Right Hand Drive Vs. Left Hand Drive
 

Ok, lets have a serious discussion on which makes more sense. Cars with the steering wheel on the left side of the car, or the right side of the car. Dont just automatically choose the one standard in your country.


Before I can fully explain my reasons, I have one question to any Aussies or Brits. In a right hand drive car, what is the most common layout for the gears in a manual. Also, on cars with the steering wheel on the right side, how are the Gas,clutch and brake pedal organized(In what order?)


Well, other than that, I truly believe that cars with the steering wheel on the left make more sense. For one reason, most people on Earth are right handed, so you could use your right hand to shift gears. Also, if the gears are in the same order as they are on all cars, then wouldnt you want like 1st 2nd 3rd closer to you when you shift rapidly under hard acceleration, why have the gears coming closer to you as you progress to higher speeds?(If that is actually how they are organized)

Also, since most people on Earth are right handed, wouldnt you want all of the stereo and venting controls accessible by your right hand?

Other than that, it doesnt make any difference. Why do you guys think certain countries like Japan, Australia, Britain choose to have it one way over the other? Wouldnt it cost alot more money for car companies?


The Mclaren F1 which has the seat in the middle, has the gear shifter on the right side. And it is made in England.

Re: Right Hand Drive Vs. Left Hand Drive
 

Based on some quick research it appears the UK legislated for travelling on the left hand side of the road in 1756 for two reasons as withmost people being right handed, it gave quick access to swords (which people wore on the right) in the event of 'unpleasantness', the same reason the Romans adopted it thousands of years earlier.

Apparently the US driving on the right relates to the type of horse and cart used where it was easier for the driver to control the layout of three oxen they were using.

On the right hand argument, wouldn't it be preferable to have your strong hand on the wheel? I would rate vehicle control far ahead of operating any other controls.

Having driven both vehicle types, though, I can say it's pretty much of a muchness - the pedal layout is the same for both sides of the car. It was initially weird driving on the left (and after a couple of attempts to change gear with the window winder - it was a very old Mustang) but you adapt pretty quickly.

As for which layout makes more sense: It depends on what side of the road you drive on. The Gears and pedals are the same the only thing different is where the wheel is.
I believe that the if you drive on the right side of the road the steering wheel should be on the left. That way if you take on or let off passegers, they (dis)embark on the side of the car that is out of traffic.

Re: Re: Right Hand Drive Vs. Left Hand Drive
 

Well, your gear shift hand is only preoccupied for a second. Once you actually start to control the vehicle in any situation, both hands are going to be at the wheel in no time. You cant do anything with just one hand on the wheel, so it doesnt matter what hand has to always keep it straight, you'll need both to o anything.

Re: Re: Re: Right Hand Drive Vs. Left Hand Drive
 

You also referred to stereo and HVAC controls.

IMO it only depends on the side of the road you drive.
If you want to overtake someone, you have to see if the road is clear and that is only possible when you are on the side closest to the middle of the road.
In some countries it's even forbidden to drive a car with "wrong hand drive". There's a story about a rich guy in Indonesia (or some country in those regions) who bought a Porsche 911 GT1 (the Le Mans road car) and he couldn't drive it because the steering wheel was on the wrong side!

Isn't the steeringwheel on those things in the middle - just like the McLaren F1 layout?

My mistake!

http://www.webspawner.com/users/mcgradz/porsche1.jpg

Clearly a right hand drive. :)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Right Hand Drive Vs. Left Hand Drive
 

Well, yes: If you're right-handed, you'll be quicker and more accurate in a LHD car (assuming, of course, that you intend to keep both hands on the wheel as often as possible; neither LHD or RHD will make a difference if that isn't true). Since most people are right-handed, LHD cars make more sense. We don't need access to our cutlasses anymore (well, I don't), nor do I know of any oxen-power measurement for engines (though it could be 1.0 OP = 1.4 HP...).

I reckon all cars should have the steering wheel in the center. That way if you buy a car from American for example and you live in Australia, there is no need for a left to right hand drive conversion. And last I knew, conversions aren't exactly the cheapest thing you can do to a car.

Re: Re: Right Hand Drive Vs. Left Hand Drive
 

The UK originally started with the steering on the right because the gearshift was outside the car, therefore initially, the gears were changed with the right hand, which was important given that they required precision.

I've driven right- and left- hookers, and as Vat_Man says, you get used to it extraordinarily quickly. What I will say however, is that it makes more sense to me to have the indicator/main beam stalk on the side of the steering column opposite to the gearshift, since often maneuvers which require signalling also require gearshifts. Arranging things this way seems to have been a curiously Japanese phenomenon, and one I experienced with Toyota Previas and the Subaru. Interestingly, for the 1998 interior redesign of the Impreza, Subaru switched the indicator stalk to the left for the right-hookers. Bad!

That's all well and good, but I'm left handed.

I can shift just fine with my right hand. And I can change the radio station, adjust the A/C, turn on my wipers, turn signal, or anything else.

When I started driving (on an automatic) I kept both hands on the wheel most of the time. When I turned the wheel, I used my right hand primarily. When I relaxed and removed one hand off the wheel (on long drives) I drove with my right hand.

But now I drive almost completely with my left hand. The right stays on the shifter up to about 70mph, when I'm done shifting.

In the rain, I drive with both hands a lot. If I need full control of the car, I use both hands.

I've tried shifting with my left (when teaching my girlfriend to drive a manual) and it was very strange.

I have no problem with the pedals either. It's the only way I've ever known, so it's natural. I've tried pushing the gas with my left foot, and it's hard to judge pressure.

So I agree with the "what side of the road you drive on is all that matters" statement.

Re: Re: Re: Right Hand Drive Vs. Left Hand Drive
 

Heh, when I came back to the USA in 2000 after a few weeks in New Zealand, my friends sometimes caught me attempting to drive on the left side of the street. Evidently, you get used to it too quickly.