Japan is correct for driving on the left, here is why:
- Thread starter Chris Davison
- Start date
- Status
- 17 Sep 2005
- 6,017
- 1,970
So he should let you think for him?Chris Davison said:
Well, that's great and all, but unless you can show that countries that drive on the left are statistically safer than those that drive on the right, it's all just conjecture.
I'm not saying you're wrong. I think it's an interesting, if not irrelevant, hypothesis. I'm just saying that just because it makes sense to you doesn't necessarily make it true.
Many things that sound good have shown to be not so. Just look at any scientific area of research for examples.
- 17 Jul 2002
- 5,907
- 385
I have driven both on the right and on the left (always with automatic gear), and all I can say from my personal experience is that it is easier to change the gear when the gearbox is on the right for a right-handed person. This also allows for more self-confidence, and thus to drive faster.
Statistically, people in countries where cars drive on the left (UK, Australia, Japan...) have less accidents, but also respect more speed limits. This may just be a coincidence, because most of these countries are in Asia, or in countries where people are naturally more courteous and respectful of the law (again, UK, Japan...). It would be interesting to compare accident stats for Ireland and Northern Ireland though.
Statistically, people in countries where cars drive on the left (UK, Australia, Japan...) have less accidents, but also respect more speed limits. This may just be a coincidence, because most of these countries are in Asia, or in countries where people are naturally more courteous and respectful of the law (again, UK, Japan...). It would be interesting to compare accident stats for Ireland and Northern Ireland though.
KrazyKat
先輩
- 17 Jan 2006
- 470
- 9
I'd just like to say that nobody has got on a bike form the sidewalk in the UK, they use the pavement. I am seriously doubting that the OP is British or even been to Britain. 
About which side of the road is safest I would think that the most dangerous thing is driving in a country that uses a different side to that which the driver is used to. This is surely a much bigger issue than the points already raised?
About which side of the road is safest I would think that the most dangerous thing is driving in a country that uses a different side to that which the driver is used to. This is surely a much bigger issue than the points already raised?
bossel
後輩
- 28 Sep 2003
- 1,485
- 45
& probably not a bicyclist. Not the mounting is dangerous, but the 1st few meters after you started riding. There are numerous cyclists who drive in wiggly lines then.KrazyKat said:
Most people don't mount their bikes in the "traffic stream", anyway, but either on the sidewalk (riding the 1st few meters upon it) or between parking cars & wait for a gap in traffic to start.
Riyko
先輩
- 28 Nov 2005
- 906
- 2
Question then if left handed people drive the same way that right handed people would that be considered wrong to drive that way in a country that drives on the left side? I sort of get the feeling from the OP that if left handed people drive the same way as right handed people we're doing something incorrectly. Driving a car is alot easier for me to do over in Japan or England then it is in America and i'm left handed. Sorry if it has nothing to do with the topic, but it seems like he was directing everything towards right handed people and basically making left handed people unimportant with the whole safety thing.
-Rudel-
Fire Star Man
- 8 Feb 2005
- 836
- 26
I was rasied in a country where the stick is on the right side.(USA) So I had to learn it that way. Im a left handed person and it's so easy! I had no difficulties learning with my right hand. Is it the possibilities of the driving arcade games with the stick shift, or the practice I had when I was younger? Perhaps so. Or is it that I am ambedextrious is certain motor skills.
Now if I were raised in a country where the stick in a on the left, I would learn to drive that way. I bet that I was raised in Japan, or England and learned to drive with the stick on the left side, I would be just as good as a driver I am in USA.
I think for someone that is trained or has much experience in driving with a stick on the right side is prone to be better than left, no matter if that person is left or right handed. And Vise versa.
Now if I were raised in a country where the stick in a on the left, I would learn to drive that way. I bet that I was raised in Japan, or England and learned to drive with the stick on the left side, I would be just as good as a driver I am in USA.
I think for someone that is trained or has much experience in driving with a stick on the right side is prone to be better than left, no matter if that person is left or right handed. And Vise versa.
- 9 Feb 2005
- 718
- 48
Mike Cash said:
I tend to agree ...
... but it sounds a little more like SVF 'in drag' to me.....
ﾆ淡ﾆ停?｡ﾆ停?
- 4 Feb 2006
- 33
- 0
- Thread starter
- #35
Riyko
(82% right handed in the UK)
This means driving on the left and those who do not understand
the arguments leave themselves open to the "nutbar" name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~#~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homework revision:
1.. Perhaps a billion cyclists in right hand driving areas around the world are all risking their lives mounting their bike in traffic.
2..Also In right hand driving areas a greater number of people reverse with their heads out of the window and :
3..hundreds of millions of right handed drivers hold the steering wheel at speed with their left hand..
4...Right handed people who are also "right eyed" have
the traffic coming toward them on their right in left hand driving areas ,
.
Not at all, the correct driving side is the one safest for the majority
(82% right handed in the UK)
This means driving on the left and those who do not understand
the arguments leave themselves open to the "nutbar" name.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~#~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homework revision:
1.. Perhaps a billion cyclists in right hand driving areas around the world are all risking their lives mounting their bike in traffic.
2..Also In right hand driving areas a greater number of people reverse with their heads out of the window and :
3..hundreds of millions of right handed drivers hold the steering wheel at speed with their left hand..
4...Right handed people who are also "right eyed" have
the traffic coming toward them on their right in left hand driving areas ,
.
Last edited:
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
I have driven both on the left and the right. As I am a professional driver, I have done so extensively. I am left-handed and never felt that it had the slightest bit to do with anything whatsoever.
Chris' contentions seem almost to take for granted that a person's non-dominant hand is atrophied or palsied and incapable of simple tasks not requiring one hell of a lot of dexterity (changing gears or gripping a steering wheel).
The only inconvenience I experienced when switching sides was getting used to digging potato chips out of a bag with the other hand.
Chris' contentions seem almost to take for granted that a person's non-dominant hand is atrophied or palsied and incapable of simple tasks not requiring one hell of a lot of dexterity (changing gears or gripping a steering wheel).
The only inconvenience I experienced when switching sides was getting used to digging potato chips out of a bag with the other hand.
gaijinalways
puzzled gaijin
- 15 Jan 2006
- 681
- 21
driving right?
I have driven on both sides, and I don't see what the difference is. Both have turns across traffic, both have blind spots (though the dual side mirrors have eliminated more of that now), and I back up with my head facing to the rear in the middle, not out the window. I wouldn't worry about it so much. As to the bicycle arguement, why wouldn't you get on your bike on the side of the road? And using your left leg to get on a bicycle is not that difficult.
As to the accident rate in Japan, have you seen rates here compared to how many miles they drive? Also of course, the average rate of speed is lower, which is a factor (generally higher speeds cause more accidents). Finally, many accidents here are unreported (as well as in Taiwan) with money being exchanged, rather than involving the police and the insurance companies.
I have driven on both sides, and I don't see what the difference is. Both have turns across traffic, both have blind spots (though the dual side mirrors have eliminated more of that now), and I back up with my head facing to the rear in the middle, not out the window. I wouldn't worry about it so much. As to the bicycle arguement, why wouldn't you get on your bike on the side of the road? And using your left leg to get on a bicycle is not that difficult.
As to the accident rate in Japan, have you seen rates here compared to how many miles they drive? Also of course, the average rate of speed is lower, which is a factor (generally higher speeds cause more accidents). Finally, many accidents here are unreported (as well as in Taiwan) with money being exchanged, rather than involving the police and the insurance companies.
- 4 Feb 2006
- 33
- 0
- Thread starter
- #38
very interesting
This is a light hearted discussion because I know the world
has made up its mind, so let's break this down into bullet
points for clarity:
1....USA right -handed driver sitting on the left.
2....Holds the steering wheel with left hand.
3....Uses right hand to mess about with tape deck , gears and half eaten cheeseburger..
4...Looks at traffic with "left eye".
5....Bang!..
This is a light hearted discussion because I know the world
has made up its mind, so let's break this down into bullet
points for clarity:
1....USA right -handed driver sitting on the left.
2....Holds the steering wheel with left hand.
3....Uses right hand to mess about with tape deck , gears and half eaten cheeseburger..
4...Looks at traffic with "left eye".
5....Bang!..
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
Is your non-dominant hand that ****** useless?
And explain why this left-handed fellow, who grew up driving in the U.S. by the way, has for years managed to pilot tractor-trailers around Japan while holding the steering wheel with his right hand and successfully avoiding #5, please.
(You're still a nutbar).
And explain why this left-handed fellow, who grew up driving in the U.S. by the way, has for years managed to pilot tractor-trailers around Japan while holding the steering wheel with his right hand and successfully avoiding #5, please.
(You're still a nutbar).
- 4 Feb 2006
- 33
- 0
- Thread starter
- #40
.
Both Japan and the UK have very low accident rates and both drive on the left.
Lets face it the USA and all right side drivers made the wrong decision and we are now faced with justifying this gigantic mistake.
Because they are needed when the driving wheel is on the left as in the USA
A major point here .....in the USA if you do this you must use your left hand on the steering wheel..
No not "difficult" but in practice ( and practice is what this is all about)--people will place their right leg over the bike to mount is if right handed. If you do not believe this ask 20 right handed children to mount a bike and you will see.
Both Japan and the UK have very low accident rates and both drive on the left.
Lets face it the USA and all right side drivers made the wrong decision and we are now faced with justifying this gigantic mistake.
- 4 Feb 2006
- 33
- 0
- Thread starter
- #41
- 4 Feb 2006
- 33
- 0
- Thread starter
- #42
Rudel
Yes you are right a left handed person can drive well in the USA because driving on the right is correct for left handed people. Thanks for this comment
Yes you are right a left handed person can drive well in the USA because driving on the right is correct for left handed people. Thanks for this comment
Mycernius
The Hairy Wookie
- 4 Feb 2005
- 4,644
- 203
Germany can be a pain the arse to drive in, especially East Germanym477 said:
Edit: Did some digging on vehicles
From About.com said:
The rest of this article can be found at The First Cars Were Powered by Steam
DoctorP
先輩
- 3 Jun 2004
- 2,193
- 93
Chris Davison said:
Why are you left to face this mistake? (as you put it)...You don't live in the US do you?
I would also like to point out that if you are actually writing an essay on this, it will be quite poor indeed, since you have still failed to provide any stats or hard facts to back up your argument.
- 9 Feb 2005
- 718
- 48
by way of Mycernius said:
I bet that was fun! :nuts: :nuts:
ﾆ淡ﾆ停?｡ﾆ停?
- 28 Jul 2005
- 5,238
- 172
Hey sabro san !! You the man !! I do the same thing out here in the sticks of Nagano....and in fact...sometimes I do it all on both sides of the front seat at the same time !!
Wow, we should get together some sunny day, and go for a DRIVE together !!
Wow, we should get together some sunny day, and go for a DRIVE together !!
Last edited:
- Status
