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Driving on the right

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Old Jan 15, 2014 | 03:59 PM
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Driving on the right

I think for most americans whenever we see a sports car with the steering wheel on the right side of the car, we think "Oooo exotic! Love it!"

I also have the sneaky suspicion that in most countries (the UK for example) where driving on the right side of the car is normal, whenever they see a car with the steering wheel on the left, they think "Pfft. Americans. Whatever." lol

Any non-americans care to offer their opinion on the subject?
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Old Jan 16, 2014 | 05:12 PM
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Old Jan 16, 2014 | 09:43 PM
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Once in a while i see this Toyota Supra driving by and the steering wheel is on the right side, and i think that is cool...
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Old Jan 17, 2014 | 08:43 AM
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here's what i think about driving on the right. if you are in front of me in the left lane and a frickin city bus is in the right and it's PASSING US, you are in the WRONG LANE. move over to the right. that is all
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Old Jan 17, 2014 | 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Matrx8
I think for most americans whenever we see a sports car with the steering wheel on the right side of the car, we think "Oooo exotic! Love it!"

I also have the sneaky suspicion that in most countries (the UK for example) where driving on the right side of the car is normal, whenever they see a car with the steering wheel on the left, they think "Pfft. Americans. Whatever." lol

Any non-americans care to offer their opinion on the subject?
All the cars made for Continental Europe will have the steering wheel on the left, so I think your thinking is a little flawed.
I've been to some Caribbean Islands where they drive on the left and use mostly cars with the steering wheel on the left. I didn't like that sensation of not knowing where the other car is on the road.
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Old Jan 17, 2014 | 09:33 AM
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Coming from Australia, I can say most Left hook cars in Oz are muscle cars, classic Chevs and Fords. A of of Aussie blokes would prefer a left hand drive vehicle if its from the US, up until the late 90s, the value of an original LH drive vehicle was pretty costly.then the import regulations backed off a little and the prices dropped heaps.Moving here to Europe and driving on the other side of the road was a PITA for a few months, I dont know how many times I turned left at traffic lights into oncoming traffic.Going from mainland Europe to the UK is a nightmare if you dont have a passenger to pay tolls, parking garage fees etc.
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Old Jan 17, 2014 | 09:41 AM
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I feel like shifting gears should be done with my dominant right hand but from what I hear...the hardest thing to adjust to is the blinkers, meaning people learning to drive a RHD will usually flip the wipers on when they are trying to use the blinkers....also Ive driven a regular left hand drive car from the Netherlands to the UK and driving on the left side of the road isnt as hard as it seems, initially you have to concentrate on what your doing but after a few days of driving safely and cautiously you adapt
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Old Jan 17, 2014 | 11:40 AM
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And, I still go to get into the car on the right, sometimes.
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Old Jan 17, 2014 | 01:50 PM
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Is the turn signal stalk on the right or left on a RHD car? I had a BMW 2002 (US LHD model) that had the stalk on the right and I never got used to it. After a couple of months I swapped the stalks.

Had a manual RHD rental car in England for about a week. Never did a successful heel-toe downshift while dodging lorries entering roundabouts, but otherwise had less trouble shifting than I had with the BMW's turn signals.

Other than MGs in the early 1950s, I never viewed RHD vs LHD as exotic. Just a country of origin thing. What does look exotic to me is rural male carriers driving LHD cars while sitting in the right seat.

Ken
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Old Jan 17, 2014 | 03:24 PM
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Pre 70s it was on the left of the column, they are now on the right side. In Australia.
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Old Jan 18, 2014 | 07:39 PM
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I have driven in the UK and I actually prefer to shift with my left hand.
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Old Jan 19, 2014 | 02:36 AM
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turn signal stalk is on the right in RHD japanese cars, BMW an a few other euros has theirs on the left.

ive driven both sides of the road but not manual LHD.. it is a very strange feeling driving on the right side of the road in the US, the biggest thing for me were intersections & just working out where you actually turn & what lane you end up in while keeping right.

you do adapt pretty quickly but i cant imagine shifting well with my right hand, at least when you shift with your left hand in rhd my dominant hand stays in control of the steering wheel

Last edited by OnCam; Jan 19, 2014 at 02:39 AM.
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Old Jan 19, 2014 | 12:41 PM
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Driving on the left is definitely the minority.
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Old Jan 19, 2014 | 12:43 PM
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That map is missing the "who cares?" category, sometimes known as "whichever side is clear", which will beat the other two silly.
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Old Jan 19, 2014 | 05:40 PM
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The colors are backwards
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Old Jan 20, 2014 | 12:07 AM
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Left,as on the left side of the road.
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Old Jan 20, 2014 | 04:47 AM
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Oh. Got it.
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