Sunday, March 25, 2012

quicko: left right right left

I was recently talking with an Australian about what things make more sense in America vs. Australia, and he insisted that Australians had it right when it came to driving.  Here's why:

Most people are right-handed.
Cars were originally all manual.*
The wheel, he argued, requires more strength/control than the gears.
If you drive on the left (as you do in Australia), the wheel is on the right.
Hence, the right hand in Australia can be on the wheel, and the left on the gears.
Thus, for the majority of the driving population, it makes more sense to have the wheel on the right side of the car and drive on the left side of the road.

If only I could drive a manual I'd know if I agreed or not.

*Calling a manual "a stick" is very American.  Australians giggle nervously when you use this term, much as they do when you talk about your friend Randy.  Much as you do when they talk casually about their thongs.  Though if you really want to silence an Australian, just whip out the phrase "fanny pack."  They'll be so shocked they'll immediately cease and desist all aforementioned giggling.

1 comment:

stein! said...

as a right-handed american who DOES drive a manual car and has had the joy of driving on the left side of the road (for the year i was in japan), i can reassure you of 2 things.

1. driving on the left felt more "correct"/"logical" perhaps because i am right-handed.
2. however, i would NOT want to have a manual car in a left-roaded society. i feel most comfortable and in control using my dominant hand to shift gears!