arwalden
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:40 PM
Original message |
Why Do The British Drive On The Left Side Of The Road? |
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Or why don't Americans also drive on the left side of the road? Who decided that this is the way it should be? And why did they decide it?
Were they just trying to be DIFFERENT? Or are we the ones who are rebelling and wanted to try something "new". ("Hey Joe... ya know what might be fun? Now that we've won our independence, let's everyone drive on the OTHER side of the road from now on! Whaddya say?")
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enlightenment
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:43 PM
Response to Original message |
1. A hold over from the days when armed men rode horses |
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since most folks (not me) are right handed, riding on the left side of the road put their weapon arm at the ready -- in case someone riding the other way was expressing a little pointy-steel road rage.
Haven't a clue why America switched -- though we were past the whole armed men on horses stage.
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Dave Sund
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
6. Also the origin of the term "shotgun," right? |
MuseRider
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:45 PM
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did they drive their buggies that way too or did we just change when we got automated?
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enlightenment
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:49 PM
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5. okay, curiousity got the better of me -- try this site |
MuseRider
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:53 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
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That answered it perfectly!
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enlightenment
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Thu Apr-28-05 11:01 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
9. Thank you! It's always fun to learn something new -- |
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sometimes, though, I need a little push!
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hickman1937
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Fri Apr-29-05 02:53 AM
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10. I do believe that, that is the most facinating article I've read |
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in a long time. Thank you.
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arwalden
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Fri Apr-29-05 06:21 AM
Response to Reply #5 |
12. You Are A Google-god. That Was Very Interesting. |
hickman1937
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:46 PM
Response to Original message |
3. A long time ago I read something, I think in Uncle John's |
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Bathroom Reader, that it has to do with what side of the bench wagon drivers used to sit on driving the horse, and or something like that. Don't ask me why.:shrug:
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CanuckAmok
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:47 PM
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4. Not only that, but why did they abolish the statute dictating... |
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that all motorcar operators must ensure that their vehicle is preceeded twenty feet by a footman waving a 4' x 4' red flag, alerting pedestrians that a motorcar is approacing?
That's just good sense.
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norml
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Thu Apr-28-05 10:54 PM
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8. Because Napoleon was left handed. Because drivers on seated wagons |
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Edited on Thu Apr-28-05 10:55 PM by norml
held the whip in their right hand, and watched for clearance on the right. Because in America wagon drivers sat on the left rear horse, in order to whip with his right hand, and watched for wagon wheel clearance on the left.
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elperromagico
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Fri Apr-29-05 03:06 AM
Response to Original message |
11. Because they hate America. |
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Mon May 06th 2024, 12:29 AM
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