True story: A friend of a relative of ours once went to India, where people drive on the left, and drove his motorcycle on the right because he believed that that was what everyone was supposed to do. The moron crashed and wound up in the hospital.
Of the 193 countries currently recognised by the United Nations, 139 use RHT and 54 use LHT. In the year 1300, Pope Boniface VIII directed pilgrims to keep left.Until 1927 the Italian countryside was RHT while cities were LHT.(according to Wikipedia.)
Sisters, Jane and June, who worked in an office in Montgomery, Alabama, learned that they would be transferred to the company’s office in Birmingham. Jane said to June, “Good. Now you’ll have to drive us to work every day.” Can you guess why?
UK has less fatalities – so I’d suggest it is the right hand side that is the wrong side to drive on – see wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate
The strangest driving situation that I’ve encountered was in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands back in 1997. They drove on the left side, but most of the cars, including the one that I rented were US models with left-hand drive. If you wanted to pass a slow truck on a 2-lane road, you had to carefully pull to the right because you couldn’t see past the truck until your car was mostly in the right lane. It really helped to have a passenger in the right seat to act as a look-out.
It just dawned on me. All those people that stay in the left lane around here are actually British tourists. They think that is the lane they are supposed to be in.
What really gets my hackles up is trying to function in a pedestrian environment when people come from other countries where POV transportation isn’t the norm and rules-of-the-road aren’t embedded in the culture. So non-natives don’t instinctively treat sidewalks like roads, but instead behave as if everything were a broad pedestrian plaza and it’s a free-for-all. And then, as Pig states, they approach you on the “wrong” side of the walk instead of the right side, expecting you to move aside for them!
before the 70s (I think), one Scandinavian country drove on the right and its neighbour on the left. Interesting scene at the border where you approach on the right and leave on the left (and vice versa).
Why do some countries drive on the left and others on the right? I was curious so I looked it up. http://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/driving-on-the-left/
I live in the US – obviously we drive on the right side. I traveled for 1 week in Namibia, Africa where they drive on the left side – no biggie, thanks to me renting an automatic transmission car (can’t imagine having had to use a stick shift – LOL) but traffic circles screwed me up. However, the weirdest thing I ever saw was living in Okinawa, Japan. We lived off-base, and had American vehicles. So on-base we drove as we did in the US, but off-base we switched lanes. Screwed us up – had to go “American auto driving normal on base” to “American auto driving wrong side of road” off base. Surprised we all didn’t die.
One of my favorite moments from L.A. Story is when Harris (Steve Martin) is being given a ride by Sara (Victoria Tennant) for the first time. We the audience already know that Sara drives on the “wrong” side of the road because she’s from Britain. Harris discovers this to his shock and yells out, “You’re driving on the wrong side!” To which Sara responds with, “I don’t think they can hear you.”
Recently, I was driving out on the highway when I heard a radio warning, telling people that there was someone driving on the wrong side of the road like a maniac.
Only, they were wrong. It wasn’t one maniac, it was hundreds.
BE THIS GUY over 7 years ago
They only do that because they have the steering wheel in the wrong side.
Templo S.U.D. over 7 years ago
The Brits are the only people who drive on that side of the road: New Zealand, Australia, Japan… the list goes on.
Sherlock Watson over 7 years ago
True story: A friend of a relative of ours once went to India, where people drive on the left, and drove his motorcycle on the right because he believed that that was what everyone was supposed to do. The moron crashed and wound up in the hospital.
Dave Thorby over 7 years ago
Of the 193 countries currently recognised by the United Nations, 139 use RHT and 54 use LHT. In the year 1300, Pope Boniface VIII directed pilgrims to keep left.Until 1927 the Italian countryside was RHT while cities were LHT.(according to Wikipedia.)
juicebruce over 7 years ago
Pig have you been hanging out with Larry Croc or Bucky Kat ?
jimmjonzz Premium Member over 7 years ago
Sisters, Jane and June, who worked in an office in Montgomery, Alabama, learned that they would be transferred to the company’s office in Birmingham. Jane said to June, “Good. Now you’ll have to drive us to work every day.” Can you guess why?
John M over 7 years ago
UK has less fatalities – so I’d suggest it is the right hand side that is the wrong side to drive on – see wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate
chris_weaver over 7 years ago
And, worst of all, their double-decker buses have no driver at the top!
Pocosdad over 7 years ago
The strangest driving situation that I’ve encountered was in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands back in 1997. They drove on the left side, but most of the cars, including the one that I rented were US models with left-hand drive. If you wanted to pass a slow truck on a 2-lane road, you had to carefully pull to the right because you couldn’t see past the truck until your car was mostly in the right lane. It really helped to have a passenger in the right seat to act as a look-out.
whiteheron over 7 years ago
It just dawned on me. All those people that stay in the left lane around here are actually British tourists. They think that is the lane they are supposed to be in.
daveoverpar over 7 years ago
’Free health care". LOL.
Andrew Sleeth over 7 years ago
What really gets my hackles up is trying to function in a pedestrian environment when people come from other countries where POV transportation isn’t the norm and rules-of-the-road aren’t embedded in the culture. So non-natives don’t instinctively treat sidewalks like roads, but instead behave as if everything were a broad pedestrian plaza and it’s a free-for-all. And then, as Pig states, they approach you on the “wrong” side of the walk instead of the right side, expecting you to move aside for them!
OGWhatahunk over 7 years ago
Siamese twins wanted to go to England so the other one could drive.. HA HA
pugmahone12 over 7 years ago
OK, time for crocs.
JudyAz over 7 years ago
before the 70s (I think), one Scandinavian country drove on the right and its neighbour on the left. Interesting scene at the border where you approach on the right and leave on the left (and vice versa).
Yakety Sax over 7 years ago
Goat, start with having a sip of tea.
KEA over 7 years ago
it’s not driving on the left… it’s the Roundabouts
Machtyn over 7 years ago
Free health care. HAHAHA! (Their health care ain’t free, unless the doctors are slaves.)
Number Three over 7 years ago
Our healthcare is NOT free. In fact, I had to pay a dentist bill of £19.70.
Don’t worry, Stephan. I’m not getting at you. Just putting it out there…
As for the “wrong side of the road” Well it’s not wrong for us.
xxx
alexffaa over 7 years ago
Why do some countries drive on the left and others on the right? I was curious so I looked it up. http://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/driving-on-the-left/
grey2112 over 7 years ago
I live in the US – obviously we drive on the right side. I traveled for 1 week in Namibia, Africa where they drive on the left side – no biggie, thanks to me renting an automatic transmission car (can’t imagine having had to use a stick shift – LOL) but traffic circles screwed me up. However, the weirdest thing I ever saw was living in Okinawa, Japan. We lived off-base, and had American vehicles. So on-base we drove as we did in the US, but off-base we switched lanes. Screwed us up – had to go “American auto driving normal on base” to “American auto driving wrong side of road” off base. Surprised we all didn’t die.
griffon8 over 7 years ago
One of my favorite moments from L.A. Story is when Harris (Steve Martin) is being given a ride by Sara (Victoria Tennant) for the first time. We the audience already know that Sara drives on the “wrong” side of the road because she’s from Britain. Harris discovers this to his shock and yells out, “You’re driving on the wrong side!” To which Sara responds with, “I don’t think they can hear you.”
Sisyphos over 7 years ago
Pig is right. Left is wrong. No wonder the Empire has dwindled away!
toahero over 7 years ago
Recently, I was driving out on the highway when I heard a radio warning, telling people that there was someone driving on the wrong side of the road like a maniac.
Only, they were wrong. It wasn’t one maniac, it was hundreds.