LHD cars in UK, why?

[squala]

It puzzles me why they accept those American vehicles with the steering wheel placed on the wrong side. Don't you agree that this is one factor that can compromise road safety?

[OTEP]

Because the drivers and the road system can handle it. Same as in Japan where LHD cars are legal if there is no RHD equivalent.

In Canada, RHD vehicles are also allowed (a net buddy of mine is getting an ex-JDM GEN II Pajero soon, he just sold his Montero).

In Europe, different territories have different driving orientations. So it is normal to see a vehicle with the steering wheel on the 'wrong side' on any given day.

Mas delikado pa siguro ang lousy conversion.

[edl100]

Mas delikado pa siguro ang lousy conversion.

Correct.

[mantoy]

baka gagamitin nila yun as weekend car pag tatawid ng tunnel papuntang france. hula ko lang.

[laklak]

As far as i know, LHD vehicles in the UK have a higher insurance premium as compared to RHD vehicles.

[StraightSix]

You're more at risk if you're not accustomed to driving on the correct side of the road (left side), compared to driving a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side (LHD).

LHD cars not really a big issue. People here tend to stick to the maximum allowable speed, so there's no need to overtake. And if you do find yourself in a tricky situation (visibility-wise), by all means just creep.

But you're right ... safety is a bit compromised. Evidence of this is the higher insurance premium for LHD cars. But heck, insurance companies have thought of everything to get more money from you. Magkabit ka lang ng spoiler o strut bar o aftermarket rims etc., mas mahal na bayad mo. Even your annual mileage has an effect (sorry OT, hehe, nakakainis lang).

[niky]

I agree... LHD would be a no-brainer here if people would stick to the speed limits...

But I imagine it would be nice if our trucks and buses were RHD... then those damn drivers would be stuck to the right side of the road instead of the left...

[squala]

Again, it's those American cars. They just won't make RHD versions for Europe, yet the Brits accept them. I know the issue of steering wheel position will not be completely solved, but it can be minimized.

[mazdamazda]

Again, it's those American cars. They just won't make RHD versions for Europe, yet the Brits accept them. I know the issue of steering wheel position will not be completely solved, but it can be minimized.

Well, that is because most of Europe is already using LHD vehicles / driving on the right lane (only Britain, Ireland, Malta & Cyprus drive on the left). And with relaxed intercontinental/country travel across Europe - having a LHD or RHD doesn't matter anymore.

by the way, the origin of LHD & RHD dates back to the middle ages.

when riding a horse, it is easier to mount on the left hand side. ergo - British people keep to the left when riding horses.

but after the mass use of carts (drawn by two horses) - this became irrelevant since the driver would normally sit behind the leftmost horse (using his right hand to steer). thus - keeping to the right became a norm.

btw, there are more LHD than RHD countries worldwide. it is mostly former British territories that kept to the RHD dictum.

[StraightSix]

Again, it's those American cars. They just won't make RHD versions for Europe, yet the Brits accept them.

Take note that the whole of continental Europe uses LHD. With the UK, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus being islands (all RHD's), only the Brits have easy driving access to continental driving ... and the Brits do it mostly just to buy liquor and tobacco in France.

Americans do make RHD versions, although dito na sa UK ginawa. There's a limited choice of American RHD cars here from Chrysler, Ford, etc. No sense in building a RHD car in the US for export to UK if they have a UK plant. But most American models are impractical to sell here, kaya konti lang.

Dapat mas magtaka pa kung bakit nag-i-import ang Japan ng Civic Type R? ... Sa Swindon UK plant lang kasi ginagawa yon, kaya naman siya naging first Japanese car to be imported by Japan, hehehe - according to the news report I've seen years ago.

[squala]

The issue now is only on LHD cars being sold in the UK. I know most countries in Europe are LHD, but for better visibility, won't it do well to keep the RHD percentage as high as possible?

[StraightSix]

You got me stumped there ... exactly what percentage are we talking about? When you asked why Brits accept LHD cars, surely you're not implying the majority of car-buying Brits ... we have to have a figure on that. The way I see it, it's a minority of Brits exercising their right to buy the car they want - and I don't see anything wrong with it.

Or from another angle ...

People can use LHD cars here. If they can use it, why can't they buy it? Why shouldn't they? If it's only available in LHD, so be it - if people want it that bad. Or maybe I misunderstood your question ... is it Why do Brits still buy LHD cars if it's unsafe?

[scarab]

...i'm also wondering why japan uses LHD mercs (based on the jap benz tuner mag a friend bought home), when merc does make RHD cars (nagkalat benz sa HK ah).

...ano tong mga hapon, benz purists?

[2ylytwrld]

LHD cars are allowed in Japan but at the expense of a much higher registration fee.

[jUs-]

...ano tong mga hapon, benz purists?

yeah. exactly.

[squala]

You got me stumped there ... exactly what percentage are we talking about? When you asked why Brits accept LHD cars, surely you're not implying the majority of car-buying Brits ... we have to have a figure on that. The way I see it, it's a minority of Brits exercising their right to buy the car they want - and I don't see anything wrong with it.

Or from another angle ...

People can use LHD cars here. If they can use it, why can't they buy it? Why shouldn't they? If it's only available in LHD, so be it - if people want it that bad. Or maybe I misunderstood your question ... is it Why do Brits still buy LHD cars if it's unsafe?

Actually, I'm just questioning why UK doesn't really discourage locally-sold LHD cars. Yes, there's a higher registration premium, but it doesn't address any safety concerns.

Wait a minute, is any licensed driver allowed to use LHD there, or is it limited to advanced motorists only?

LHD cars are allowed in Japan but at the expense of a much higher registration fee.

Yes, it's ridiculous that there are LHD Benzes in Japan while they make RHD anyway.

[OTEP]

The LHD Benzos in Japans are variants that don't have an RHD equivalent (e.g. some V8's, AMG's, etc.). So if someone really wanted the particular model, he'd have to get it in LHD.

LHD vehicles are not sold brand-new in the U.K. Most of them are cars intended for other parts of Europe but are now owned by a UK resident.

[StraightSix]

Actually, I'm just questioning why UK doesn't really discourage locally-sold LHD cars. Yes, there's a higher registration premium, but it doesn't address any safety concerns.

It's probably because of the fact that there are no statistics on accidents involving LHD cars. The data listed on the National Statistics regarding road accidents don't hold details if the car is LHD or RHD, as far as I can dig into. So I can only surmise that without the statistics there wouldn't be a policy regarding its safety.

Wait a minute, is any licensed driver allowed to use LHD there, or is it limited to advanced motorists only?

There are only 2 types of licenses for private cars here, Provisional (Student's Permit) and Full. The "advanced" refers to the optional training (no exam) that results in lower insurance premiums. For the Full UK license, it only states if you're restricted to auto transmission or not. No mention for RHD nor LHD cars, as you can drive any registered car that is Road Taxed, has passed its yearly safety test called MOT (if it's 3yrs and older) and you have at least a TPL insurance to drive it. You can even drive a car with only 3 wheels . Foreign cars (temporarily in the UK) has to be proven that it has paid its tax and the driver properly licensed and insured.

LHD vehicles are not sold brand-new in the U.K. Most of them are cars intended for other parts of Europe but are now owned by a UK resident.

Sorry to disagree with you on this. For those who watch Top Gear ... J.C. and Ford GT40 comes to mind. That was a LHD, and 28 brand new GT40's were allocated for the UK market. They may not be UK-built, nor do many dealers offer them, but they do sell brand new LHD cars here ... even Japanese ones . Some dealers are online if you want to look at the models.

Cheers.

[2ylytwrld]

LHD cars are a status symbol in Japan.