Why do some countries drive on the right and others on the left?

HE!HE!

WHAT?!


Practice for a week or two in your own country?

That's the dumbest thing I've heard in a while.

sure thing. just as long as they practice not being a dick for a few weeks.

Don't you mean.

Why do 98% of countries drive on the right and 2% on the left?


British Colonialism.

but but you ARE colonials!

Yeah but we separated before the invention of cars.

Yes but when we were colonies there were no cars. Probably also just to spite the brits.

you seperated?really? I didn't get a memo....

Crossing the street also has some perils

Look both ways
In the US left right left
in England right left right

A few near death experiences and I got it.

here is the skinny

In the past, almost everybody travelled on the left side of the road because that was the most sensible option for feudal, violent societies. Since most people are right-handed, swordsmen preferred to keep to the left in order to have their right arm nearer to an opponent and their scabbard further from him. Moreover, it reduced the chance of the scabbard (worn on the left) hitting other people.

Furthermore, a right-handed person finds it easier to mount a horse from the left side of the horse, and it would be very difficult to do otherwise if wearing a sword (which would be worn on the left). It is safer to mount and dismount towards the side of the road, rather than in the middle of traffic, so if one mounts on the left, then the horse should be ridden on the left side of the road.

In the early years of English colonisation of North America, English driving customs were followed and the colonies drove on the left. After gaining independence from England, however, they were anxious to cast off all remaining links with their British colonial past and gradually changed to right-hand driving. (Incidentally, the influence of other European countries’ nationals should not be underestimated.) The first law requiring drivers to keep right was passed in Pennsylvania in 1792, and similar laws were passed in New York in 1804 and New Jersey in 1813.

Despite the developments in the US, some parts of Canada continued to drive on the left until shortly after the Second World War. The territory controlled by the French (from Quebec to Louisiana) drove on the right, but the territory occupied by the English (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland) kept left. British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces switched to the right in the 1920s in order to conform with the rest of Canada and the USA. Newfoundland drove on the left until 1947, and joined Canada in 1949.

for more fun facts
[link to users.telenet.be]

You should have said: "Yeah but we separated before we invented cars."


Never miss an opportunity to rub the brits faces in your superiority dude!

There is a perfectly rational reason why the British drive on the left and why others chose to drive on the right. Britain had roads, horses and carriages before the invention of the gun. In those days most people were right handed, and sinistrality was strongly discouraged by the church. People rode or drove their carriages in such a way that they could draw their sword to the center of the road if they were attacked. This stayed as a matter of habit in the places Britain colonized. Despite the original British influence, the US, which eventually became the biggest cultural did not start to build roads until long after the firearm was invented and attackers were more likely to hide at the sides of the road, so a right handed shooter, with an inaccurate gun, with just one shot per pistol was more likely to hit the footpad or highwayman.

The Brits drive on the left because their buck teeth hanging out of their mouth creates a terrible blind spot.