Racko From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 4838 posts, RR: 21 Posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 4073 times:
Do you think the UK will ever change their minds, to drive on the right side? It would make the world way easier for car manufacturers and people who want to travel by car to the UK, or for Brits who want to drive by car in another country.
20 or 30 years ago, few people could image that the UK would someday adopt the metric system - so I think, maybe in another 30 years, they'll have a brave government which forces them to standardize with the civilized world
Toady From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 724 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 4021 times:
We may have "adopted" the metric system but we don't use it fully. We still talk in terms of pints, gallons, pounds, ounces, miles etc.
Maybe we'll "adopt" driving on the right, but we'll continue driving on the left!!
V Jet From Australia, joined May 1999, 718 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 4012 times:
I really cant understand people who have trouble adapting to driving on either side of the road. It's really very easy. How boring the world would be if it was all the same!
PPGMD From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2453 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 4008 times:
In Italy they have the problem solved.
This is what a I saw:
People just drove in the middle of the street. And they parked on the highways.
STT757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 16260 posts, RR: 52 Reply 5, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3982 times:
The Worst is the US Virgin Islands, you have to drive on the left there. Which is ridiculous because it's a US territory and all the cars there have the wheel on the left, so you have to drive on the left with the wheel on the left.
Which is hard, especially going up those crazy mountains, the best explanation I could get is that in the cities (Charlotte Amalie) the roads were built by the Dutch and British with left side of the road driving in mind. But I thought the Dutch drove on the right?.
Brianhames From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 795 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3983 times:
Clipperhawaii From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2033 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3956 times:
Why? Because we are the world leader thats why! Conform or be cast out!
hahahahahahaha. Besides what does driving on the "other" side of the road have to do with America anyway? Sheesh! Typical.
Boeing4ever From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3951 times:
Q4e, notice that the guy who brought up the subject is German...not American. Jeez, even when Euros or Aussies recieve contructive criticism from other Euros or Aussies, somehow the discussion is turned into how the US "sucks" or forces other countries to conform to it!
Clipperhawaii From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2033 posts, RR: 13 Reply 13, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3951 times:
Boeing4ever, Yeah it is called a one track mind. Some sort of inferiority complex. I can never understand it myself. Guess I am too American for a comlexity!
AerLingus From China, joined Mar 2000, 2371 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3947 times:
There are plenty of other countries that use the other side of the road:
Australia
Hong Kong (PRC)
New Zealand
The US can't switch to the other side of the road. We've invested way too much in highways.
STT757,
I don't agree with the idea that the US Virgin Islands should switch to the other side of the road just because they're a territory of the States. After all, the Canadians are a part of the Commonwealth. They drive American-style, so the logic doesn't click.
Dinker225 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 1049 posts, RR: 20 Reply 15, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3938 times:
Just imagine how hard it would be to pass a slow moving car on a two lane highway when the cars drove on the right and the steering wheel was also on the right!! After just comming back to the US from Australia, I will tell you it's not that difficult to change over. It just takes a lot of concentration for the first couple days. Then it just comes naturally.
Dinker
Two rules in aviation, don't hit anything and don't run out of gas, cause if you run out of gas yer gonna hit something.
Power From Hungary, joined Jul 2002, 123 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3930 times:
I drive on the left here in Australia and I often visit the US and Europe and the change over takes about two days. I think that if the English are happy with it they do not need to change, just think how expensive it would be, but I would like to hear how Sweden did it.
I think if they do change (they like to be different) it will be because of some Euro legislation coming out of Brussels that they have to fall into line with the rest of Europe. I feel sorry for the English when they have to drive on the other side of the road in Europe with their right hand drive (pretty dangerous also).
Docpepz From Singapore, joined May 2001, 1938 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3920 times:
I drive on the left here in Singapore, as does all of South East Asia except the Philippines. The Indian subcontinent drives on the left, as does all of Oceania. So does Japan but I'm not sure about Korea. Chances are all the 80+ countries of the British commonwealth drive on the left too (with the exception of Canada) so there is a large market for countries who drive on the left.
'Longreach' From Australia, joined Jul 2001, 505 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3909 times:
This really makes me angry. I saw on TV a few days ago the history on this. To start with the world (evolving around England) all drove on the left.
The AMERICANS decided to be defiant over something stupid and changed to the right. Eventually most of Europe changed over except England.
So can you tell me why they should change to the right?? I think they should stick to the left for a matter of principle. As an Australian no matter what laws change, I will ALWAYS drive on the left. That could prove costly...
I am pretty sure what I saw on TV was factually correct... Can anyone expand on that?
Capt.Picard From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3898 times:
Well, things change very slowly here in Britain....I think changing driving sides would be like ending the monarchy or adopting the Euro....just too radical for the Brits!
You'll have to wait another 100 years or so...but we'll get there.........eventually!
ADG From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3896 times:
Do you think the UK will ever change their minds, to drive on the right side? It would make the world way easier for car manufacturers and people who want to travel by car to the UK, or for Brits who want to drive by car in another country.
Actually, it would be just as easy if you guys learnt to drive on the left like the rest of us.
20 or 30 years ago, few people could image that the UK would someday adopt the metric system - so I think, maybe in another 30 years, they'll have a brave government which forces them to standardize with the civilized world
Before making statements like that we would need to establish the percentage of the world that drives on the left and compare it to the percentage on the right .. anyone know?
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38505 posts, RR: 80 Reply 21, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3890 times:
The UK does drive on the right side.
Everyone else drives on the left side.
I think it's kind of cool the the UK drives on the right side.
It's one of the few charms left when visiting the UK. It's bad enough that they have Starbucks, Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonalds there now.
Qantas744 From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 246 posts, RR: 5 Reply 22, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3877 times:
Does this include the trains aswell? And what about all those signs on the underground escalators that say 'keep to the left', don't say we gotta change those to.....!
Matt
you can't buy time but you can sell your soul and the closest thing to heaven is to rock'n'roll
F.pier From Italy, joined Aug 2000, 1517 posts, RR: 11 Reply 23, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3868 times:
I think Ireland will, maybe in a short time.
They demonstrated to be different from British people and their traditions.
They can choose to drive on the RIGHT (in both senses) side of the road.
I think Sweden changed from left to right about 35 years ago.
Arsenal@LHR From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 7791 posts, RR: 23 Reply 24, posted (10 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3858 times:
What's the big deal?
Every country has their own choices, driving on the left is no problem at all, driving on the right is no problem at all either. We just prefer it on the left, some people say we drive on the "wrong side of the road"? WTF does that mean, i didn't know there was a 'right' and 'wrong' side on the roads?
In Arsene we trust!!
25 KRIC777: The AMERICANS decided to be defiant over something stupid and changed to the right. Eventually most of Europe changed over except England. I believe I
26 RayPettit: As I understand it, much of Europe drives on the "other side" due to the likes of Napoleon, and also Hitler to a lesser extent. When these guys strutt
27 N949WP: For any country that has invested substantially into highways, any switchover will be prohibitively expensive. Even if you don't consider the roads, w
28 EGNV: No we wont because we, just like the US, have invested so much in roads (or highways if you prefer). I think its more logical anyway. We do things fro
29 Airsicknessbag: >>>Will The UK Ever Drive On The Right Side? Do you mean right as in "correct" or right as the opposite of left? I assume the former BTW, Austrians dr
30 RayPettit: Reagrding trains - in France they drive on the left like cars in the UK. But in Germany they tend to go on the right. One part of France where trains
31 Leezyjet: South Africa also drives on the left too. Takes me about 2 mins to get used to the driving on the 'wrong' side, takes me about 2 weeks to actually get
32 RayPettit: Leezyjet, Yep, I try to get in on the wrong side when I'm abroad too. Its great being British and out of step with the rest of the world. Individuali
33 Leezyjet: Ray, We ain't out of step, it's the rest of the world that's out of step with us, we conquered most of the world anyway (including half the USofA), no
34 Clipperhawaii: ...we conquered most of the world anyway (including half the USofA), not bad for a little island nation. Yeah? But happened? Hmmmm? CH
35 Leezyjet: We felt all guilty and gave most of it back
36 PPGMD: "We felt all guilty and gave most of it back " Yes you felt real guilty after you got your butts handed to you by some lowly colonists.
37 Arsenal@LHR: Nah, we should carry on driving on the left side, let's be different and unique from the rest of the world. Could also start a thread on when will the
38 DC-10 Levo: I just came back from Florida with my family and my dad found it really weird driving on the RHS in America! I just hope he remembers we drive on the
39 Capt.Picard: I visited the states last year, and found the RHS no problem (i live in the UK). The only problem I had, occasionally, was emerging from a T junction,
40 Qantas744: What about the Eurostar trains? They go on the left hand side in the UK but what happens when they are in France/Belgium? Do they crossover somewhere?
41 STT757: "We felt all guilty and gave most of it back" Yeah but you folks came back in 1812 and burned down Washington, that was not very nice. Although that's
42 ADG: I wonder why people believe that we should "conform with them" anyway ... the fun of foreign countries is there uniqueness. Why change to become someo
43 RayPettit: Matt, As French and Belgian railways use left hand running like the UK, there are no complications for Eurostars. I see you're a train fan too, so try
44 Andrew: All Commonwealth countries (that is, countries that have been are currently are British colonies) drive on the left side of the road. This would inclu
45 SAS23: Japan also drives on the left, as do most of the British colonies.
46 PHX-LJU: Andrew, Canada drives on the right. So your claim that "all Commonwealth countries drive on the left" is not true.
47 Qantas744: Thanks for that Ray, I took a trip to Luxembourg and Germany by train a couple of years ago and now I recall that the trains are on the left. Due to m
49 LH423: Obviously at this point, it's much too difficult for the UK to change or most other left-hand driving countries change for that matter. I think the Br
50 Paulc: Japan also drives on the left along with India (I think) One reason for the UK and Ireland to drive on the left is that we have no direct land border
51 Lan_Fanatic: Brits conquered most of the world? I'd rather say Spain was the Empire where the sun never sat(set? correct me if i'm wrong). They had: Florida Texas
52 Arsenal@LHR: so brits, bring down your ego And we conquered all this: http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/structure/countries.html Muahahahahaha.........
53 Vafi88: Hey! I'm left handed, are you gonna make me use my right hand at gunpoint? To me, people like that are just another form of NAZIs...
54 Airsicknessbag: On Tuesday, a British tourist was killed in Germany after being hit while crossing a street: she had looked right and stepped on the street - should h
55 Arsenal@LHR: Not really airsicknessbag, the same could apply to a german in the UK looking left instead of right, then getting knocked over!
56 Banco: Besides, Daniel, I believe we in the UK have the safest roads in Europe despite being amongst the most crowded. So there.
57 Hkgspotter1: The UK has always used the correct side of the road, same way we spell things correctly. You know COLOUR !!
58 Lubcha132: and what's the deal with vauxhall/opel!
59 Lan_Fanatic: Arsenal@LHR....did brits had all those territories at the same time? Pues no! joder coño que me quedo con España
60 Wn700driver: Yes you felt real guilty after you got your butts handed to you by some lowly colonists. Hehehehe, that's funny. Not a history buff are you? No doubt
61 Arsenal@LHR: Over a period if time lan fanatic, not at the same time.
62 Lan_Fanatic: Well Arsenal...Spain had all those territories at the same time
63 Arsenal@LHR: So what? We're head of the commonwealth (the mother of all countries!)
64 Lan_Fanatic: Commonwealth? duh! what the hell is that =)
65 Munich: I have the feeling a lot of German drivers are out of GB, especially they drive on the Autobahn (it is a road like the interstates in America with 2 o
66 Munich: Sorry, the picture isn't above, it is on the topic "Speed limits" http://www.airliners.net/discussions/non_aviation/read.main/267241/
67 Racko: Munich, I've "replyed" to your posting in the speed-limit thread, seems more on-topic there
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