Ontario and Toronto. It takes concentration, but you get into it. The laws of the road are a bit different. We have traffic islands/roundabouts which Canada seemed to be devoid of, except Niagra. Think: give way to cars on the right, they won't stop and expect everyone to scatter. Speed limits are ignored generally, as are pedestrians. Perhaps I exaggerate but there are enough idiots to be wary, especially in cities. Which I gather is general the world over.

I always remember Thailand, being driven from the airport and wandering the street to tire myself of jet lag. Only when I crossed at a major junction and encountered a taxi going the wrong way on a dual carriageway (to a central taxi rank) did I look round and realise they too drive on the correct side of the road. It never occurred to me until then!

for a good source of folk venues and links to similar listing site in the UK have a ferret around cresby.com

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Gda Music
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 11:58 AM

Karachi, West Pakistan in the early 1950`s I remember there was a government traffic suggestion to possibly alter the country to a drive-on-the-right system. The idea soon failed however, for although us motorists could get used to that kind of change, the multitude of camels certainly could not and would not cooperate. There is that old saying "you can`t teach an old dog new tricks", well that sure applied to those 10s of thousands of working camels. 60 years on that city now holds 3 million motor vehicles and much fewer camels, all travelling in the same direction....still on the left.

GJ

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Gurney
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 03:22 PM

I've wondered why America changed from driving on the left to driving on the right. Possibly for the same reason that Napoleon did, because it was different to the British (proper) way.

Of course, my impression that the early USA, as opposed to American colonies, DID drive on the left is derived entirely from Hollywood. I've noticed that in every western movie, the stagecoach driver sits on the right of the vehicle, and the brake is on the right, so obviously they passed each other RH to RH/driver to driver.

Mind you, Napoleon was a loony who changed everything. Weights and measures, the calendar, money, the international dateline, his title...

Obviously, 16 ounces to the pound, 14 pounds to the stone, 12 pennies to the shilling, 20 shillings to the pound sterling, all that, is the proper way things should be done.

tongue in cheek here.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ed T
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 04:01 PM

This historic information seems to make sense as to why about 35 percent of the world drive on the left, and the remaining few, drive on the right.

Some related history 

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 04:21 PM

From the linked article:
"In the past, almost everybody travelled on the left side of the road because that was the most sensible option for feudal, violent societies. Since most people are right-handed, swordsmen preferred to keep to the left in order to have their right arm nearer to an opponent and their scabbard further from him. Moreover, it reduced the chance of the scabbard (worn on the left) hitting other people."


Ha! I say. And here Britain considers itself to be less violent than the USA!

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 04:31 PM

ED, I posted that link a couple of days ago (mind you, sometimes people start reading a thread part way through and don't read the earlier posts, so it may be useful to repeat).

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ed T
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 04:57 PM

Topsie,
No disrespect intended. I posted 'cause someone asjed a question.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 05:07 PM

That's OK, no offence taken. Like I said, some people might have missed it the first time.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 06:47 PM

With the complex system of signs & traffic lights now, it would be, as that site notes, prohibitively expensive for any major country to change over. We might as well just get used to things as they are.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Gurney
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 11:02 PM

Well, the site that EdT and Topsie linked says that driving on the left was because people with swords found it better. I don't believe a word of it! People with swords ride, not drive, and they used any bloody side they wanted to!

No, IMO it was carters and coachmen who kept left, so that they could use their whips down the side of the vehicle.

And also so that they didn't take the ear off the guard, who was sitting the most convenient way for a right-handed long-gun hand.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 12:22 AM

Back when I lived in Berlin in 1972-73, I swore I'd never drive in Europe, and I've kept that pledge. But now we're going on a Jim Malcolm tour of Scotland in June, and my wife wants to go to a retreat at Findhorn before or after the tour. So, I figured maybe I should rent a car to get her there and for me to go elsewhere while she's being spiritual.

But gee, I don't know that I have the gumption to drive on the other side of the road....

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,LynnH
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 04:04 AM

I've driven a righthand drive (UK registered) car in Sweden and lefthand drive (german registered) cars in the UK with no transition problems whatsoever. It's all in the mind.........

We've all probably heard the story (urban myth?) about the americans who drove all the way down the M4 from London to the west country in 2nd. gear because, back in the US, they'd only ever driven automatics and had never been confronted with manual gear changes..............They couldn't understand why the car used so much petrol on the trip!

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ed T
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 04:13 AM

The response to that "urban myth?" story I heard was that the "American fellow" was driving an early British car, possibly the Austin Allegro, and it would not go beyond second gear.
:) 

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Airymouse
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 09:14 AM

I've learned some history. Sir, do I get any part credit for saying it had to do with more people being right handed than left handed?
I don't suppose there is any sort of tour that goes from one festival, singaround etc. to another. If not, there ought to be, because as we in the U.S. say, it would sell.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ed T
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 09:52 AM

""do I get any part credit for saying it had to do with more people being right handed than left handed?""

It's kinda like a driver on one side of the road-a car on other side of the road. So, I suspect you score a 50 percent, much like the results of a coin toss. :)

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Ed T
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 09:57 AM

The coin toss is not based on Musket tossing it. If so, one would have to factor in the statistical odds that this gent (*used with caution) would somehow "fix " the toss, or claim that "devine intervention" workes on his side-just to throw you off.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Musket
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 12:52 PM

The Noodly One will ensure heads I win, tails you lose.

Mercedes want shafting, whilst on this subject.. I moan constantly that Mrs Musket's pokey little two seater has no leg room whatsoever in the passenger side. Well, I was at the dealers the other week dropping it off for a service and was mentioning this in passing to the service manager.

"Walk this way" he said. "If I could walk that way I'd need talcum powder" I thought.

He had a left hooker in. I sat in the passenger side and lo and behold, tons of leg room!

Both passenger and driver side... Its a plot, I tell you.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Gurney
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 03:16 PM

Musket, Colin Chapman, the designer and originator of Lotus Cars, was quoted as saying that anyone taller than (from memory) 5'7" was deformed. Or something like that.
William Lyons, designer and originator of Jaguar Cars, was quoted as saying that a gentleman always drove in gloves.
So maybe it IS a plot.

The stuff that sticks in my head!

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 11:22 AM

I had heard that the Japanes were thinking of changing from left-side to right-siade - and sent an offical delegation over to Sweden to observe their change-over in the 1960s. The fact that Japan still drives on the left tells you what they thought od that, maybe!

I also undersand that the reason why Volvo cars (and many marques since) have daytinme driving lights is also because of the Swedish change over. It was originally the case that cars had to drive with lights on for several months after the change-over and they decided they liked it as a general road safety meaure.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Musket
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 11:28 AM

Dunno about gloves but everybody had to wipe my arse before getting in either of my jags.

I won't have an XF though because the issues with the S Type carried over. You sit too low and have to fall into it. My youngest is 6'5" and couldn't get in the back.

Chapman was right. I have never driven a Lotus despite trying once. (Élan.)



This thread is arse about tit. What do we know about driving on the wrong side? Ask a foreigner. They do it all the time apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 11:50 AM

Yeah, ask a foreigner. If you can't find one to ask, just go to France or Italy or Spain. Bloody crawling with 'em, it is, in those offshore places.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Musket
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 12:49 PM

Funnily enough, a van was driving on the wrong side of the road this morning, when I was going to the train station. Lithuanian plates. Give him his due, it is almost 40 miles to the nearest port.

Hopefully he will be elsewhere when I get back later. Just got on the train. Two sodding hours of "on behalf of myself and my crew" announcements.

"Doncaster this is Doncaster. Passengers changing for Rotherham, there's a Sports Direct across the road."

Sorry, getting bored now.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 02:13 PM

my wife wants to go to a retreat at Findhorn before or after the tour

You hang on to the credit cards.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 06:57 PM

"Sidmouth is only feasible for camper an drivers". Thousands who use tents would disagree.

I was interested to see that before the Swedes changed to driving on the right, they held a referendum. After 89% voted to keep on the left the government went ahead and changed over to driving on the right. Swedish democracy can be exaggerated.

Subject: RE: BS: driving on the wrong side of the road
From: Musket
Date: 26 Nov 14 - 02:51 AM

Nah, they just don't know what's good for them.