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Driving on the wrong side of the road

MVPMVP Member Posts: 23,453 ✭✭✭
edited March 2015 in General Discussion
I watched a film set in south Africa and all the cars have left hand steering and they drive backwards on the wrong side of the center line.

no, I didn't just now notice that other countries do this but did just now wonder why?[:D]

So I was wondering if the GB crew could offer a good explanation why we drive on the right side and others drive on the left side?
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Comments

  • JnRockwallJnRockwall Member Posts: 16,352 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    they are below the equator?
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Because the remainder of the world is screwed up.
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  • pwilliepwillie Member Posts: 20,253 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Some one else in Europe drives on the left side? Is it Russians?
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  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,529 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by pwillie
    Some one else in Europe drives on the left side? Is it Russians?


    Polish?
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  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I spend a lot of time in Kenya(where they drive on the left with right hand drive) it takes about a month to get the my mind right either way.

    The weirdest thing is shifting gears with my left hand, also turning into traffic either left or right when I am over there or when I come back here. It is a huge learning curve.
    RLTW

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  • wiz1997wiz1997 Member Posts: 1,051 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Depends on which side of the car the steering wheel is on.

    You want two drivers going opposite directions to be able to talk to each other without yelling across the car.

    If the steering wheel is on the right drive on the right, if steering wheel on left drive on left.

    Best I can come up with.
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  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The answer actually involves swords......
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,692 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In Europe they drive properly, on the right side of the road. But in England, left side.
    I was riding around in London and about had a heart attack, at every intersection it seemed we were about to have a head on.
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by MVP
    I watched a film set in south Africa and all the cars have left hand steering and they drive backwards on the wrong side of the center line.

    no, I didn't just now notice that other countries do this but did just now wonder why?[:D]

    So I was wondering if the GB crew could offer a good explanation why we drive on the right side and others drive on the left side?


    The BBC network show, "Top Gear", drove cars thru a South African
    country, that had everything backwards. Meaning you got off a bus
    into moving traffic.[:0]
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  • chiefrchiefr Member Posts: 14,115 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Driven in both Japan and UK. You get used to it.
    Only problem is when you come back and start playing chicken.
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  • steve45steve45 Member Posts: 2,940 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The funny part is the turn signals and windshield wipers are on opposite sides than on a American car. Just imagine the confidence you inspire when you go to signal a right turn and the windshield wipers come on. Some countries that drive on the left, Ireland, Montserrat BWI.
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  • FEENIXFEENIX Member Posts: 10,559 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by chiefr
    Driven in both Japan and UK. You get used to it.
    Only problem is when you come back and start playing chicken.


    Yep! I was stationed in the UK for nearly 4 years and drove our little Honda Civic and Chevy Suburban. I actually prefer the left hand drive vehicles except when changing lanes but you get use to it.

    I love driving my Suburban as they normally get out of my way; parking on the other hand is a different story.

    There are plenty of reminders on driving rules as you leave/enter the UK and France.
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  • dan kellydan kelly Member Posts: 9,799
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by CaptFun
    The answer actually involves swords......


    give the capt. a cigar![;)]
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  • FEENIXFEENIX Member Posts: 10,559 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dan kelly
    quote:Originally posted by CaptFun
    The answer actually involves swords......


    give the capt. a cigar![;)]


    Driving that involves swords however is NOT advisable.
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  • cce1302cce1302 Member Posts: 9,555 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by babun
    quote:Originally posted by MVP
    I watched a film set in south Africa and all the cars have left hand steering and they drive backwards on the wrong side of the center line.

    no, I didn't just now notice that other countries do this but did just now wonder why?[:D]

    So I was wondering if the GB crew could offer a good explanation why we drive on the right side and others drive on the left side?


    The BBC network show, "Top Gear", drove cars thru a South African
    country, that had everything backwards. Meaning you got off a bus
    into moving traffic.[:0]


    That was Burma. in Asia. I just watched that episode Saturday.

    They explained that the cars were all right-hand drive and originally drove on the left side of the road, like the rest of Asia, but a few years ago, the president decided that the country was moving too far to the left, so he made everybody drive on the right. Which is why the buses still emptied passengers into the middle of the street.

    Of course, Clarkson was the one explaining, so it's anybody's guess how much of that was true.

    (Sorry going way off topic here-It sucks that they fired Jeremy. Hopefully they'll see their error and announce he was just suspended and let the show go on with him back in place. otherwise, there's no reason to have the show. It'll be as bad as Top Gear US without him).
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  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They also have language all screwed up we say the white house they say the house that is white.
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
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  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Want something really screwed up. Okinawa we had it for a long time so they drove the way we did. But when I reverted back to Japan they changed it to the other. Lots of accidents. July 30, 1978 I got there in Feb 89 and the accidents were still happening. They would get drunk and forget where to drive.
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  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,623 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    First white knuckle experience I had with the drivers on the "wrong" side of the road was in Freeport in the Bahamas. Caught a ride with a taxi and the driver drove like a bat out of hell across the island! Seeing cars passing by on the right side was pretty scary.
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  • ltcdotyltcdoty Member Posts: 4,184 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I got a motorcycle when I was stationed in the UK. I came up on a round about , went brain dead and drove right through the middle..through flower beds and past people sitting on benches. That was better then going the wrong way.[:)]
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  • gruntledgruntled Member Posts: 8,218 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    When I visited in England they were trying to convince me to rent a car. No way. It was hard enough to walk. Every time I stepped into the street someone would try to run me down.
    In London they even have signs on the pavement warning people of that problem.
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