Australia driving on the Right post '17 (LHD)

[pmacc]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/o...-1227171342123

Not sure how many members have come across this story. In summary the writer John Gava advocates that once local car manufacturing is wound up, Australia should switch from Right Hand Drive to Left Hand Drive so that we can access global LHD models and that our roads will be much more accommodating to tourists.

Personally would love to see more American muscle over here alongside the Mustang, but i like my steering wheel on the Right side of the car. Also i don't want to entice the ultra cheap econoboxes/death traps out of eastern Europe/South America to join the market.

[superpursuit83]

Can you imagine what's involved in switching sides!
It will never happen

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Can you imagine what's involved in switching sides!

Shouldn't be a problem.

When the changeover happens just get all the cars to change sides on Monday, and Trucks and Bus's on Tuesday !

[LoudPipes]

Here's an old article in regard to the Poms.

Could the UK drive on the right?

By Tom Geoghegan
BBC News Magazine
7 September 2009

Motorists in Samoa have switched the side of the road they drive on, overnight. It's a move that Britain has considered - but how would it work?

It's the kind of interview question that has reduced confident job seekers to quivering wrecks.

Imagine you are the minister in charge of the UK's roads and you have to switch the country to driving on the right-hand side. How would you do it?

A study of Samoa, in the South Pacific, this week might offer some clues. The country is experiencing its first day of driving on the left on Monday, the start of a special two-day bank holiday to ease Samoans into the new regime.


WHY THE RIGHT/LEFT SPLIT?
In the pre-industrial era, horses kept to the left so riders could draw their sword
Napoleon changed Europe to the right
The US followed France
But British influenced India, Pakistan, Australia and the Republic of Ireland


What if the UK were to follow? Driving on the right would make trips to the European mainland easier, when taking or hiring a car. And cars with steering wheels on the left could be cheaper.

The idea is not as fanciful as it sounds. Although the Department for Transport says it has no plans to change, it did examine such a plan in the late 1960s, two years after Sweden successfully switched to driving on the right.

Its report rejected the idea on grounds of safety and costs. But that was before Britain's entry into the European Union and the opening of the Channel Tunnel, which for the first time established a land link between Britain and the Continent. So, if the UK was to think again about a switch, what would be the key issues?


SIGNS & JUNCTIONS

Road markings and roadside signs would have to be switched to the other side of the road, but ready in advance of the day of change, in a huge logistical exercise.

One-way streets would have to be reconfigured and traffic lights with filters changed, says Paul Watters of the AA. To get an idea of the cost, changing signs from miles to kilometres alone was estimated at £750m, he adds.

The biggest engineering issue would be highway building, says Benjamin Heydecker of the Centre for Transport Studies at University College London. About one in 10 motorway junctions is asymmetric or incomplete, so would need to be dug up and rebuilt.

"Motorway signs would have to be turned round and repositioned, so approaches to junctions would not be in the same place."

Accident blackspots would all need looking at too, because the signs there are site-specific and so would need to change.


ADJUSTING SLIP ROADS

"Entrance and exits to motorways are not symmetrical either, so there would be consequences there too," says Mr Heydecker.

Slip roads that were deceleration lanes would suddenly be used for accelerating, so their lengths would need to be extended; and vice versa.


EDUCATING DRIVERS

Although many motorists would be used to driving on the right - thanks to trips abroad - a comprehensive retraining programme would be needed, according to Mr Heydecker. Particular emphasis would be put on negotiating roundabouts (which would run anti-clockwise) and left-hand turns, which would require cutting across oncoming traffic.

After years of driving, habits are well entrenched and it might take more than a few lessons to get used to the new arrangements. But where could "learners" practise, before the switch?


CAR STEERING WHEELS & BUS DOORS

Making life even harder for motorists is the fixed right-hand driver's position of cars sold in the UK - suddenly drivers would find themselves further away from the centre of the road.

Over time British drivers would buy cars with left-hand steering, so they would be changing gears with their right hands.

The global manufacturing of cars would be simplified if all countries were to opt for left-hand steering, says Mr Heydecker.

"If cars were all manufactured the same way, it would reduce the cost of design and improve the quality of vehicles."

Public service vehicles like buses would also have to undergo a massive overhaul so that their doors were on the right-hand-side of the vehicle.


LEARN FROM SWEDEN

Preparations were made long in advance, says Niklas Stavegard of Motormannen, which is the Swedish Automobile Association.


WHY DID SWEDEN DO IT?
Sweden's neighbours drive on right
It already had left-hand steering
In 1955, 83% voted against change
But the parliament voted in favour in 1963


"All road signs were doubled, new signs on the right-hand side, which were covered until the day of the change. On the particular day, the left-hand side signs were covered and right hand side signs were used."

The change was made at 0500 on Sunday 3 September 1967. All private traffic was banned between 0100 and 0600 and there was a total stop on all traffic at 0450, with a countdown on the radio to 0500.

The speed limit in urban areas was lowered from 50km/h to 40km/h for a period of time after the change.

A majority of all cars already had the steering wheel on the left side, so no change was made to cars.


COST

In 1969, the financial burden of making the switch was calculated by the government to be £264m - about £3.4bn today. But that would now be seen as a ridiculously conservative estimate.

"Since that time, the road network and the level of sophistication of the network and its controlling infrastructure has grown enormously," says a spokeswoman for the Department for Transport.

Additional costs would include all buses being changed, alteration to motorway entrances and exits, and traffic control systems.

"Casualties would also be likely to rise, and the current cost of a fatality is £608,580," she says. "This could be particularly true for elderly road users who are less able to adapt to changed conditions."


THE VERDICT

The Republic of Ireland, which has already changed its road signs from miles to kilometres, briefly considered this move to greater European integration last year, when a pro-Brussels political party suggested it. But it was swiftly rejected.

"When the question came up, it was followed by the question 'Is it needed?' and the answer to that was 'No', says Sean O'Neill of the Irish National Roads Authority.

"If it was needed or if the UK did it, and left us as one of the last European countries driving on the left-hand side, then we would think differently."

For a significantly bigger country, like the UK, with a relatively more developed road network, the challenge would be even greater.

The immediate fear would be of road chaos and mass casualties, says Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation.

"Given that any change would have to be instantaneous, and the nation's roads are never quiet, only less busy - indeed Britain has some of the most congested roads in Europe - how do you seamlessly get everyone onto the other side of the carriageway?

"The whole concept is mindboggling. It would be a logistical nightmare involving huge public education, vast sums of money and a massive amount of staff - and all so we can be like the French.

"So probably the best advice to anyone even contemplating such a scheme is; don't bother. If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Additional reporting by Finlo Rohrer

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8239048.stm

[sierra63]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

When the changeover happens just get all the cars to change sides on Monday, and Trucks and Bus's on Tuesday !

Remind me to take a months holiday (out of the country) at time of changeover, just while all other try and work it out...

[red_hotxr6]

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Can you imagine what's involved in switching sides!
It will never happen

When i was doing my cert 3 earlier this year, my instructor told me/us, that a country in the 70,s either sweden, norway or one of them up that way changed driving sides overnight, maybe some one here has heard about it...i thought it a bit doubtful, but reading these posts brought back what he had told us....

[minheim]

Sweden was the one that changed nearly 50 years ago. Here is a link to a an article about the day of change - http://www.wired.com/2014/02/throwback-thursday-sweden/.

Personally I think we should stick with what we have as the level of driving skill in Australia by some drivers is poor enough already and the money required to reconfigure roads would be better spent improving and maintaining current roads.

[red_hotxr6]

Originally Posted by minheim

Sweden was the one that changed nearly 50 years ago. Here is a link to a an article about the day of change - http://www.wired.com/2014/02/throwback-thursday-sweden/.

Personally I think we should stick with what we have as the level of driving skill in Australia by some drivers is poor enough already and the money required to reconfigure roads would be better spent improving and maintaining current roads.

Kool, didnt think he was lying, and we should stick to what we have here and just make sure that all drivers, especially the new ones increase there driving skills through education....

[galaxy xr8]

They already drive on the LHS here in Australia, just go down along the GOR.

[cram_it_frog]

Now that is interesting the Top Gear guys did a trip into Burma and they just did the same thing switched sides

Now when you get of a local bus you walk right into oncoming traffic , now that is some thing you do not want

I have no idea why we have two ways of driving it is crazy but one day it may be cost effective to have one type of drive

I am happy where I am at present I have got Friends who have had a drive in USA and it really feel aukward but it is what you are used to

[BPXR6T]

Would be chaos and imagine the cost to infrastructure.

[HELLOYOU]

People cant even drive on the correct side as it is, both young and old.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

I don't think it will ever happen, the cost would send the country broke, the logistics would be almost impossible to manage and then there is retraining drivers who may have driven on the left side for decades.

No chance.

I believe (have never looked into it) that it is a pommy thing to drive on the left, as pommies always seem to want to be different for the sake of being different, when the whole world decided to to drive on the right hand side they went the other way, and we have inherited this, along with some other countries.

[Shambles]

I believe the poms drove/rode on the left to have the sword hand ready for a forward challenge.

[cs123]

Originally Posted by Shambles

I believe the poms drove/rode on the left to have the sword hand ready for a forward challenge.

Etiquette when riding is to pass with the opposing rider on your left.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by HELLOYOU

People cant even drive on the correct side as it is, both young and old.

Correct. Driving standards should be raised to a minimum level as a PPL license (Private Pilots License).

We'd rid the roads of at least 85% of Australian drivers. Maybe then we could open the speed limits up as well.

[FPV GTHO]

Right hand drive has links to the first roads that were crossed by horseback. Left handers were thought of as heretics so you needed your right hand free for your sword.

I can't imagine the costs it would take to switch to left hand drive, but surely there's better things to spend it on.

[OffRoadFalcon]

I've been reading that Right hand drive is better.

I have been reading on this recently.

The vast majority of humans are right-handed and right-eye-dominant. Because of this, apparently the Ancient Romans chose to drive on the Left so they could more easily identify and wield a weapon against oncoming threats.

Apparently the French began the Left-hand drive craze, for apparently no reason other to be different. Some say Napoleon, being left handed, thought this to be better, and imposed this everywhere he went.

Americans started using French pack-horses, and adopted the keep-right rule, supposedly to defy their former British colonial masters, and it continued to spread across the world.

And because of all that, 2/3 of the population drives on the 'wrong' side of the road, using the weaker left eye.
Research conducted showed that there were more accidents in LHD countries than RHD ones, although I'm not sure how many differing factors that takes into consideration.

Just some stuff I read!

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by OffRoadFalcon

I've been reading that Right hand drive is better.

And because of all that, 2/3 of the population drives on the 'wrong' side of the road, using the weaker left eye.
Research conducted showed that there were more accidents in LHD countries than RHD ones, although I'm not sure how many differing factors that takes into consideration.

Just some stuff I read!

interesting, I tend to drive using both eyes at the same time

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

interesting, I tend to drive using both eyes at the same time

Lol, made me think of a pirate and then going one step further makes me think that there is a day now that we celebrate in Australia called “International pirates day”, maybe for this one day we can embrace it and all drive on the other side ...

Yeah that would go down well......not.

[brismike]

It is also better to keep your dominant hand on the steering control and use the less dominant one to change gears. Because right handers are in the majority it makes sense to drive on the left in a RHD vehicle. The yanks never figured that out.

I have driven 30,000 k's in America and Europe in the last 2 years and it is not a problem at all. Takes about 2 minutes to adjust. I have done less than 10,000 k's back here in Australia in the same time.

The hardest part is using the wipers and indicators at first when you change over as all the cars configured for driving on the right have them the opposite to our Falcons. You want to turn left and on go the wipers lol.

Cheers Mike

[Franco Cozzo]

Just let us import/drive LHD cars if we choose to, so if you are capable of driving a LHD car then buy/drive one.

I mean we can already drive a 25 year old LHD car on the road but not a new one, what gives?

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Just let us import/drive LHD cars if we choose to, so if you are capable of driving a LHD car then buy/drive one.

I mean we can already drive a 25 year old LHD car on the road but not a new one, what gives?

just dont let import student taxi drivers in them

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Just let us import/drive LHD cars if we choose to, so if you are capable of driving a LHD car then buy/drive one.

I mean we can already drive a 25 year old LHD car on the road but not a new one, what gives?

THANK YOU...

My favourite niggle...why the hell is Australia practically the only country in the world that cares what side of the car the wheel is on? If you can safely drive 25 year old LHD cars, then why not 25 day old LHD cars as well if you so wish?

There are only a tiny number of developed modern countries that have RHD roads...and this hamstrings and effectively protects our makers (and increases imported new car costs) by making us a special market that special models have to be built for.

Go look up any of the big US manufacturers and "build and price" whatever takes your fancy from mild to wild to trucks...

Then go have a quiet cry in the corner, realising the only reason you can't have one at those ludicrously low prices is that our government treats drivers like children who can't be trusted with new LHD cars...

[The FOMOCO]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

THANK YOU...

My favourite niggle...why the hell is Australia practically the only country in the world that cares what side of the car the wheel is on? If you can safely drive 25 year old LHD cars, then why not 25 day old LHD cars as well if you so wish?

There are only a tiny number of developed modern countries that have RHD roads...and this hamstrings and effectively protects our makers (and increases imported new car costs) by making us a special market that special models have to be built for.

Go look up any of the big US manufacturers and "build and price" whatever takes your fancy from mild to wild to trucks...

Then go have a quiet cry in the corner, realising the only reason you can't have one at those ludicrously low prices is that our government treats drivers like children who can't be trusted with new LHD cars...

Exactly We are treated like we are idiots and we sit back and take it

[AUwindsor]

Originally Posted by The FOMOCO

Exactly We are treated like we are idiots and we sit back and take it

the handful that print the money, they rule earth, and decide how we're treated, via their puppet governments. the rest of us, we just accept what we're given.. or get put behind their bars

[mik]

i wouldn't like to guess how many deaths changing over would cause in the time it takes for people to really get used to driving on the other side, its a stupid idea just to get a few different import cars here when we are already flooded with the amount of different imports to the point of ridiculousness.

[MercurySilver]

pmsl
its not going to happen (changing to left re driving)
but lets open up the lhd market
please

[Guzz226]

Originally Posted by MercurySilver

pmsl
its not going to happen (changing to left re driving)
but lets open up the lhd market
please

Agreed

Why not keep driving on the left, but allow RHD and LHD vehicles together

I guess the biggest issue is someone not judging the RHS of a LHD car correctly ?

edit: just read the overtaking post and that is a fair point - enough nufties that can't drive properly in a RHD when it comes to overtaking, nevermind a LHD where they can't see cause they are tail gating etc.

[Bearman]

It won't happen, particularly in the ballot box focussed governments we have. Particularly in these times no-one will want to cop the initial costs of doing this.

It sounds good in theory but the practicalities will not support it.

Imagine after the change what your RHD car would be worth. Come trade in time you may as well drive it to the tip, remove the number plates and walk out.

On a personal level I think I'd struggle with the change.