Right hand left hand cars

May 18, 2005 5:27 PM

Okay, so why do they drive funny overseas? Blame it on swords , of course, but also on Pope Boniface (can this really be true?), and, of course, on the French. At least we all can agree on boats.
posted by IndigoJones (11 comments total)

Uncle Cecil seems to back up the Pope Boniface theory.
posted by cacahuete at 5:46 PM on May 18, 2005

Then, as now, most people did their flogging right-handed

Heh.

I love posts like this. Something I've always wondered about, but never thought to look up! So thanks IndigoJones.
posted by deshead at 5:46 PM on May 18, 2005

*still amazed he did not kill himself or other motorists while driving on the left side of the road, sitting on the right side of the car and using his left hand to shift gears during trips to the UK & Ireland*
posted by mlis at 5:55 PM on May 18, 2005

We can all agree on boats.....yes to a point as designated in the collision regs. However the approach lights in and out of US ports is different to European Ports.
posted by adamvasco at 6:02 PM on May 18, 2005

I dunno if the Pope Boniface thing is why English people drive on the left, but I DO know that Pope Boniface is the Pope who banished Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy, from Florence and who was later demonized in said Epic for being a corrupt Pope.
posted by shmegegge at 6:25 PM on May 18, 2005

posted by santiagogo at 6:47 PM on May 18, 2005

Neat link. I'm surprised that Romans drove on the left.
posted by blacklite at 6:50 PM on May 18, 2005

I will now be incessantly bothered by every documentary on the Discovery Channel that has Romans riding on the right.

The explanation for why train tracks are as wide as they are is equally fascinating and involves the width of two horses' butts in Roman times. I've had someone email it to me, but I can't say as I've seen it written up anywhere. If anyone finds it, it's a good one.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:02 PM on May 18, 2005

The explanation for why train tracks are as wide as they are is equally fascinating and involves the width of two horses' butts in Roman times.

...and hence to the size of the space shuttle reusable booster rockets. All of which might or might not be an urban legend.
posted by Geo at 7:16 PM on May 18, 2005

Boniface did indeed enact a "keep left" edict in Rome, because of the crushing hordes that attended a Jubilee thrown that year. (Finally, I can use something from that "history of the popes" book I read! In your face, space coyote!) I'm unaware that this was recommended to the rest of the civilized world...
posted by Banky_Edwards at 8:49 PM on May 18, 2005

Can I still blame it on swords?
posted by Balisong at 11:31 PM on May 18, 2005