Left, LEFT, LEFT!!!!!
I drove on the left and loved it! My husband and I had to keep reminding each other to stay left, especially when turning corners. AAAAHHHHH!!!! was what we first said, then we eventually trained ourselves to say Left, LEFT, LEFT!!!!!!!! to each other. When you see driving on the left, you know it's Britain!
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-09-02 by Sue Fahey from Overland Park, Kansas, USA
Comment on Driving on the left
90% of humans are right handed which led to the carrying of arms on the left hip (the better to use them). Whilst on horseback it was logical therefore to pass right side to right side, for defence and to avoid the entanglement the weapons. Thus a horse is mounted from the left: the edge of the road and not the middle of the road. Even in those countries where they drive on the other side of the road they mount a horse from the left where is the logic in this?
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-08-02 by Andrew Perry from France where they drive on the wrong side of the road (badly).
Comment on Driving on the left
A THIRD of the world's countries drive on the left: 74 on the left, 166 on the right. That is also about one third to two thirds of the world's population. Many changed from left to right AFTER WW2, including Czechoslvakia, Austria, Hungary, Sweden (1967) and even Iceland (1968). You'd think Iceland would stay on the left, as many of the world's islands do: Australia, New Zealnd, Malta, Cyprus, Ireland, Britain... Portugal changed sides in 1928, but their colonies remained on the left: Angola, Mozambique, Macao.. Even China drove on the left till the 1940s. In the 1970s, Okinawa, occupied by the USA, changed from the right to the left. So 'England' cannot claim this icon to be theirs. Tony Lloyd, Cardiff
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-05-12 by Tony Lloyd from Cardiff
Comment on Driving on the left
Most people are right handed, so carriage drivers sat on the right seat of a carriage so that they did not hit the passenger with the whip.The Napolionic army changed to the right so the artillery ,with their jockey on the left horse,could be more mobile.
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-02-22 by vincent hawkins from surrey
Comment on Driving on the left
Arguably not even a British icon, let alone an English one. Driving on the left in Britain is probably a legacy of the Roman empire. Indeed, people in Rome continued to drive on the left until 1924, long after the rest of Italy had switched to driving on the right. Having driven in Rome, I'm not sure that everyone has realised the change has occurred. I also understand that the Italian car manufacturer Lancia only made right hand drive vehicles up until the early 1960s.
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-02-17 by Taxus from Medway
Comment on Driving on the left
I couldn?t think about the U.K. witouth the left traffic uniqueness.
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-02-16 by Reinaldo RamÃrez from Caracas, Venezuela
Comment on Driving on the left
Introduced into the General Highways Act of 1773. England's imperial expansion spread the keep to the left rule. A sign of English presence across the world for those countries that still drive on the left. A talking point for the English (when we travel abroad) and for tourists (when they come to England)
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-02-09 by Elliot Moore from London
Comment on Driving on the left
Alan Wright said: "How many other countries drive on the left of the road? we brits must be fairly unique". Here are some countries with bigger populations tha ours that drive on the left: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan (see http://tinyurl.com/8dqrt for a full list). So it's hardly iconically British, never mind English. Definite thumbs down.
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-02-08 by Mark Iliff from Caversham
Comment on Driving on the left
How many other countries drive on the left of the road?.we brits must be fairly unique
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2006-02-06 by alan wright from lincolnshire
Comment on Driving on the left
I don't have any problems driving on the lefthand side of the road. I had been really worried about this issue before moving to the UK though, now however, I realise that driving on the left is the same as driving on the right. But I have come across a problem on UK roads... roundabouts. See my blog: http://www.e-vlad.us/2007/05/07/driving-in-the-uk
Comment on Driving on the left posted 2007-07-11 by Vlad Nanu from UK