The question arose when I was reading the thread about why things are a certain way. Anyone know?

I was told that it was because jousting knights carried their lances with their right arm necessitating an approach from the left. This could be utter BS so no flaming please.

It’s always been obvious to me: So double-oh seven (or is it double naught?) and gang could shoot out the window on the right with their right hands.

Swords, he touches on it here... (actual facts are who knows)

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Why do the Brits drive on the left side of the road?

Becuse they lean to the left?

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Originally posted by 64dodge:
I was told that it was because jousting knights carried their lances with their right arm necessitating an approach from the left. This could be utter BS so no flaming please.

Jousters carried their lance with their right arm but attacked to the left, so the jousting reference makes no sense. It's more likely that the right hand was the sword hand, so a rider tended to stay to the left so he could draw his sword and attack or defend if needed.

I’ve often wondered about that too. In days of old, knights meeting on the open road would likely pass to the right, so that they’d meet shield-to-shield, with their sword arm free.

That ought to lead to cars passing to the right. But it didn’t…

Michigan was the first painted center line, 1911 at the behest of Edward N. Hines, predated California by six years.

But there were knights in more countries than just Britain. They were on mainland Europe too. There were French, German and Italian knights, so why don't they drive on the left too?

Right handed sword protection.

Horse paths turned into roads and there you go.

Why do we drive on the right ?

Ok, story relayed by a Brit tour manager, and I have not checked it. But, it’s entertaining.

Brits and most of Europe started their traffic management back I the horse era. To the left was kept, so that opposing riders could be met with sword or handshake, as needs be.

Except Napoleon was left handed. Where Napoleon went, laws changed. And once changed, inertia set in, and they remained.

Hitler was a fan (Godwins Law is now invoked). Wherever Hitler conquered, if it wasnt already drive to the right, it was changed so. A quick Google says this isn’t precisely so, though the Germans may have advanced timetables.

In America, the first traffic laws were in Philadelphia, where people were driving teams of horses from the left side (keep the whip hand towards the team). Therefore, they all “drove” on the right.

Again, it ain’t thoroughly fact checked, though there is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...d_right-hand_traffic

One of the explanations I was told and not sure if it was for RHT or LHT but it was to allow wagon drivers to watch their wheels as they passed another wagon coming opposite?

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it was to allow wagon drivers to watch their wheels as they passed another wagon coming opposite?

Well that would be true for either right- or left-hand drive.

Tomorrow I'm renting a car in Christchurch, NZ, and will be driving on the "wrong side" for the first time. Told just to keep telling myself "me in the middle".

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Ive heard the Knights rode horses on the left to be able to use their swords. Ive also heard in America, we rode horses on the right as it was easier to draw a pistol and shoot to the left, or carry a rifle across the saddle bow.

Dont know the validity of either theory, but they sound cool!

Cheers
Jaycat

75 other countries also drive on the left. While some were part of the British Empire, others, such as Thailand and Japan were not.

We could legitimately ask why we drive on the right.

I've heard that Japan was the same reason, swordhand while on horseback, but also to avoid the errant clashing of scabbards between passing Samurai, a breach of ettiquette which technically meant an instant duel to the death.

Because they are right-handed. Carry the whip in the right hand. Sit in the right seat. Better line of sight and use of whip in the turns.

The colonies drove on the other side in rebellion.

Because their steering wheels are on the right side of their vehicles