Talk:Side of the road (traffic)

NPOV

 * The advantages of driving on the right typically concern conformity and uniformity rather than practical or natural benefits. There are historical exceptions such as postilion riders in France, but such historical advantages do not apply to modern road vehicles. The advantages of driving on the left, both historically and now, are mainly practical or natural benefits, although many countries decided, particularly during the twentieth century, that the man-made conformity advantages of driving on the right outweighed any natural advantages of driving on the left.

Huh? Non-NPOV here, so I'm removing this paragraph. —Last Avenue (talk) (contribs) 05:20, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

Talk from other page
Main article: Talk:Rules of the road I just decided to copy some stuff —Last Avenue (talk) (contribs) 05:21, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

Switching to the left became safer

 * *Research in 1969 by J J Leeming showed that countries that drove on the left had a lower accident rate than countries that drove on the right. Countries that have switched to driving on the right (for example Sweden) have seen their long term accident rates increase by more than any increase in traffic volumes. It has been suggested, but not proven, that this is partly because most people are "right eyed", and are therefore better able to judge the position of oncoming traffic when they see it on their right.

Actually, Sweden's long-term accident/death/injury rate declined due to the usual advances in engineering and traffic safety.

Also, the accident rate went down for a short time after switching, due to drivers being more paranoid than usual, but when back up, and only down again with safety advances. I'm removing or at elaset removing this paragraph.—Last Avenue (talk) (contribs) 03:20, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

General
There are genuine safety reasons for driving on the left

Driving on the left is correct for right handed people which is the great majority,here is why:

When changing gear in a UK car with the steering wheel on the right, which is of course correct in the UK etc for driving on the left-in the UK your left hand changes gear and your right hand stays on the steering wheel.-- this is safer( for right handed people.) The reverse is the case in countries where one must drive on the right.--
 * I'm right-handed, and many of my racing/manual-shift friends find the steering sensitivity to be so low on nearly every car (except for motorcycles, which are 1:1), that it's relatively easy to steer with your left. —Last Avenue (talk) (contribs) 05:37, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

In other words if you live in the USA you hold the steering wheel with your left hand and change gear with your right hand because of course the steering wheel is on the left in the USAthis is dangerous if you are right handed.


 * I agree. However, most Americans drive automatics, so this is not an issue for them. For this reason, I always prefer hiring an automatic when I'm in any country that drives on the right. Better still, I take my own RHD car from the UK if at all feasible. Research in 1961 proved that, other factors being equal, countries that drive on the left have a lower accident rate. I think if we are to cover this angle of the topic in the article, it will need a section titled something along the lines of "Natural advantages of one side over the other" and we will also need to cite some natural advantages of driving modern cars on the right, otherwise it will seem unfairly biased. NFH 18:23, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

Bicycles.

Bike riders are in real danger in countries where driving on the right is mandatory again assuming you are right handed--Try mounting a bike in the USA and you will find yourself in the stream of traffic when getting on the bike try it yourself-: Mounting a bike in the UK is done from the sidewalk by right handed people who find it easier to put their right leg over the bike. , Much safer and this must have saved many lives.

Reversing up a steep drive: My drive in the UK is very steepwhen I reverse out I hold the steering wheel with my right hand and look over my left shoulder to the rear window.

In a USA car you must hold the steering wheel with your left hand and look over your right shoulder to look out of the rear window.. So you must reverse with your left hand on the steering wheel.. Or stick your head out of the window if you want to use your right hand on the steering wheel. -dangerous for the majority who are right handed.

It is safer for left handed people to drive is on the right--

Christopher (Chris) Davison London UK

Advantages of ..
Left hand drive cars tend to be cheaper, due to being more common than right hand drive models Is there any evidence for this on a global basis? Surely comparative costs are primarily location-specific rather than based on a wordwide total of vehicles. --JBellis 11:52, 11 February 2006 (UTC)