Nearside / offside - which is which???

Pete67 · 19-11-2007 01:16AM #1

Just got my NCT test cert (passed) and it refers to nearside and offside when talking about brake / shocks performance. Always assumed nearside was near to the kerb but am not really sure. Isn't this a bit confusing? Why not state left / right? Anyone know for sure?

mike65 · 19-11-2007 01:18AM

Correct

Left/right is open to confusion as it depends which direction you are looking - from drivers seat fowards or from the front of the engine looking back.

Mike.

macshadow · 19-11-2007 01:21AM

Nearside=passenger side offside=drivers side

John R · 19-11-2007 01:21AM

Pete67 wrote: »

Just got my NCT test cert (passed) and it refers to nearside and offside when talking about brake / shocks performance. Always assumed nearside was near to the kerb

It is.

Pete67 wrote: »

Isn't this a bit confusing? Why not state left / right? Anyone know for sure?

Because left/right could depend on perspective. Stupid people would stand in front of a car and take left to mean their left.

Wishbone Ash · 19-11-2007 01:22AM

Pete67 wrote: »

Always assumed nearside was near to the kerb but am not really sure

Yup (portside on a boat is also the nearside!

)

Pete67 wrote:

Isn't this a bit confusing? Why not state left / right? Anyone know for sure?

No - that's why its used - to avoid confusion.

Nearside/offside FTW.

It's worse when people refer to 'passenger side'! :rolleyes:

In a tractor or a bus which side is the passenger side?

peasant · 19-11-2007 09:41AM

What's so confusing about left/right ?

You always refer to the direction of travel ...simple.

Nearside ...pfff ....

crosstownk · 19-11-2007 10:04AM

mike65 wrote: »

from drivers seat fowards

Mike.

This is the correct convention and is flawless no matter what type of vehicle. O/S & N/S get thrown into confusion if, for example, you have an LHD car driving in left hand traffic.

Rabidlamb · 19-11-2007 11:48AM

I work as a transport engineer & you would very suprised how many people in this industry get the terminology the wrong way around.

The easiest way to remember it is that the nearside is the side of the vehicle nearest the ditch.

fletch · 19-11-2007 11:58AM

Is it reversed for LHD cars?

MercMad · 19-11-2007 12:28PM

fletch wrote: »

Is it reversed for LHD cars?

...........no that would be front or back !!

Nearside / offside - which is which???

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