Legal Issues with Cars driving on the right when made to drive on the left. (And vice-versa)

[Saelune]

Sorry if the title is weird. Its one of those things Ive never considered.

Basically, what is the legal matters of say, driving a car meant for Europe in the US, or vice-versa? I imagine it varies from place to place too. That is to say, drivers side on the opposite side of what is the norm.

I ask cause there is a weird car parked outside. After being paranoid for a bit, it just seems to be some rich asshole taking a call (credit for safety though I suppose), but I noticed it looks like (despite his American accent, which adds to my presumption he is rich and not just visiting the states and dragged his car here) his car has the driver side on the right, not the left.

This is just a question of curiosity more than anything.

Edit: Changed title to be clearer...I hope.

 

[JoJo]

As far as I know within the EU at-least it isn't a problem, it's quite common for British cars to travel to Europe via Ferry or the Channel Tunnel, and vice versa. My own family has done it on several occasions and never run into any problems.

 

[Saelune]

As far as I know within the EU at-least it isn't a problem, it's quite common for British cars to travel to Europe via Ferry or the Channel Tunnel, and vice versa. My own family has done it on several occasions and never run into any problems.

Like, driving on the right with cars designed for driving on the left?

 

[JoJo]

As far as I know within the EU at-least it isn't a problem, it's quite common for British cars to travel to Europe via Ferry or the Channel Tunnel, and vice versa. My own family has done it on several occasions and never run into any problems.

Like, driving on the right with cars designed for driving on the left?

Yeah, Britain and Ireland drive on the left, while continental Europe drives on the right.

 

[Saelune]

As far as I know within the EU at-least it isn't a problem, it's quite common for British cars to travel to Europe via Ferry or the Channel Tunnel, and vice versa. My own family has done it on several occasions and never run into any problems.

Like, driving on the right with cars designed for driving on the left?

Yeah, Britain and Ireland drive on the left, while continental Europe drives on the right.

Ya know, the US takes alot of shit for doing things different than everyone else...but gee, wonder where we learned THAT from, Mom? >~>

Anyways, now I wonder about the US still.

 

[Saelune]

Wikipedia told me little to nothing. Also apparently mail trucks have right side drivers, so I need to watch for the mail truck I suppose.

Though it might be a state law issue thing, rather than any federal law.

 

[Lightspeaker]

Ya know, the US takes alot of shit for doing things different than everyone else...but gee, wonder where we learned THAT from, Mom? >~>

From some quick searching about: the French actually. You can blame the French and the Revolution for coming up with the idea. And Robespierre, Bonaparte and Hitler for spreading it, apparently.

Passing people on the left side of the road was apparently the typical method and goes back potentially thousands of years to ancient Rome. At the very least (apparently) in Medieval times it was typical to pass by someone on the left because it meant you passed strangers with your sword arm (the right, dominant for most people) on their side.

Source: New Scientist
https://books.google.ca/books?id=qfak8nsMNGIC&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&focus=viewport

For America specifically it was teamsters with heavy freight wagons which had no driver's seat, so they'd sit on the left-rear horse and hold the whip in the right hand (again, dominant hand). And they preferred to pass on the right so they could be careful of the wheels of other wagons more easily.

Source: Popular Science
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lyoDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA11&pg=PA37&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false


So you can't blame the relatively less-safe practice of driving on the right hand side on us here in Britain I'm afraid. ;P


As for legalities...I don't know about the US but I'm pretty sure here and across a lot of Europe there's no actual legal restriction on not driving right-hand drive cars on left hand drive roads and vice versa. We get a lot of lorries and travelers going either way through the Channel Tunnel and its never an issue. Its just generally advisable if you're going to be spending a lot of time there (like if you move abroad) to have an appropriately sided car for ease of driving.

 

[Saelune]

Ya know, the US takes alot of shit for doing things different than everyone else...but gee, wonder where we learned THAT from, Mom? >~>

From some quick searching about: the French actually. You can blame the French and the Revolution for coming up with the idea. And Robespierre, Bonaparte and Hitler for spreading it, apparently.

Passing people on the left side of the road was apparently the typical method and goes back potentially thousands of years to ancient Rome. At the very least (apparently) in Medieval times it was typical to pass by someone on the left because it meant you passed strangers with your sword arm (the right, dominant for most people) on their side.

Source: New Scientist
https://books.google.ca/books?id=qfak8nsMNGIC&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&focus=viewport

For America specifically it was teamsters with heavy freight wagons which had no driver's seat, so they'd sit on the left-rear horse and hold the whip in the right hand (again, dominant hand). And they preferred to pass on the right so they could be careful of the wheels of other wagons more easily.

Source: Popular Science
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lyoDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA11&pg=PA37&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false


So you can't blame the relatively less-safe practice of driving on the right hand side on us here in Britain I'm afraid. ;P


As for legalities...I don't know about the US but I'm pretty sure here and across a lot of Europe there's no actual legal restriction on not driving right-hand drive cars on left hand drive roads and vice versa. We get a lot of lorries and travelers going either way through the Channel Tunnel and its never an issue. Its just generally advisable if you're going to be spending a lot of time there (like if you move abroad) to have an appropriately sided car for ease of driving.

I was less blaming for which is better, just the idea that the US is some sort of international hipster, when England seems to just as often go out of its way to be different. More a snide comment than anything serious.

But thanks for the effort. I like satisfying some curiosity and learning some history at the same time.

 

[Prime_Hunter_H01]

There isn't really a legal thing, though if you want some interesting reading look up the 25 year rule for imported cars. Its more of getting used to it though If you can get the car legally, in most cases a Japanese Car of some sort, you just need to adjust your own driving style when using a right drive car.

I understand that it would bee super impractical but I personally think every country should swap so their steering wheel side is on their driving side, Right for Right, Left for Left.

Though I will admit that this is a bias of my own as I have seen that you can see more making right turns when you are in the passengers seat (US) than as a driver.

 

[Saelune]

There isn't really a legal thing, though if you want some interesting reading look up the 25 year rule for imported cars. Its more of getting used to it though If you can get the car legally, in most cases a Japanese Car of some sort, you just need to adjust your own driving style when using a right drive car.

I understand that it would bee super impractical but I personally think every country should swap so their steering wheel side is on their driving side, Right for Right, Left for Left.

Though I will admit that this is a bias of my own as I have seen that you can see more making right turns when you are in the passengers seat (US) than as a driver.

Apparently the idea is so the driver is more aware of oncoming traffic.

 

[Prime_Hunter_H01]

Apparently the idea is so the driver is more aware of oncoming traffic.

That is a little better than the reasoning of "Its to be able to drop off passengers more easily" that I have heard before. Though I still think that is a bit BS, windshields are huge and in most places, at least in the US, you have either a physical median or a suicide lane that spaces both directions of traffic.

 

[Saelune]

Apparently the idea is so the driver is more aware of oncoming traffic.

That is a little better than the reasoning of "Its to be able to drop off passengers more easily" that I have heard before. Though I still think that is a bit BS, windshields are huge and in most places, at least in the US, you have either a physical median or a suicide lane that spaces both directions of traffic.

I dont drive, so I have no experience to go on. And stuff like this often predates alot of modern additions, since many things relevant to this topic came about when cars where new and experimental, or even before when it was horse and buggies.

The passenger thing doesnt make sense anyways, since you dont always have passengers, but you always have a driver, so Id figure they would get priority if "getting out" was the reason.

 

[DoPo]

Apparently the idea is so the driver is more aware of oncoming traffic.

And indeed they are. At least every person I've spoken to who has driven an "opposite" car has said so. If you want to overtake somebody, you have to do it on the side where the wheel is...if the wheel isn't there then you have to move even more in order to see what's in front. If you're trying to overtake a truck or another big vehicle, you could be completely unaware if there are any incoming vehicles until you shift to the side, so with an reverse wheel, you may have to be in the opposite lane to even gain any visibility if there is anything on that lane.

So, yeah, having the wheel on the correct side helps.

 

[Strazdas]

IT depends on local laws from coutnry to country but generally for visiting purposes (up to 6 months) there are no legal problems, for permanent registration some countries dont allow opposite side wheels for that.