Re: why steer from right?


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Posted by Allan_Lang on March 01, 2004 at 14:43:26 from 202.61.171.25 user Allan_Lang.

In Reply to: Re: why steer from right? posted by Alex Forbes on February 29, 2004 at 04:10:51:

I just read in the latest National Geographic that the reason we drive on the right side of the road in the US is because freight wagons used to be commanded by a rider riding on the left-side rear-most horse, and by passing left side to left side it was easier for the riders to judge clearance between the wagons.

That may be the key. where teams are guided that way, the rider mounts the horse from the traditional side and naturally ends up in the left hand side.

In England and most of Europe wagons were driven by a driver on the wagon itself, and he naturally sat on the right so he could swing the whip freely.

France also use the mounted postillion system. And when Boney took over he changed the rest of the Continent to the French system.




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