Advantages of being RHD in an LHD country

[OTEP]

***Just a little background. In Canada, it is LEGAL to import, own, and operate a right hand drive vehicle so long as the vehicle is 15 years or older and so long as it is made to comply safety/equipment regulations enforced by their transportation office.

However, some groups are lobbying that importation be stopped or the rules revised to make it next to impossible to import. Here are some tidbits.

From: http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showfl...5&o=14&fpart=1

1. Cyclists coming up on the right is a major concern when making right turns in urban areas. In a LHD vehicle the only safe way to check for this is for the driver to look back over his right shoulder, thus loosing sight of what is happening in front of his vehicle. This method is actually specified in the commercial driver training manual. In a RHD vehicle the driver only has to drop his vision to the right hand mirror for an instant and he can see everything to his right rear without losing sight of what is happening in front of his vehicle.

2. When turning left in a LHD vehicle the left side windshield pillar is much closer to the driver’s eyes and therefore blocks more of his field of view (FOV). In a RHD the windshield pillar is farther away and therefore blocks much less of the FOV. That windshield pillar can easily obscure a pedestrian when turning left through an intersection for example. Futhermore, when turning left in a LHD the area of worst visibility is the LH rear. The LH driver's door frame and pillar* being very close to the driver’s eyes in a LHD vehicle, block the view to a great extent, even when the driver looks back over his left shoulder (and not many do). In a RHD however (some ricers excluded obviously) the LH door frame and pillar are much farther away and block much less of the view. The driver in a RHD also does not have to turn his head as far to look to his left rear, allowing his peripheral vision to cover more of the usual blindspot to the LH rear. I don’t have the software to produce drawings illustrating this, but it should be obvious from a ‘bird’s eye view visualization

*ie: the rear side frame of the driver's door and the pillar between the front and rear doors (if any)

3. At night it is much easier to see and follow the white line on the RH (curb) side of the road than trying to see the yellow line in the center against the headlights of oncoming traffic. By avoiding looking directly at the oncoming headlights the driver’s night vision is better and he is more likely to see pedestrians, cyclists, animals or other hazards on the RH (curb) side which are less easily noticed by drivers in LHD vehicles. Furthermore, most accidents at night probably occur between vehicles and hazards on RH (curb) side of the road.

4. In a head-on collision the impact is most likely to occur on the left front side; being seated on the right the driver is less likely to be injured and injuries if sustained are likely to be less serious.

5. When parallel parking in a RHD the driver has a much better view of the curb and the LH rear of the car in front of him. This means faster and better parking with less obstruction of the curb lane and the dangerous and illegal swerving into adjoining lanes around vehicles trying to parallel park that we see so much of today.

6. In a RHD vehicle the driver gets out of the vehicle on the curb side rather than the road side. Obviously much safer for the driver as well as cyclists and other drivers. No more doors suddenly opening into traffic or following vehicles illegally swerving into adjoining lanes, or cyclists running into doors suddenly opened in front of them.

[redorange]

But isn't passing another vehicle more dangerous since you have to stick out most of the vehicle in order to see if another vehicle is coming .

1. You can also check the same mirrors if you are driving LHD vehicle so there really isn't any advantage.

2. I understand about the A pillars blocking the view but unless a RHD vehicle has no A pillars on the right side I don't see an advantage either. Because you have the same A pillars blocking your view on the right and left side regardless of which side you are driving.

3. Since most accidents happen at night with RH on the curb side you are also closer to the part of the car that will hit the RH. Since most utility poles are on the curb side you will be more likely to hit that pole with the right side of the vehicle which is also the side you are sitting in.

4. It just means you are more likely to kill you passenger rather than yourself in a head on accident.

5. People who can't park LHD vehicles wouldn't do any better with a RHD vehicle.

6. Advantage RHD unless your car is low then you would just be scratching the curb with your door everytime you open it. Your passengers still need to open the door and they will be less carefull about opening doors into traffic.

Just my .02 cents.

[OTEP]

Being RHD in an LHD world will always have its advantages and disadvantages.

However, I disagree with the prosal to ban their importation (like how it is happening here now) into Canada (where most of my relatives are). Granting that they are not optimized for the road network, doesn't mean they won't work. Even in Europe, it is perfectly legal to drive into a territory with a different road network orientation. And it doesn't seem to be a problem. Japan also doesn't ban LHD vehicle as long as they meet other set standards.

Sa Pilipinas lang siguro hindi pwede kasi kahit saan mo ilagay ang driver, hindi pa din niya alam ang gagawin.

[gearspeed]

Being RHD in an LHD world will always have its advantages and disadvantages.

I agree pero para sa akin kaya yan practice lang yan pero dito sa pinas wala ng practice parang counter strike go go go.hehe..

Nakakapanibago cguro yun na mag drive ka ng RHD na sasakyan.

[oldblue]

ako naman I am for the conversion of all PUJ's and PUB's sa RHD. para mag-think twice sila swerve at madali sila magtawag ng pasahero

[low_profile2]

tama mga bro sa pilipinas ewan ko baka mahirapan kasi ma dami pub or puj drivers..ewan ko ba kung ano style sa pag drive..pero hindi naman lahat..

[ptk675]

ako naman I am for the conversion of all PUJ's and PUB's sa RHD. para mag-think twice sila swerve at madali sila magtawag ng pasahero

parang yung gamit ng mga mailman sa US, nasa right side sila para pag pickup ng mails madali lang

[ECG]

ako naman I am for the conversion of all PUJ's and PUB's sa RHD. para mag-think twice sila swerve at madali sila magtawag ng pasahero

oo nga no. sama na din natin mga tricycle! lipat ang cab sa left side.