Driving on the left

[Dunderman]

In the column Why do the British drive on the left?, Cecil writes

[driving on the left] prevailed until the late 1700s, when teamsters in the United States and France began hauling farm products in big wagons pulled by several pairs of horses.

These wagons had no driver’s seat. Instead the driver sat on the left rear horse, so he could keep his right arm free to lash the team.

Since you were sitting on the left, naturally you wanted everybody to pass on the left so you could look down and make sure you kept clear of the other guy’s wheels. Ergo, you kept to the right side of the road.

I’m feeling thick. Why would sitting on the right horse tie up your right arm? Can’t you hold the horse with your left arm just as well no matter which of your horse there is another horse on?

Another thing:

The last holdouts in mainland Europe, the Swedes, finally switched to the right in 1967 because most of the countries they sold Saabs and Volvos to were righties and they got tired of having to make different versions for domestic use and export.

Actually, there never were two different versions. Swedish cars had the steering wheels on the left even while we were driving on the left.

[Kevbo]

@Priceguy

I’m feeling thick. Why would sitting on the right (sic) horse tie up your right arm?

Right hand dominance prevails, therefore the teamster wants to sit on the LEFT horse so that his right arm (and lash) is toward the middle. Sitting on the left horse would require crossing the lash over his his own mount, and indeed the left rear horse might be unreachable.

Not endorsing this theory, just explaining it.

[Chronos]

No, he’s sitting on the left horse. You want your whip hand to be in the middle of the horses, so you can lash them all easily. And if you’re right-handed, that’s your whip hand, so that means you have to sit to the left of center.

[GorillaMan]

@Priceguy

Another thing:Actually, there never were two different versions. Swedish cars had the steering wheels on the left even while we were driving on the left.

I’m trying to work out whether this is a complete howler by Cecil, or just the mistake that you point out. Because no matter what they were selling domestically, they were (and are) still producing both versions for export. :dubious:

[FatBaldGuy]

News flash: Parliament has decreed that next year the UK will switch to driving on the right hand side of the road. However, in order to reduce mass confusion the change will be implemented in phases. Starting Feb. 1, all lorries and buses will begin driving on the right side, and passenger cars will switch over on June 1.

[Dunderman]

@GorillaMan

I’m trying to work out whether this is a complete howler by Cecil, or just the mistake that you point out. Because no matter what they were selling domestically, they were (and are) still producing both versions for export. :dubious:

Really? Cite?

[GorillaMan]

@Priceguy

Really? Cite?

Well, errrrm, how else did they continue to provide right-hand-drive models? (I’m assuming they didn’t, in 1967, have factories operating in the UK purely for UK & Irish production)

[naita]

@FatBaldGuy

News flash: Parliament has decreed that next year the UK will switch to driving on the right hand side of the road. However, in order to reduce mass confusion the change will be implemented in phases. Starting Feb. 1, all lorries and buses will begin driving on the right side, and passenger cars will switch over on June 1.

That’s how the Swedes did it, although their transitional period was only a week.

[Jake]

@Chronos

No, he’s sitting on the left horse. You want your whip hand to be in the middle of the horses, so you can lash them all easily. And if you’re right-handed, that’s your whip hand, so that means you have to sit to the left of center.

Chronos aren’t you some kind of nuCUlar phisisisest or somethin’?
Anyway I didn’t understand your previous thread. Not that I understand ANY of your threads. But I sure enjoy them.

Jack. Sippin’ Colt 45’s.

[Chronos]

Chronos aren’t you some kind of nuCUlar phisisisest or somethin’?

Nah, I’m more of a rocket scientist. Well, relativist/cosmologist. Although some of my recent research has been creeping into particle fizix, which is sort of related to noocyoolar.