Given the swordsmanship explanation, maybe we drive on the right to provide
the "shotgun" (still used today as the term for passenger, taken from
pioneer days) a proper defilade position (behind the engine/horses) from
which to fire at oncoming traffic.
This is still a good idea in modern day Los Angeles, from what I hear.
Dan
Ft. Knox, KY
-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Raby <mgworld@chp.ltd.uk>
To: MGSMGBGT@aol.com <MGSMGBGT@aol.com>; owner-mgs@autox.team.net
<owner-mgs@autox.team.net>; MG digest submit <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 1998 3:51 AM
Subject: Re: Re: Jingoism at its best
>On 18/2/98 12:46 am MGSMGBGT@aol.com said
>
>>Almost as bad as a country where driving ones LBC in the left lane is the
>>right side of the road.
>>
>>Sorry Philip, but it was just too good to let pass by.
>
>I've always wondered about this. Legend has it that horsemen used to pass
>to the left so that they could defend themselves with their swords in
>their right hands. That's why the British (and a surprising proportion of
>the rest of the world) drive on the left. Makes sense, eh?
>
>The story goes that the French started the fashion of driving on the
>right 'to be different from the British'. Seems a bit far-fetched, but
>you never know with the French! (no offence to the Canadians :-)
>
>Does anyone know the truth about driving on the right?
>
>Cheers
>
>Philip Raby
>Editor, MG World
>PO Box 163, Bicester OX6 3YS, UK
>Tel: 01869 340061 Fax: 01869 340063 Mobile 0467 767361
>www.chp.ltd.uk
>
>
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