T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
---|
2049.1 | | LARVAE::JORDAN | Chris Jordan, TSE - Technology Services, End-User Computing | Fri Mar 26 1993 14:41 | 2 |
| Now that WOULD be a good way of ensuring everyone has to buy a new car,
and provide a welcome boost to the car industry
|
2049.2 | Wind up ? | KERNEL::SHELLEYR | | Fri Mar 26 1993 14:48 | 1 |
| Well, April 1st isn't far off is it.
|
2049.3 | | VANGA::KERRELL | but that's not my real job | Fri Mar 26 1993 15:05 | 5 |
| re.0:
Yes, it's true. Lorries will be making the change in 1995, cars follow in 1996.
Dave.
|
2049.4 | only for articulated vehicles....:-) | UBOHUB::BELL_A1 | still they want more | Fri Mar 26 1993 15:06 | 7 |
|
it's true....a trial period will be operating shortly. The only
vehicles that shall be permitted to partake in the trial are those with
a gross laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes.. :-)
Alan.
|
2049.5 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | You know what that wants... | Fri Mar 26 1993 15:20 | 6 |
| Actually, you all laugh, but apparently there is a clause in the
Maastricht treaty which gives the "majority" the right to insist that
the "minority" drive on the right. Said treaty is on-line, in EF93, so
interested parties could check for themselves.
Laurie.
|
2049.6 | It will be interesting | IOSG::SHOVE | Dave Shove -- REO2-G/M6 | Fri Mar 26 1993 16:45 | 7 |
| Sweden (I think) made this change a few years ago - there's a wonderful
photo of <some main street> at the exact moment of the change-over,
with lorries and cars crossing over in front of one another.
So it can be done. I suppose.
D.
|
2049.7 | | UPROAR::EVANSG | Gwyn Evans @ IME - Open DECtrade -> DTN 769-8108 | Fri Mar 26 1993 16:56 | 13 |
| That photo would have been staged! From what I recall, the change
was made at midnight, there was a short period where NO vehicles were
allowed to move and a longer period either side where only emergency
vehicles were allowed to travel.
Just the cost of the changes would be prohibitive, as most
junctions on recent major roads are designed for traffic flow coming
from a particular side, with non-symetrical entry and exit zones. When
Sweden made the change, quite a few years ago, their road network was
much simpler than the UK's is now.
IIRC, there are 40-odd countries that drive on the left, excluding
the UK, including Australia, New Zealand & Japan, so we're hardly alone.
|
2049.8 | | BLKPUD::WILLIAMSH | | Fri Mar 26 1993 17:02 | 5 |
| I think Sweden changed in the 1950s. And even after country-wide
publicity there were still some fatalities. I think we're too far
down the line for any change to be practical.
Huw.
|
2049.9 | Majority rules ok ... | BRUMMY::MARTIN::BELL | Martin Bell, NTCC, Birmingham UK | Sat Mar 27 1993 08:34 | 6 |
| Doesn't China drive on the left?
I reckon that we are in the MAJORITY!!!!!!
mb
|
2049.11 | (^: | RUTILE::CHEVAUX | Patrick Chevaux @VBE, DTN 828-5584 | Mon Mar 29 1993 09:26 | 4 |
| .9�Doesn't China drive on the left?
They can't drive (no cars, you know ...) but they walk on the left (and
on the right and in the middle ...)
|
2049.12 | | RUTILE::CHEVAUX | Patrick Chevaux @VBE, DTN 828-5584 | Mon Mar 29 1993 09:28 | 5 |
| .6� photo of <some main street> at the exact moment of the change-over,
.6� with lorries and cars crossing over in front of one another.
If anyone ever drove to Gibraltar from Spain that's exactly what
happens when crossing the border. Good laugh.
|
2049.13 | | WIZZER::FISCHER | I can always sleep standing up | Mon Mar 29 1993 09:39 | 6 |
| re .3
How will this work? Lorries driving on the right and cars on
the left in 1995. This couls cause a few accidents.
Ian
|
2049.14 | | KERNEL::SHELLEYR | | Mon Mar 29 1993 09:39 | 3 |
| When I went to Gib a few years ago I'm sure they drove on the right.
Royston
|
2049.15 | This (rathole) is supposed to be true | IOSG::SHOVE | Dave Shove -- REO2-G/M6 | Mon Mar 29 1993 11:39 | 10 |
| RE: China --
During the height of the Cultural Revolution, they tried to change the
interpretation of traffic lights - red (being the Revolutionary Colour)
was to mean Go, and Green Stop.
It wasn't a success, as only about half the drivers had heard about it.
They changed back after a few days.
D.
|
2049.16 | | KERNEL::MCGOWAN | | Mon Mar 29 1993 14:12 | 6 |
| I'd heard from someone who worked in a council traffic department, that
all roads in this country for the past few years HAVE been designed
for interchangable left/right handed-ness just in case we ever
switched.
Pete
|
2049.17 | No problem. | CMOTEC::JASPER | | Mon Mar 29 1993 14:22 | 15 |
|
There are always people who will say it cant be done, but if war broke
out tomorrow, we would do anything to preserve our country & ignor the
practicalities.
I like to think of the jobs boost the transfer will give us. As we have
an army of workers & a shortage of work, perhaps this is THE time to
make roadsigns, lay the odd bit of tarmac & get the workshops of Britain
to turn out budget RHD kits. If we then decide to revert
to driving on the left then we'd just have to wait till the next
depression 8^).
On the other hand, why would we want to drive on the right ?
Tony.
|
2049.18 | Appearantly islands CAN sink! | UTROP1::BOSMAN_P | | Mon Mar 29 1993 15:22 | 12 |
| Why? Because of the "cost" you have by not doing so!
Britains current economic position does not warrant any
"Island-syndroms". Just think of the import/export of the motor
industry.
re 17 is spot on I guess. Just muddle on and the recesssion you'l land
into will make it a very cheap operation.
Btw: The Chinese have a "green-light" district as opposed to our
"red-light" ones.
Peter
|
2049.19 | When the rest of Europe gets its act together... | MILE::JENKINS | Suitably refreshed | Mon Mar 29 1993 16:18 | 12 |
|
Re .18
The cost of changing over would far outweigh the costs of "staying
on the left" - in fact I don't agree that there is any extra cost
to us of "staying on the left".
btw. Japan drive on the same side as the UK - and they probably have
the biggest motor industry in the world....
Richard.
|
2049.20 | | ARNIES::SIMSA | Adrian Sims @REO 7-830-3986 | Mon Mar 29 1993 17:55 | 8 |
| Re .19 by MILE::JENKINS
> The cost of changing over would far outweigh the costs of "staying
> on the left" - in fact I don't agree that there is any extra cost
> to us of "staying on the left".
But we would be able to pop over to Belgium and buy our LHD cars alot
cheaper than the RHD equivalent in the UK.
|
2049.21 | | AEOEN1::MATTHEWS | M&M Enterprises, the CATCH 22 | Tue Mar 30 1993 04:50 | 3 |
| But the LHD/RHD cost difference is totally artificial. If the UK
changed to LHD, the car industry would find another reason to keep
the prices high ...
|
2049.22 | Confusion doctrine! | UTROP1::BOSMAN_P | | Tue Mar 30 1993 08:54 | 16 |
| Sorry you didn't get the message, it was just an example, my fault.
Japan is the second largest market after Europe and the US. Britain
is pretty insignificant compaired to that and can't afford not to realy
join forces with the European continent. The "cost" is more than that
of the actual change. I was referring to the island attitude that England
can no longer afford. It's not just about left vs. right, it's about inches
vs. centimeters too, it's about uniting forces, about conforming to
"standards".
But, you're free to enjoy it if you choose to. I like and respect
individual choise, I make them. No problem, just don't
wonder about the British economy. I know and accept what my decisions
are "costing" me too.
Choises and consequences....just like real life h�h?
Peter
|
2049.23 | | BLKPUD::WILLIAMSH | | Tue Mar 30 1993 09:21 | 10 |
| > I was referring to the island attitude that England can no longer afford.
Ahem Ahem, since when was England an Island? What about Wales?
It's the English imperial attitude and not how we drive that causes the
isolationist views.
Huw.
P.S. sorry to stray off the point but I wouldn't let it lie!
|
2049.24 | | WIZZER::FISCHER | I can always sleep standing up | Tue Mar 30 1993 09:36 | 7 |
| > Japan is the second largest market after Europe and the US.
Doesn't that make it the third largest market?
Ian
|
2049.25 | We conform to standards | WOTVAX::MEAKINS | Clive Meakins | Tue Mar 30 1993 09:46 | 8 |
| >can no longer afford. It's not just about left vs. right, it's about inches
>vs. centimeters too, it's about uniting forces, about conforming to
>"standards".
Japan, much of SE Asia and Australia drive on the same side as the UK.
This is a large total market that demonstrates there can be multiple,
co-existing standards - just as there are in the computer market.
|
2049.26 | | UTROP1::SIMPSON_D | I *hate* not breathing! | Tue Mar 30 1993 11:39 | 3 |
| Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and a few
of the South Pacific Islands drive on the left. I'm not sure about
Burma or India.
|
2049.27 | | AEOEN2::MATTHEWS | M&M Enterprises, the CATCH 22 | Tue Mar 30 1993 12:04 | 4 |
| India drive in the middle, or so I've been lead to believe
(no disrespect intended ...). Probably the cars are mostly
RHD though ... don't they still make the old Austin Westminster
and the like there ?
|
2049.28 | Dont accuse Britian of inches" vs cms | VANTEN::MITCHELLD | "Management is opaque" | Tue Mar 30 1993 12:14 | 10 |
| 1) Most British Engineering went metric in the 70's
2) The correct measurement stds are m and mm. cms are old
hat!
3) The americans are still hanging on to " and '
thats why British racing car producers have to produce the
things with " cos the yanks buy the most racing cars and
they can only get " fasteners easily in the states.
4) As regards compliance to EEC directives the U.K. is
one of the leaders. unlike some across the channel
who like diesel with their fish and Lamb with petrol!
|
2049.29 | We aren't the only land that uses Ins, pts etc | IOSG::SHOVE | Dave Shove -- REO2-G/M6 | Tue Mar 30 1993 13:18 | 11 |
| 1. I believe that China uses inches etc (they certainly used to).
2. Amazingly, some of (Continental) Europe does too -- ask your
friendly German gas-man to install a large pipe (for an industrial
oven) and it'll be 2-inch (or whatever) pipe.
And I believe that "Un demi" (of beer) is derived from it's being
(somewhere near) a half-pint. Also a pintsche (Belgian - not sure of
spelling) means a "small pint".
D.
|
2049.30 | Sure to stir it up! | SHIPS::ABBOTT_K | | Tue Mar 30 1993 13:44 | 14 |
| Alright Il'l add my two penneth worth......
There is obviously a lot of jesting here. But let's get one thing
straight. Who cares about, China, Japan, Australia or whatever. How
often do you guys take your car over there? More and more people use
there car these days throughout EUROPE, and it would make perfect sense
to all drive on the same side of the road. That means as far as EUROPE
goes we are out voted! There are two many accidents caused by someone
driving off a garage forcourt on hols, and forgetting that they should
be on the otherside of the road!
I'm in favour! Do it now.
Keith.
|
2049.31 | still imperial I'm afraid | KERNEL::MCGOWAN | | Tue Mar 30 1993 13:50 | 8 |
| >>1) Most British Engineering went metric in the 70's
Did it ? I completed my engineering apprenticeship in 1981 and all was
still imperial then. In fact I'd heard recently that British
engineering firms have totally abandoned the concept of going metric.
Pete
|
2049.32 | | SUBURB::THOMASH | The Devon Dumpling | Tue Mar 30 1993 14:24 | 10 |
|
I took maths O levels in 1969, physics in 70, amd maths and physics
A levels in 72 - they were all metric, in fact SI, so not even cm.
I was a bit difficult working on a saturday on a sweet and veg counter,
working in old money and weights, having only been taught metric from
the age of 11........but for a quid, I wasn't going to complain!
Heather
|
2049.33 | | CMOTEC::JASPER | | Tue Mar 30 1993 14:36 | 9 |
| I've just bought 15 sq Yds of 4M wide carpet 8^)
"Why should we want to drive on the right" was of course a rhetorical
question, I would still like to see pan-European standards wherever
thats prudent.
Semantics 'English=British', that will make Britain an island. I still
dont understand though Peter why drive-on-the-left will be our
financial demise. To me its just personal preference
|
2049.34 | *** USAGE ALERT ***
| TASTY::JEFFERY | Children need to learn about X in school | Tue Mar 30 1993 14:41 | 12 |
| *** USAGE ALERT ***
> There is obviously a lot of jesting here. But let's get one thing
> straight. Who cares about, China, Japan, Australia or whatever. How
> often do you guys take your car over there? More and more people use
> *there* car these days throughout EUROPE, and it would make perfect sense
> to all drive on the same side of the road. That means as far as EUROPE
> goes we are out voted! There are *two* many accidents caused by someone
> driving off a garage forcourt on hols, and forgetting that they should
> be on the otherside of the road!
Never mind driving on the write (sic), get you're (sic) spelling right!
|
2049.35 | | SUBURB::THOMASH | The Devon Dumpling | Tue Mar 30 1993 14:50 | 16 |
|
> There is obviously a lot of jesting here. But let's get one thing
> straight. Who cares about, China, Japan, Australia or whatever. How
> often do you guys take your car over there? More and more people use
> *there* car these days throughout EUROPE, and it would make perfect sense
> to all drive on the same side of the road.
I don't take my car abroad - I fly there and hire one when I get there.
That way I can get a car that is suitable for the local conditions.
The only time we didn't do this was going to Guernsey, and I wish
I had kept to my normal rule.
Heather
|
2049.36 | ;-) | SUBURB::GROOMN | | Tue Mar 30 1993 14:50 | 5 |
| Yeah, It's about time everyone drove on the same side. As soon as all
these foreigners change to the Brit way of driving the better.
Nev
|
2049.37 | | VANGA::KERRELL | but that's not my real job | Tue Mar 30 1993 15:18 | 8 |
| re.30:
> There are two many accidents caused by someone driving off a garage forcourt
> on hols, and forgetting that they should be on the otherside of the road!
Which two were too much? How many were there altogether?
Dave.
|
2049.38 | On yer Bike! | SHIPS::ABBOTT_K | | Tue Mar 30 1993 16:34 | 13 |
| O.K.
I've had enough of this conference. If you lot can't think of better
ways to spend your time than picking up on spelling mistakes then I'll go
elsewhere, it's obvious you couldn't put a sensible reply together if
you tried!
As for the flying into Europe, I suppose that's alright for high flying
money makers that earn a fortune!
Some of us don't!
Keith.
|
2049.39 | | IOSG::HORSFIELD | tomorrow's almost over, today went by so fast... | Tue Mar 30 1993 17:09 | 6 |
| there was a paper in Nature(?) about 20 years ago that
suggested that there could be a link between tornadoes
and driving on the right in the northern hemisphere. (i
can't remember whether it was the april issue.)
jack
|
2049.40 | | SUBURB::THOMASH | The Devon Dumpling | Tue Mar 30 1993 18:20 | 15 |
|
> As for the flying into Europe, I suppose that's alright for high flying
> money makers that earn a fortune!
My trip to portugal is 107 quid - the ferry alone would be more than
that, let alone driving down to the Algarve.
And I would not have any holiday, by the time I drove there and back.
I bought my ticket early, if I had waited, TAP are doing a special
for the summer if you book now, 167 quid for two tickets.
Ferrys are expensive.
Heather
|
2049.41 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | I wannabe VP for Logos... | Wed Mar 31 1993 09:30 | 6 |
| RE: .38
Oh, I see. It's our fault you wrote a sloppy and illiterate note. So
sorry.
Laurie.
|
2049.42 | | SHIPS::ABBOTT_K | | Wed Mar 31 1993 10:18 | 6 |
| Re .41
Like I said Laurie, you couldn't put a constructive comment together if
you tried.
Keith.
|
2049.43 | | VANGA::KERRELL | but that's not my real job | Wed Mar 31 1993 10:50 | 5 |
| Here's a constructive comment;
Take it to mail.
Dave.
|
2049.44 | shove that dictionary where the sun don't shine | CURRNT::CARSON | | Wed Mar 31 1993 11:53 | 6 |
| Don't worry Keith, I gave up in EF92 due to petty piking by the grammar
gang.
Whilst some noters are happy to contribute to the flow of a topic,
some, alas, like nothing better than to just be petty and picky.
Childish imho.
|
2049.45 | Europe. A small part of the rest of the world. | MILE::JENKINS | Suitably refreshed | Wed Mar 31 1993 12:36 | 14 |
|
Re .30 and other "Europeanists"
The car industry is a world market. There is no such thing
as a real "European" car industry any more. Europe is now just
another place where some cars are manufactured.
In figures published last week, Britain now has the lowest road
accident/death figures of any country in Europe. Driving on the
left is obviously safer than driving on the right. When will
the rest of Europe change over?
Richard.
|
2049.46 | Re: Tornadoes | WIZZER::WEGG | Some hard boiled eggs and some nuts. | Wed Mar 31 1993 13:31 | 25 |
| Re .39>
> there was a paper in Nature(?) about 20 years ago that
> suggested that there could be a link between tornadoes
> and driving on the right in the northern hemisphere. (i
This was once the subject of a question in the Automotive Trivia
topic 222 (how about resurrecting that somebody?) -
Extract from 222.33>
10. Well it goes like this. North America is increasingly plagued by violent
storms which are always of a circular nature. Like your bathwater they always
adopt the same pattern due to coriolis. This chap reckoned , and proved it
statistically, that the incidence of these storms was related to the number of
vehicles on the road. He surmised that every time two vehicles passed a micro
storm was started. The majority died away but occasionally two would meet to
form a bigger one and then perhaps two bigger ones would meet to form yet
larger vortices. The one in countless millions would grow big enough to be
damaging. Driving on the left was supposed to reduce this by generating
vortices opposite to those which would naturally be amplified into big
problems. It seems to me that driving on the left would actually make it worse
but it all depends on what sort of vortices are created when two vehicles pass
I suppose.
|
2049.47 | We have a reputation for it | SAC::WARBURTON | | Wed Mar 31 1993 13:49 | 9 |
|
Re -2 (I think)
Driving on the left is not safer than driving on the right.
It's just that British drivers are safer on the road than any of our
other European neigbours.
Julie.
|
2049.48 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | I wannabe VP for Logos... | Wed Mar 31 1993 14:28 | 11 |
| RE: <<< Note 2049.42 by SHIPS::ABBOTT_K >>>
� Like I said Laurie, you couldn't put a constructive comment together if
� you tried.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you'll find that I passed no
comment on your note prior to my response to your little tantrum. I'll
thank you to reserve your embittered comment for those who did comment
on your note.
Laurie.
|
2049.49 | | RUTILE::FARTHING | Happy but twisted | Wed Mar 31 1993 14:34 | 10 |
|
> It's just that British drivers are safer on the road than any of our
> other European neigbours.
I *do* hope you're not including yourself in the 'British drivers' category
Julie!
Faz. ;^)
|
2049.50 | ;-) Big smileys all-round! ;-) | RUTILE::BISHOP | What the HELL are you talking about man! | Wed Mar 31 1993 14:39 | 0 |
2049.51 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | I wannabe VP for Logos... | Wed Mar 31 1993 14:45 | 7 |
| Actually I suspect that the high safety record on British roads is
mostly to do with two things:
1) Unlike continental roads, British roads are over-policed.
2) Continental drivers, in the main, are completely crazy, dangerously so.
Laurie.
|
2049.52 | | RUTILE::FARTHING | Happy but twisted | Wed Mar 31 1993 15:09 | 10 |
| You seem to be forgetting the amazing:
1) Priority to the right, but only when they feel like pulling out of a
sideroad in front of you.
2) The hereditary belief (at least in France) that they are completely safe when
overtaking round a blind bend, and there will be nothing coming!
Faz.
P.S. :-)
|
2049.53 | IF policing -> safety THEN OK | NEWOA::FIDO_T | Ain't it great ! | Wed Mar 31 1993 15:17 | 17 |
| >> <<< Note 2049.51 by PLAYER::BROWNL "I wannabe VP for Logos..." >>>
>> Actually I suspect that the high safety record on British roads is
>> mostly to do with two things:
>> 1) Unlike continental roads, British roads are over-policed.
Laurie,
one could argue that, if the level of policing IS responsible for
Britain's high safety record, then British roads are NOT over-policed.
I suppose that it all depends on one's perspective of what the
police are trying to do or supposed to be doing.
Terry
|
2049.54 | ...and over-photographed! | MILE::JENKINS | Suitably refreshed | Wed Mar 31 1993 20:26 | 8 |
|
Re .last
British roads are over-policed. 'nuff said!
Richard
|
2049.55 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | I wannabe VP for Logos... | Thu Apr 01 1993 09:36 | 7 |
| RE: .53
When I say "over-policed" I mean way past the point required to ensure
road-safety. The longer I live outside Britain, the more I see it as a
repressed and repressive society.
Laurie.
|
2049.56 | Speed up rotation of the earth? | VARDAF::CHURCH | Dave Church@VBE (DTN 828-6125) | Thu Apr 01 1993 10:04 | 9 |
| RE: .46
Wouldn't driving on the right hand side of the road speed up the
rotation of the earth while driving on the left slow it down? Or is it
the other way around?
For those who think I'm an absolute dingbat (well I'm not far off)
what day is it today!
|
2049.57 | Cost/benefit ? | UNTADH::STUBBS | | Thu Apr 01 1993 13:02 | 15 |
|
Has anybody any idea of how much it would cost to change all the
road signs, road markings and (some) road layouts?
I imagine the costs would be huge! And nobody here has produced
a convincing argument as to why it would be worth it.
My car is left-hand-drive and I drive it in the UK and on the
the continent. I don't see what all the fuss is about.
The only annoying aspect, as far as I can see, is that certain
cars and/or models are not available in RHD.
- Jonathan (I hate to see a good argument fade. :-) )
|
2049.58 | Ergonomic reason for RHD | WIZZER::TRAVELL | John T, UK VMS System Support | Thu Apr 01 1993 15:10 | 19 |
| A MAJOR, and crucial point why Britain, and all of those other countries that
drive on the left are correct to do so, and Europe and the USA are WRONG, is
in part historical, and in part ergonomical.
The vast majority of people are right handed, with their visual acuity at it's
sharpest and most accurate on their right side. This means that driving on the
left puts the greatest danger (vehicles approaching in the oposite direction)
where the driver has the best chance to avoid any collision.
Historically (like hundreds of years ago), people on foot or horseback would
normally travel down the centre of a track, but would move to the LEFT to pass
someone coming from the opposite direction so that they could put their sword
arm between themself and the potential attacker.
The Japanese drive on the LEFT for EXACTLY the same reason.
It made sense then, it makes sense now, we Right-Hand-Drivers are RIGHT.
John Travell
|
2049.59 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | I wannabe VP for Logos... | Thu Apr 01 1993 16:17 | 8 |
| This topic has ben discussed in here and in EURO_MOTORING at some
length. Europe changed over to the right at varying times between the
10s and 30s this century. France and Germany were the first, chasing
the American market. Belgium, which at that time had a thriving car
manufacturing base, was amongst the last. Quite simply, it was the
Americans that started it.
Laurie.
|
2049.60 | Hello Dad! | CHEFS::MARCHR | | Thu Apr 01 1993 18:23 | 7 |
| Ref .58
I didn't know my Dad has access to Notes. Either that or he's been
giving you his favourite "..of course you know it's the bl**dy Frech
who drive on the wrong side, don't you.." line.
Uncanny!
|
2049.61 | No RH drive Twingo | EUSEBE::STURT | Totally wired | Fri Apr 02 1993 11:01 | 6 |
| There will be no RH drive version of the new Renault Twingo. Renault
have obviously done their sums very carefully and decided that
producing a RH drive version does not make economical sense.
Salut,
Edward
|
2049.62 | "Belt up in the bac....err sides !!" | SIOG::KANE | tb or not tb, that's a Ferrari | Fri Apr 02 1993 11:05 | 4 |
|
Doesn't worry me either way.
Mike (McLaren F1 driver)
|
2049.63 | | WIZZER::FISCHER | I can always sleep standing up | Fri Apr 02 1993 13:30 | 5 |
| re the Twingo. Good job too. It's even uglier than the Corsa!
Ian
|
2049.64 | Serrez la droite, sur la pont, M.Chevalier | CMOTEC::JASPER | | Fri Apr 02 1993 14:13 | 7 |
| ...I thought that the French drove their carriages on the right in
Napoleonic times. That must pre-date the American interest in motor
cars.
By the way, .57, which side do you drive your car on ? 8^)
Tony.
|
2049.65 | | RUTILE::BISHOP | What the HELL are you talking about man! | Fri Apr 02 1993 14:17 | 6 |
| Re .Twingo.
Who-ever thought of that name deserves to be shot... what a bl$$dy stupid name
for a car.
Lewis_mines_called_twanga_danga_diddly_doo ;-)
|
2049.66 | | PLAYER::BROWNL | What a *lovely* day! | Fri Apr 02 1993 15:21 | 10 |
| RE: <<< Note 2049.64 by CMOTEC::JASPER >>>
� ...I thought that the French drove their carriages on the right in
� Napoleonic times. That must pre-date the American interest in motor
� cars.
Well, that may well be the case, I don't know. However, a swift visit
top any continental car museum will confirm my earlier comments.
Laurie.
|
2049.67 | Rathole alert | RDGENG::RUSLING | Dave Rusling REO2 G/E9 830-4380 | Fri Apr 02 1993 15:35 | 9 |
|
This may be (and indeed is) a rathole. Further to the theory that passing
on the left is because most people are right handed and you pass sword
arm to sword arm (see spiral staircases in castles). Now, I heard that
driving on the right was as a result of military edicts in Europe so that
you could prove that you were friendly (ie pass non-sword arm to non-sword
arm - look at me I cannot attack).
Dave
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2049.68 | Twingo twaddle | MILE::JENKINS | Suitably refreshed | Fri Apr 02 1993 16:30 | 9 |
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I wonder how the French say Twingo??? Any offers?
All this talk about LHD cars being cheaper is crap. The Lancia
Integrale, which is only available in LHD costs about �24k over here...
more expensive than just about anywhere else in the EC.
Richard.
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2049.69 | ki | REPAIR::CARTER | | Fri Apr 02 1993 16:37 | 2 |
| hello
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2049.70 | Blame Henry Ford. | WIZZER::TRAVELL | John T, UK VMS System Support | Sun Apr 04 1993 14:12 | 24 |
| If the theories expressed earlier about Europe following America, and the tale
I have heard about the origin of LHD in America are both true, we can blame
** HENRY FORD ** for all of this rathole...
The story goes that early US vehicles were all made with a CENTRAL steering
wheel, this being OK because there were so few vehicles (per mile of `road')
that it was a major event to meet another one. With speeds being very low, and
roads being mostly dirt tracks, there was never a problem seeing someone coming.
I hear that it was common practice for drivers to stop for a chat...
Then HF built his Model T... and did not make it wide enough to seat 3 people
side-by-side. This meant he had to choose which side to put the steering wheel,
and got it wrong.!.!. but because of the success of the "T", everyone else
copied this arrangement.
I sometimes wonder it this is just a load of Bull#%&*, but am not sufficiently
interested to research the facts.
John Travell.
P.S. I still maintain, and will continue to do so, that RHD is RIGHT, and
LHD is less safe.
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2049.71 | | RUTILE::BISHOP | What the HELL are you talking about man! | Mon Apr 05 1993 11:02 | 12 |
| Re Twingo,
Well i take back that last statement... well done to the man who named the
beast, it IS well named. What a stupid looking car.
BTW it's called a Twingo in France as well... now i wonder how many tons of
English fish (or seamen) will fit in that! ;-) (oops different rathole ;-)). ;-)
Lewis.
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2049.72 | do you know a better one ? | CHUND::EATON | A quattro is not a spreadsheet... | Mon Apr 05 1993 12:32 | 1 |
| a stupid looking car that works great in the city...
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2049.73 | More Twingo twaddle | MILE::JENKINS | Suitably refreshed | Mon Apr 05 1993 13:28 | 8 |
|
Re .last
Since it's been put "on hold" in France because its too noisy and
isn't available in the UK and Renault have said they will not make
a RHD version I can only assume the last noter lives in Outer
Mongolia
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2049.74 | | RUTILE::BISHOP | What the HELL are you talking about man! | Mon Apr 05 1993 14:16 | 10 |
| Has it been put on hold? I've seen one sitting in the Renault garage up the road
from here (actually sitting on the forecourt).
Err, no, what about the new Micra... that's supposed to be economical... not that
it looks much better (just a little though). I'd never even heard about the
Twingo until reading those past few notes...
Lewis.
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2049.75 | Twingo Micra | RUTILE::CHEVAUX | Patrick Chevaux @VBE, DTN 828-5584 | Mon Apr 05 1993 17:07 | 10 |
| Re. new micro cars
I test drove both the Twingo and the Micra. That is ... I sat in both
during the Geneva Auto Show early March. What's truly amazing is that
one can sit in the front and use a lot of legroom and then move to the
back seats and still enjoy a lot of legroom too. When you look at these
cars from the side you'll see that the wheels are really located at the
4 corners, yielding a lot of wheelbase and room inside. Now don't open
the boot ... you'll only see the back seat and room for a thin
briefcase.
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2049.76 | | WOTVAX::MEAKINS | Clive Meakins | Mon Apr 05 1993 17:18 | 7 |
| > cars from the side you'll see that the wheels are really located at the
> 4 corners, yielding a lot of wheelbase and room inside. Now don't open
> the boot ... you'll only see the back seat and room for a thin
> briefcase.
Do you sit in the crumple zone? I hope they've put significant
engineering into safety.
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2049.77 | Isn't the Micra one of the most dangerous cars to be in if involved in an accident? | CMOTEC::POWELL | Nostalgia isn't what it used to be, is it? | Mon Apr 26 1993 14:33 | 12 |
|
I'm English! Not Scots or Welsh or Irish.
I like to drive on the left in Great Britain (never diven in N Ireland).
I think in inches, feet, yards, .... Miles; Fluid ounces, Pints,
Gallons etc. etc. etc. and I'm proud of being British. Long may we differ!
Malcolm. 8-)
PS. I seem to remember that the continentals tried to build with metric bricks,
but had to go back to Imperial ones 'cos the metric sized ones didn't "work."
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2049.78 | ... But mainly 'in pints' right? | TRUCKS::BEATON_S | I Just Look Innocent | Wed Apr 28 1993 09:15 | 1 |
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