Have you ever once think about why in England drive on the left?Well, that's all well-known and frequently visited countries, drivers drive on the right side, and on the Foggy Albion otherwise.Why is that?
tribute to tradition?But where did this and why entrenched habit?
Why in England drive on the left?The first version
Let's try to understand why the right-hand traffic mostly spread in the world, and then try to apply the facts to the traditions of the United Kingdom.
In general, it should be noted that the traditions move along the streets emerged long before mankind invented the car.
In accordance with one of the major versions of hand movement could occur in the times of medieval Europe.It was then on the rather narrow roads linking the settlements, rode their horses brave and strong riders.And, of course, every one of them was armed.
Imagine a warrior: the well-coherence horse sits proudly middle-aged man, clad in armor, in the left hand which gleams in the sun shield of gigantic proportions.Meditate on.Most people in the world are right-handed.From this naturally it follows that in the event of the slightest danger right hand at any time was ready to snatch his sword.Accordingly, it had to adhere to when you move the right side.This is more comfortable.
But why the present UK residents are not followed this principle?Let us examine another hypothesis.
Why in England drive on the left?Version two
Some people believe that this fact is directly linked with driving a horse-drawn carts and carriages.The streets were so unfit for driving horse-drawn vehicle, the driver that the two could not be to miss.Someone definitely had to give way.To do this, we come up with a special rule that everyone at the meeting was to send his crew towards the right side of the road.
Why right?Most likely, this was again due to the fact that most people in the world still dominated by the right hand over the left, so it and reins.
This has happened all over Europe, so historians have concluded that the tradition continued after the emergence of fundamentally new vehicles, the first cars.
And this variant seems, in some absolutely ridiculous accident also touched Albion.
Why in England drive on the left?Third version
now propose to consider why neither the first nor the second version does not work in this state.And in fact it is the legislator left-hand traffic.Perhaps it's in its island location.The country is linked, and continues to communicate with the continent primarily through sea routes.It actively developing shipping.Ielife of the country is largely subordinate to the Navy Department, which was once, and issued a decree that all ships must adhere to when driving on the left side.
After some time, the law has spread to emerging everywhere roads, and later in the country, who at various times fell under British influence.
I also had to deal with this point of view that, say, the government of this country is very concerned about the safety of its citizens, pedestrians, so in order not to accidentally touch the pedestrian spurring a horse whip, the driver should have control of their cart or crew,keeping to the left side.
And which countries drive on the left still exists?
I note that in our country one-hand traffic (pedestrians, cabs and carriages) was adopted in 1752 as a result of the decree of Russian Empress Elizabeth.
In general, the world has enough were often occasions when the whole country had to re-adapt to the new rules.Why is that?If any state side by side and actively supports economic relations with its neighbors have right-hand traffic, the government will sooner or later have to make a decision on the adoption of common standards.For example, in this way it had to do the former British colonies in Africa.And after the end of the Japanese occupation of the direction of movement was changed into South Korea and North Korea.
the latest country from the list turned out to Sweden, where the government has approached this issue very consciously and carefully planned in advance a list of all the necessary actions.In the four years before the introduction of the reform commission was established, which was to develop and then implement a whole range of necessary measures.And then, finally, in early September 1967 at exactly 4:50 local time, all the traffic of the country was obliged to stop, and 10 minutes later to resume the movement, but the right side of the road.In addition, the first time introduced a special rate-limiting mode.
there is still the country's drive on the left?Yes.Moreover, these countries are located far enough away from each other.Judge for yourself: Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, Japan and a number of African countries.
Inhabitants of these States, of course, accept this unusual direction of travel for granted, but most tourists are advised not to take risks and try to use the services of local drivers or taxi drivers.
