why is it that some countries you drive on...
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
United States
April 5, 2009 4:13am CST
the left side of the road and others you drive on the right? and of course the steering wheels are on the coordinating sides too.. i mean if europe was already driving on the left then why did america choose to drive on the right? they just want to be different?!?! or is there a real reason behind it?
2 people like this
8 responses
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
5 Apr 09
this is a good question, why do they drive on the different side of the raod. i9 know there are few countries they will drive on left side instead the right side. that would throw me off.
3 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
•
6 Apr 09
Actually, in Germany and the other countries in mainland Europe they drive on the right-hand side of the road (with steering wheels on the left), just like in America. The UK and Republic of Ireland are the only European countries to drive on the left-hand side.
I don't know why America subsequently decided to drive on the RHS, and why the rest of Europe also chose the RHS option. 
The other countries who drive on the LHS include Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Malta, Hong Kong and Japan.
The other countries who drive on the LHS include Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Malta, Hong Kong and Japan.@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
5 Apr 09
my hubby became of driving age when he was living in germany (army brat) and his parents refused to let him learn how to drive over there because they were about to move back to the states and knew it would just be annoying for him to learn it all over again the opposite
2 people like this
@agrim94 (3805)
• India
5 Apr 09
The first country to drive on right hand side of road was France if i am not wrong and since at that time there were only two superpowers England and France so if England walked on left side of road, then France had to do it on right side. Then when America got independence the anti British feelings were high and they followed french example and drove on right side of road. Since it was time when there were no cars so it was easy to say which side we would walk on but as of today if you want to change right to left or vice versa it would be impossible because you would have to dump millions and millions of cars, buses, trucks or any four wheeled vehicle in your country.
3 people like this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
6 Apr 09
ah so more of an rebellion type thing?
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
5 Apr 09
haha i screwed up on explaining the steering wheel thing.. lol.. oh well its like 4am here i should be in bed lol..
2 people like this
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
5 Apr 09
I think it is tradition. In my home country maybe the horses and carts used to ride on the left and then in the 1930s when the car got on to the road it continued driving on the left hand side. America must have the tradition of driving in the right. Most countries drive on the right nowadays. I have heard Sweden changed to drive on the right in the 1970s.
3 people like this
@kapil_poundarik (960)
• India
5 Apr 09
i dont seek any reason for such things , and also it cant be becaz they want to be different. im from India and here is left side driving too . if u noe any reason behind this then pm me 2.
3 people like this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
5 Apr 09
i am hoping some one fills me in because i just dont get why they would make it so different when the concept is the same
1 person likes this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
5 Apr 09
i vote that america just wanted to be difficult lol 
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
5 Apr 09
I found a web page with a neat explaination as to why and how the right and left came to be for driving. From what it says it started with the riding to the left because the right arm was nearer to a possible opponent and the sword was worn on the left farthest away from them...it also lessened the chances of accidently hitting someone passing by with the sword in the scabbbard.
Theres alot more to the story on the page -
http://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/driving%20on%20the%20left.htm
its a link and its pretty neat.
2 people like this
@hannahb2706 (67)
•
5 Apr 09
isnt it just because the steering wheel is on a diff side
because in england your driving on the left no matter what
2 people like this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
5 Apr 09
lol i totally messed up when i wrote about the steering wheels.. i meant to put that the steering wheel is opposite with the opposite driving style but eh no sleep let me to a blonde moment lol..
1 person likes this
