Just bear in mind that quite a few drivers of red plate cars are from countries that drive on the Right.
We turned off the main road to go to the Mall this morning and a red plate car was heading towards us on OUR side of the road.
It is when people from right hand drive countries exit from a car park, or from a petrol station for example, that they can automatically go to the 'wrong side' of the road.
Fortunately full headlights and blaring horn rectified the mistake..
Sorry Louise, the only reason people drive on the right side of the road on the continent of Europe is because that "one time French corporal" named Napoleon who did not like that we the British drove on the left. He also wanted Paris to be the "O" degree meridian line but unfortunately for him we have it at Greenwich. Ask yourself why trains drive on the left in Europe......its because we invented them and Napoleon was no longer around to alter the side they went on. There....... this should start a good little discussion.........
You are right in that Napoleon supporting countries chose to drive on the right and his opponents continued to drive on the left. However, that wasn't the start of it.
In the late 1700s, prior to Napoleon being in charge, teamsters in France and the United States 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 he was sitting on the left, he naturally wanted everybody to pass on the left so he could look down and make sure he kept clear of the oncoming wagon’s wheels. Therefore he kept to the right side of the road.
I think that I read recently that after Brexit Ireland, being in the EU, were going to switch to driving on the Right hand side of the road. To give the citizens time to get used to it they were going to phase it in over a month.
America used to drive on the left, you can see that for yourself on some of the very early Charlie Chaplin films. It was Henry Ford that made the fledgling American car industry transfer to driving on the left to restrict British cars from the USA market. Iowa was the last state to change in 1934. Canada, I believe changed in 1952'ish.
Aargent wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 3:24 pm
I think that I read recently that after Brexit Ireland, being in the EU, were going to switch to driving on the Right hand side of the road. To give the citizens time to get used to it they were going to phase it in over a month.
Can anyone comprehend the impact such a decision would make, Dublin & all the other major cities & towns would grind to a halt? The vast majority of the vehicles in Ireland are set up for driving on the left & that won't change, the mind boggles at the number of road signs & markings, traffic lights, etc. that would have to be changed or repainted and one thing is sure, the number of accidents will increase dramatically overnight!
Aargent wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 3:24 pm
I think that I read recently that after Brexit Ireland, being in the EU, were going to switch to driving on the Right hand side of the road. To give the citizens time to get used to it they were going to phase it in over a month.
On a more serious note, and perhaps a little off topic, but, the red plate car delivery drivers are lethal. They have no regard for road safety and a are probably paid on piece work, how many cars they deliver, the way they drive.
