Genius anyway who thought up rhd
04-15-2002, 03:18 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Virginia Tech
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seems pretty damn stupid to me that there isn't a world wide standard for cars. Wouldn't it be so much simpler if they were all the same? I say left hand side is the correct side because that's how the first cars were produced... so that's the correct way.. is there some story that nobody let me in on?
I'm allowed to make a typo every now and then
ya bastid
I'm allowed to make a typo every now and then
04-15-2002, 04:30 PM
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ames, IA
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Origin of the Left-hand Drive
Even the left-hand drive that we observe for vehicular traffic in most countries did not originate with the coming of motor cars. Even horse riders moved to the left side when facing one another. The reason for this was that they bore their swords on the left side of the hip. And if the oncoming stranger turned out to be an enemy, it was convenient for both the horsemen to draw the sword with their right hand and attack (or defend). This was true even when oncoming strangers were on foot. Hence the left-hand side rule, which later was extended to vehicular traffic.
This is the best I could do with limited research.
Even the left-hand drive that we observe for vehicular traffic in most countries did not originate with the coming of motor cars. Even horse riders moved to the left side when facing one another. The reason for this was that they bore their swords on the left side of the hip. And if the oncoming stranger turned out to be an enemy, it was convenient for both the horsemen to draw the sword with their right hand and attack (or defend). This was true even when oncoming strangers were on foot. Hence the left-hand side rule, which later was extended to vehicular traffic.
This is the best I could do with limited research.
04-15-2002, 05:58 PM
#5
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 643
I've also heard that it comes from England and other european countries fighting each other. England decided to change to RHD because they wanted to be different. Australia, being colinized by English, followed them.....thats my .02 cents...if its true
04-16-2002, 01:38 PM
#8
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Join Date: Aug 2001
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Originally Posted by ThirdGenRX7' date='April 15 2002,19:43
if they only did it to be different then that's just plain stupid
im actually thinking of converting one of my cars to rhd. dont ask me why. i just do.
03-02-2005, 11:31 AM
#10
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Richardson Texas
Posts: 4,326
Originally Posted by treceb' date='Apr 16 2002, 12:37 PM
im actually thinking of converting one of my cars to rhd. dont ask me why. i just do.
me too