----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph B. Reid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 8:17 PM Subject: [USMA:22599] Re: UK beer - challenge
> >[EMAIL PROTECTED] asked in USMA 22597: > > > >why do Brits and Eires drive on the left side? > > > >an execption in Europe, this should stop as same es the usage of the pint > should stop. > > > I believe that traffic generally kept left in Europe in medieval > times. That was because most gentlemen were right-handed, and > preferred to keep left so that when they met a possible enemy they > could wield their sword more effectively if the enemy was on the > right side. > > I believe the change to keeping right started during the French > Revolution, whether due to a desire to change everything or for > linguistic reasons; left in French is sinistre which is a synonym for > gauche or awkward. I believe that it was Napoleon who spread the > change over Europe. Sweden, which Napoleon did not conquer, kept > left until about 1965. > > Does anyone have any more accurate information on the subject? Yes, I know, I've heard the reason in all time ships kept to the right side, so this was applied to roads too. England drove on the right side too but the thought that conducting your donkey, carrige ist easier to go on the left side means: Left side Right side ^ '()' the same just mirrored | | Donkey Man /\ So the both men would disturb each other on the right side bye
