Ireland debates switch to right-hand driving

[lanlady]

Source: Reuters

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland should consider giving up driving on the left to reduce accidents by foreigners accustomed to right side motoring, a senior politician said Friday.

Donie Cassidy, the leader of Ireland's upper chamber Senate, cited Sweden -- which moved to the right in 1967 -- as an example of a country that switched decades after most of Europe did.

Ireland's economic growth over the past decade has attracted tens of thousands of workers especially from central and eastern European countries. It is also a popular tourist destination for visitors from the United States.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN0828509020080208?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=69

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I actually remember the day that Sweden switched; it was an impressive feat, to say the least. If Ireland switches, they'll have to do it during the twilight hours before the pubs open:-)

[trotsky]

1. I can't even begin to imagine the logistics of pulling that off.

Hard enough to do in 1967, it's gotta be nearly impossible with today's roadways. But I guess at least roundabouts wouldn't need to be changed much!

[lanlady]

2. Sweden did it in one day

Guess they had to -- it's not like you can phase in something like that. I wonder if the government bought new Volvos with left-side wheel for all Swedish drivers.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Swedish cars already had the wheel on the left...

iirc, at least partly because drivers were more worried about driving off the edge of a cliff than hitting oncoming traffic.

[ananda]

6. OK, so..

.. which countries besides the UK drive on the left?

Also, I'm so used to rightside driving, I can't
imagine driving on the left. I think it would scare
me and make me really nervous for a while till I got
used to it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Wikipedia list

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right#Places_where_traffic_keeps_to_the_left

In terms of number of cars, most notable are Japan, UK, India, Pakistan , Indonesia and Australia, I'd say. Some more so in the future.

I find swapping fairly easy. If you also get a car with the driving side swapped, it helps (though using a manual gearbox with the different hand feels a bit worrying - I'm used to keeping my right hand on the steering wheel, and taking it off to change gears felt dangerous at first). But I've also driven British cars on the European continent at various times, and it's not too much of a problem. I find it's pulling out from when you're parked that's the time you have to think about it - after that, you're on the correct side of the road, and the rest comes naturally (which way to look at roundabouts can occasionally be something you do wrong - you instinctively look right in the UK. As a pedestrian, that's a big problem too when crossing the road - and it takes far longer to get out of the habit than it does when driving).

You can't judge the width of your car so well, so tight parking spots are best avoided too.

[happyslug]

11. Japan and most island nations drive on the left.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right
List of Countries that drive on the Left
lderney
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bermuda
Bhutan
Botswana
Brunei
Cayman Islands
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Cook Islands
Cyprus
Dominica
East Timor (drove on right 1928-1976)
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Grenada
Guernsey
Guyana
Hong Kong - unlike mainland China
India


Indonesia*
Ireland
Isle of Man
Jamaica
Japan (Okinawa 1972)
Jersey
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Macau - unlike mainland China
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Montserrat
Mozambique
Namibia (1918)
Nauru (1918)
Nepal
New Zealand
Niue
Norfolk Island
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea


Pitcairn Islands
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Swaziland
Tanzania
Thailand
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom
British Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands - unlike rest of U.S.
Zambia
Zimbabwe

[14thColony]

29. You adapt pretty fast.

I've lived in the UK for nearly 6 years now, and even though I still drive a left-drive car, the only time I have problems is when I cross over to the Continent and have to remember to drive on the right side, which is what feels unnatural now. As the poster above said, the only time you might get into a problem is in situations where there's no one to follow - like pulling out of a parking lot. If there's other traffic there's very little chance you'll suddenly forget and switch to the oncoming lane. In general most people adapt in a few days.

As for roundabouts/traffic circles - they're great until they get overwhelmed with traffic, and then woe to you if the volume of traffic is coming from the direction you have to yield to - you might be waiting a long time.

[pitohui]

49. YOU may adapt pretty fast

many people don't, as in my post below, i had friends who had accidents 3 times in 4 days renting a car in england (i wasn't in the car for the final accident that finished off the car, by then i didn't trust their claims that, 'no no we can do this, really!')

they're lucky they didn't kill anyone

many people get an engrained muscle memory and will tend to do what they are trained to do, switching from driving on the left to driving on the right and vice versa just isn't equally easy for everyone

for those who have no difficulty, it doesn't matter, but the accidents are caused by those who do have difficulty

[dysfunctional press]

50. americans have problems just crossing the street in london...

when i was there several years ago, i had to literally grab one of the women in our group several times to stop her from walking into traffic- americans tend to look the wrong way for oncoming traffic when crossing the street in england.

[raebrek]

53. That explains the words painted on the sidewalks at intersections.

I noted when I was in London a few years ago that as I was crossing the streets there they have helpful reminders for americans no doubt. They remind you which way to look for traffic before crossing the street. It helped me.

Raebrek!!!

[Violet_Crumble]

52. I think it'd be pretty hard to adapt to driving on the other side...

We drive on the left hand side here in Australia, but I had a scary experience one day on a large roundabout when a car full of confused looking older women came at me from the wrong direction. I assumed at the time they'd had a bit too much to drink, but in hindsight they were probably American or Canadian tourists trying to work out why everyone was driving in the other direction to them and how to get off the roundabout.....

I didn't drive at all when I was in Europe, but I can imagine how well someone thinks they've mastered the switch, they'd still slip back into what they're used to at times. My car's a European car where the steering column and stuff was moved from the left to the right side of the car, but the indicators are still on the other side of the steering wheel to what they are in cars made here or in Japan, and sometimes I'll find my windscreen wipers going at an intersection even though I meant to hit the indicator. It'd be the same thing with driving on the other side of the road....

[Divernan]

54. I'd forgotten how I frequently turned on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal!

By which time you're already in the process of turning and trying to focus on getting into the correct lane! Panic!

[14thColony]

60. I certainly agree it depends on the person

and your friends obviously had a particularly bad time of it. But I'm in charge of over 200 Americans over here with new people showing up daily, most of whom have never been in a left-drive country in their lives, and I can't recall the last time anyone had an accident, let alone the last one that was as a result the right-side/left-side issue. Dunno, but in my it just isn't that big a deal for the vast majoity of people - brain-farts, emergency reaction situations, and "no other traffic to follow syndrome" notwithstanding.

[doubleplusgood]

43. phase it in slowly

1st month - motorcycles drive on the right
2nd month - trucks
3rd month - remaining vehicles

[dysfunctional press]

51. well...at least it would get rid of all the motorcycles pretty quick...

not everyone can drive one like trinity in the matrix reloaded.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Splitters!

Actually, it sounds as if it may be just this guy debating it - because he can't adapt well himself to left and right-hand driving, it seems.

As the AA says, I think it would be "completely impractical" - with modern junctions, slip roads, traffic signals and so on, the re-engineering would be immense (I've never been to Ireland, but I'm sure they have typical amounts of all of those). You couldn't do it overnight - the whole country would have to be one huge set of road-works, for months, if not years.

[The Croquist]

5. I would hate to have to do this.

It's definitely going to cost lives short term but maybe they figure it will save more in the long run.

This sounds weird but....
Some day possibly within 25 years we will have computer driven cars. It would be allot easier to switch then.

[Onlooker]

8. I think they should phase it in ;) n/t

[kirby]

30. All even numbered license plates the first month, etc. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

39. No Irish jokes please

:rofl:

[dipsydoodle]

40. No Irish jokes please

:rofl:

[zanne]

9. "Reduce accidents by foreigners".....

How about the accidents the natives would get into?

[CoolOnion]

13. That's what I thought!

When they come here, they're just as scared of our orientation as we are of theirs. The public would never do it.

As for tourism, when I go over, I use public transportation! No way would I go through those traffic circles on my own!

[Maeve]

15. I kinda like the traffic circles

They've started using them here in Ohio and they DO cut down on T-bone accidents (one of the most deadly).
Hubby did the driving in Ireland and got used to it quickly, altho we did see a tourist forget and nearly have a head-on crash in Connemara.

[CoolOnion]

18. On some of those rural roads, it doesn't matter!

On a narrow road in South Armagh, our tour bus came face-to-face with a farmer's truck & the two drivers just had to "negotiate" passage!

We have a couple of traffic circles in my part of Texas--some people (me included) can't figure them out and just avoid them!

[zanne]

19. You mean the ones with stone walls on either side?

Yikes!

[CoolOnion]

21. Yep!

There are also scary mountain roads. I haven't been on them, but every now and then a car doesn't quite make the turn and fall over the edge.

Just my opinion, but I'd say the Irish have enough trouble without changing the side of the road they drive on!

[Maeve]

41. There were a few switchbacks in the Burren where I could swear

We were about to hit the back of our own car!
And there was one sign out in the west that I loved...

[CoolOnion]

65. Great sign!

[zanne]

42. When I was in Ireland, I rented a car.

Holy crap! I didn't think I'd ever get used to driving on the left side of the road! Going through Dublin was a nightmare, and the country roads are really more like lanes and were designed before the automobile was invented.

[LibertyLover]

36. If it's just stone walls on either side you are lucky -

usually the boreens, country roads, have not just stone walls on either side, but really tall, thick hedgerows along them too, and from all the years of traffic, the roads have sunk down, so you have banks of earth on the sides as well. The stone walls and hedges sit on top of the earth banks. There were times when driving in Ireland down a back road to get to one of my cousins' houses that you had stuff along the sides going up 10 and 12 feet and really blocking the views. Periodically they are broken by driveways or other roads and you have to be really careful that there is no tractor, car or pony cart shooting out onto the road you're driving. Of course, when you come up against sheep or cow herds on the road, negotiating passage is lots of fun too. One time, we had a sheep try to climb on the car's hood, leaving some marks that we had to explain to the rental company. They were not amused by the explanation - they understood it, but weren't amused.

[0007]

33. I had a hard time with the driving in Australia. The one ways in large

cities especially.

The four way stops seem to work well in heavy traffic areas along with the traffic circles.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

22. Really, the natives would be a lot more inconvenienced

I recall when my Australian gentleman friend, who didn't own a car over here, tried to drive mine for the first time. He was scary making left turns. He'd automatically head for the left lane. :scared:

[msmcghee]

24. With practice you can get used to it.

Accidents kill natives and tourists alike - regardless of who is at fault.

It takes me about a week of concentration to switch over. Tourists hardly ever stay there long enough for it to become second nature - so for them it's always a high danger situation. especially considering that the first 3 or 4 days will be driven while suffering various amounts of jet lag as well. Very dangerous situation.

After a couple of weeks of concentration the locals would be getting used to it and after that it would be easier and easier - safer and safer. It's a habit and can be learned.

[bigworld]

25. If they did this, how many British drivers would get into accidents?

Especially since Ireland and Northern Ireland share a border?

[devilgrrl]

10. How many countries are there that still drive on the left?

UK, Ireland.....

[karlrschneider]

27. Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Bermuda

to name a few

[devilgrrl]

28. Seems like a lot more countries drive on the right - is there an advantage to driving on the left?

I always wondered why everyone didn't drive on the same side of the road.

[karlrschneider]

35. I really don't know but I have a -theory-! I'm guessing it goes back to medeival times

when Britain "ruled the waves", as it were and was becoming the prime colonial power...as people met each other on the early 'roads', they would pass each other on their respective left sides, leaving their dominant right hands available for either smiting or greeting...(I just now thought of this, it might be complete bullshit) :D :P

[Divernan]

45. Your theory matches up with construction of medieval Irish castles

the extremely narrow, steep circular stairways of castle towers were designed so that as you progressed upward, the narrowest, interior part/wall was to your right, and you would not have room to wield your sword, broadsword (whatever) to attack others or defend yourself. And those circular tower stairways are so steep you practically have to crawl up them. However, they are worth the effort because you have such a magnificent view if you make it up to the battlements at the top. I abandoned all dignity and backed down, like you would on a small naval vessel with those metal stair rungs.

My kingdom for a leftie!

[Divernan]

32. Also Grand Cayman

nt

[pitohui]

47. kenya and south africa do too EOM

,

[Phred42]

12. The Cars are still all Right-hand drive

Maybe they could clean that up at the same time :-)

[kiva]

14. An interesting site...

Lots of things I didn't know about left/right driving; for example, in Canada people drove on the left until the 1920s, but not in Ontario and Quebec because of the French influence in these areas. And a debate about whether chariot riders rode left or right--kind of fun:

http://www.brianlucas.ca/roadside/

[Algorem]

16. do Irish drivers in u.s. crash on the right?

[Tracer]

17. My father was in a fatal collision in Ireland.

While driving on a narrow country road, another car suddenly approached from around a curve.

Dad did the "American" thing and swerved to the RIGHT.

The Irish driver did the Irish thing and swerved to the LEFT.

The result was a head-on crash, and the Irish driver was killed.

My dad and his passenger were badly injured.

[CountAllVotes]

20. wow, sorry to hear about this

I am glad to know your father survived this tragic accident however. I've been to Ireland a couple of times but I've always opted for the bus/train/taxis type of transportation. I am ambidextrous and the driving confuses me so much I know I can't do it (I barely passed the test here). I find it difficult to even cross streets in Ireland, especially in the larger places like Dublin.

I wish they would switch to the right but I doubt they will anytime soon.

:dem: :kick:

[pitohui]

48. i am so sorry to hear it

on a holiday to england with friends, who are also americas, the friends decided to rent a car

they had 3 accidents in 4 days and were fortunate in that they merely totalled the car rather than killing anyone


it's too bad that all countries of the world couldn't have settled on one way of doing things before the modern road building, i bet "switching" from driving american style to driving british style costs lives every day somewhere in the world

[irish.lambchop]

23. I don't think that "accidents by foreigners" are the

problem here - more like what are called "boy racers" here - it's speeding that causes most of the accidents. That and lack of road improvement schemes.

[WritersBlock]

26. I check the BBC UK news just about every day, and very often see reports of fatality crashes in NI.

I've been wondering why there always seemed to be so many; maybe this has something to do with it, as I doubt the tourism stops at the border.

If the numbers are similar in ROI, I can see the point in them considering a change. However, it would only make things even worse in Northern Ireland unless the entire island switched over.

[0007]

31. Makes folking good sense to me mate!

[bpj62]

34. Driving on the Left

When you leave either Shannon or Dublin Airport there is a big sign that says please remember to drive on the left. I have driven in Ireland on three different occasions and the only problem I ever had was getting used to the Roundabouts. You just have to be aware of your situation. The real problem in Ireland is that the amount of cars on the road has doubled and the current roads cannot handle the traffic.

[World Traveller]

37. 2 Days Driving in Ireland Was Enough for Me!

I spent 7 days in Ireland with my 15 year old son in 2001. I had arranged for a rental car at the airport and one of my plans was to drive out to Galway from Dublin to see where my grandparents are from.

I was a nervous wreck! I turned in rental car after driving for 2 days. As I told the rental car people (who didn't want the car back and lose the fees), I couldn't get used to driving on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road (for me anyway!).

When you're driving you have to react fast, and everything is counter-intuitive for tourists from America, so reactions tend to be slower and more clumsy.

My son and I still had a great time. We signed up for train tours and bus tours and still got to see everything we wanted, including Galway.

[rinsd]

38. I consider my mastery of lefthand driving after a redeye flight one of my life's achievements.

[lanlady]

44. same here!

Two years ago, I arrived at Shannon airport at 5 in the morning, walked up to the Avis rental counter, and cried out loud, OH SHIT SHIT SHIT! To which the young Avis employee said in his charming Irish accent, What happened, did you get off in the wrong country this morning? No, I explained, I just realized I had left my driver's license in my checkbook, and my checkbook was at the bottom of my closet 4,000 miles away. No license, no car rental.

Fortunately I was able to rouse my son, who was able to slap the license on a scanner and e-mail it to Avis Shannon.

After that, I climbed into my rented Irish Ford and took off like a champ. The roundabouts threw me at first, and there's a big one as you exit Shannon aiprot, but you get used to it. Hardest part, for me anyway, is to work the gears using the left hand. I favor my right hand strongly.

[pitohui]

46. there will never be a better or more convenient time to do it than today

the population will only get bigger and the habits more engrained and more highways built, the longer they delay

[FunkyLeprechaun]

55. I thought about that

When I first moved over here in the UK.... why can't the UK be like the rest of Europe? Drive on the other side of the road?

It was really hard to pass my driver's test here as well. I failed it 5 times before passing on the 6th attempt. This year will mark 12 years since I got my US driver's licence so it was a long time since I was a learner driver and I had to relearn how to be a learner all over again. Banishing my bad habits and learning new methods as well.

But 2 years after I've moved here, I've gotten used to the driving. I've gotten the hang of the roundabouts as well. It's more about timing and keeping to your space than anything on the roundabout. Occasionally people break that rule on the roundabout... the people who are REALLY impatient (it was quite evident when I was driving in a car with L plates... they thought I was a "slow driver" since it was a Learner car).

When I used to drive in the US I would get impatient with the driving school cars. Now I have a whole new outlook on the Learners and am very patient with them as well.

Very rarely do I naturally try to drive on the left side of the road (only when I'm approaching the car I approach the passenger side even though I am going to drive the car... I have to remind myself that I'm in Britain not America).

I think it's perfectly reasonable since we get a lot of commerce from the mainland as well. We visited the mainland a couple of years ago and it was tricky driving a British car in France but we got the hang of it!

[Rambis]

56. I have a friend

who gets German cars left hand drive imported to Ireland. He says now he couldn't go back to driving on the other side of the car on the "correct side" of the road:) Changing for tourists seems wrong to me. Take a train or a bus?

[robcon]

57. It would be best if other countries did this, too, at the same time.

England and Japan could provide leadership on this... although politicians would take a 'hit' for the inevitable accidents that will happen in the first few months.

I actually couldn't imagine Japan doing this - tourism and foreigners are not a priority there.

[muriel_volestrangler]

58. It's next to impossible to do, with modern road junctions

Think of how slip roads and similar are designed. There'd have to be massive engineering work to change them. All the road markings would need repainting. Tons of signs would need repositioning. It would take years to prepare for, at huge expense. And then there would be large numbers of accidents, not just for the first few months, as the few drivers who couldn't manage it get it wrong, time and time again. At least visitors who can't handle changing sides go home within a month or two.

[robcon]

61. I reluctantly agree. I don't know how Sweden accomplished this.

n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

62. I don't know - but maybe they'd built less freeways in 1967

Volvo enthusiasts tell the story: http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/history/driving_on_right.shtml

[probablereason]

59. everyone's missing the context

The Irish tradition of left hand driving stems from the horse and carriage days when the reins would be gripped by the left hand. The right hand, which for most of the population ws the dominant and more sure hand, was thus free to hold one's pint steady and make sure no beer is spilled when encountering an obstacle.

Nowadays, this tradition is pretty out fo date, a relic of the past that can be ignored, since in today's modern world, the Irish can be relied upon to adequately hold their pints with either hand. The Brits on the other hand, well they ought to start small and focus first on learning to brush their teeth.

[Mojorabbit]

63. When I moved back to the states

after living in Japan for 3 years I was terrified of driving on the right again. I had to have someone take me on back roads to practice. If people have been driving on the left for their entire lives it seems to me it would be a bear to try and change.

[0xDEADBEEF]

64. Cojoined Twins Rejoice!

Now the other one can learn to drive.