Uh, I don't know where a topic like this would go.
Checking on some Presidents earlier this morning and I began to wonder "Why do the Japanese drive on the left side of the road?" Same for the English.
I tried to imagine driving like that, and I realized that I'd have a d!ck of a time getting used to it.
How did that come about? Why do we drive on the right? Was there a conscious decision to just make it so? I'd love to know the history and story behind this.
Sorry if this seems trivial.
Right Hand Drive
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Haitian_King
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1995 Black Infiniti Q45 - Location: South NJ/PA/Canada
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maxnix
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1995 Infiniti Q45t
2000 Infiniti Q45
Re: Right Hand Drive (Haitian_King)
From at least medieval times when travelers would meet on the road, they wanted their weapon hand to be able to engage the opposing traveler if he were not friendly. Since we are predominantly right handed, travelers kept to the left.
Try Google next time, or even General Chat. Almost anything can be posted there.
Try Google next time, or even General Chat. Almost anything can be posted there.
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Haitian_King
- Posts: 2868
- Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:20 pm
- Car: 1992 Black Infiniti Q45 /w TCS
1995 Black Infiniti Q45 - Location: South NJ/PA/Canada
Re: Right Hand Drive (maxnix)
Oh.
So why the big switch here in the US? Sorry for posting this in the improper forum.
I wanted to Google it, I just didn't have any clue as of what to use as a search term. "Why do the Japanese drive on the left?" seemed like it wouldn't garner that many returns.
Mods/Admins, feel free to move this to where it belongs. Sorry for the inconvenience.
*Edit
I stand corrected. "Why do the Japanese drive on the left?" gave me many results. One shouldn't assume. Boy, is my face red.
So why the big switch here in the US? Sorry for posting this in the improper forum.
I wanted to Google it, I just didn't have any clue as of what to use as a search term. "Why do the Japanese drive on the left?" seemed like it wouldn't garner that many returns.
Mods/Admins, feel free to move this to where it belongs. Sorry for the inconvenience.
*Edit
I stand corrected. "Why do the Japanese drive on the left?" gave me many results. One shouldn't assume. Boy, is my face red.
Re: Right Hand Drive (Haitian_King)
It's nice having you on the Forum, Haitian.
I'm gonna leave the thread here - what the heck. And you're right - normal is boring.
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maxnix
- Posts: 22627
- Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:11 pm
- Car: 1995 Infiniti Q45
1995 Infiniti Q45t
2000 Infiniti Q45
Re: Right Hand Drive (Haitian_King)
In early days, drivers were close to the curb inthis country.
Driving on the right was established (moslty by local laws) later to avoid confusion. Wasn't important when there were only trails and there were firearms. No highways until first part of 20th century, and they were often dirt.
Which western power opened feudal Japan? Great Britain! Their persistent influence in Japan is evident on the VH45DE oil pressure sender tap which is some obscure fine British pumbing standard thread.
Driving on the right was established (moslty by local laws) later to avoid confusion. Wasn't important when there were only trails and there were firearms. No highways until first part of 20th century, and they were often dirt.
Which western power opened feudal Japan? Great Britain! Their persistent influence in Japan is evident on the VH45DE oil pressure sender tap which is some obscure fine British pumbing standard thread.