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Basic question: Why aren't steering wheels just on the left or right

  • 03-04-2011 11:18pm
    #1
    whiteboy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 420 ✭✭


    It's not such a big deal but I think I'd like to drive on the left!

    I know some countries drive on the left but why not over here? Also is it hard to find cars over here that are "driven on the left"? I've seen a few before, mostly by eastern Euros.


Comments

  • #2
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    whiteboy wrote: »
    It's not such a big deal but I think I'd like to drive on the left!

    I know some countries drive on the left but why not over here? Also is it hard to find cars over here that are "driven on the left"? I've seen a few before, mostly by eastern Euros.

    :confused::confused:We do drive on the left in Ireland....


    I think what you are trying to ask about is left hand drive cars perhaps?


  • #3
    mondeo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,680 ✭✭✭mondeo


    Drive on the left and sit on the right. Does me grand :)


  • #4
    whiteboy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 420 ✭✭whiteboy


    Nissan doctor wrote: »
    :confused::confused:We do drive on the left in Ireland....


    I think what you are trying to ask about is left hand drive cars perhaps?

    yes I meant to say "right"! Yeah I'd like to find out more about left hand drive cars, are they hard to find?


  • #5
    YouTookMyName
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,361 ✭✭✭YouTookMyName


    whiteboy wrote: »
    yes I meant to say "right"! Yeah I'd like to find out more about left hand drive cars, are they hard to find?

    Plenty in mainland Europe.


  • #6
    Dartz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,405 ✭✭✭Dartz


    I think means having the steering wheel on the left.

    Personally, I think the difference is academic. Shifting gears isn't really that complicated that you always have to use your strong hand (unless you're one of those freako's who're left handed).

    It's solely maintained due to the decades of infrastructural inertia behind it, and the fact that it'd be far more trouble to switch than it is to just put up with the occasional 'oops'.


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  • #7
    but43r
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 539 ✭✭✭but43r


    whiteboy wrote: »
    It's not such a big deal but I think I'd like to drive on the left!

    I know some countries drive on the left but why not over here? Also is it hard to find cars over here that are "driven on the left"? I've seen a few before, mostly by eastern Euros.

    Makes no difference what car you have here LHD or RHD you still have to drive on the left in Ireland :eek::eek::eek:
    Must be a troll :confused::confused:


  • #8
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    What 'oops' would there be?

    The reason for the steering wheel being on the right in countries that drive on the left is so as to maximise the drivers view of the traffic ahead. You are closer to the center line of the road and so can see further ahead and oncoming traffic etc.

    I find driving a left hand drive car in Ireland feels odd as your not sitting in the right place on the road at all but driving abroad in a LHD car feels normal.


  • #9
    David09
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 541 ✭✭✭David09


    What reasons did the difference between LHD and RHD come about and why?

    I mean, why did a few countries end up RHD when the majority were LHD??


  • #10
    rabbitinlights
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,008 ✭✭✭rabbitinlights


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-_and_left-hand_traffic


  • #11
    but43r
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 539 ✭✭✭but43r


    David09 wrote: »
    What reasons did the difference between LHD and RHD come about and why?

    I mean, why did a few countries end up RHD when the majority were LHD??

    Nope, pretty much everybody in old days used to drive on the left (this is before cars where invented) with their horse carriages but French for some reason started driving on the right. Because France was such a big country it impacted on the rest of the Europe.


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