Comments on: Right hand left hand cars

Right hand left hand cars

IndigoJones — Wed, 18 May 2005 17:27:38 -0800

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.

By: cacahuete

cacahuete — Wed, 18 May 2005 17:46:02 -0800

Uncle Cecil seems to back up the Pope Boniface theory.

By: deshead

deshead — Wed, 18 May 2005 17:46:03 -0800

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.

By: MLIS

MLIS — Wed, 18 May 2005 17:55:56 -0800

*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*

By: adamvasco

adamvasco — Wed, 18 May 2005 18:02:12 -0800

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.

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Wed, 18 May 2005 18:25:09 -0800

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.

By: santiagogo

santiagogo — Wed, 18 May 2005 18:47:20 -0800

By: blacklite

blacklite — Wed, 18 May 2005 18:50:41 -0800

Neat link. I'm surprised that Romans drove on the left.

By: grapefruitmoon

grapefruitmoon — Wed, 18 May 2005 19:02:10 -0800

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.

By: Geo

Geo — Wed, 18 May 2005 19:16:33 -0800

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.

By: Banky_Edwards

Banky_Edwards — Wed, 18 May 2005 20:49:19 -0800

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...

By: Balisong

Balisong — Wed, 18 May 2005 23:31:00 -0800

Can I still blame it on swords?