On 5/17/05, Roger Wesson wikipedia@world-traveller.org wrote:
Not sure that changing distances on road signs would be that difficult or at all dangerous, it's just that being on an island we have no compelling reason to conform to the continental standard - there would be no benefit to be gained from a switch.
You might not drive overseas, but I'm sure that many other British folk drive on the Continent.
I'm all in favour of standardisation in driving in the interests of safety. I grew up with driving on the left, but it makes it an added stress to drive on the right when I visit the USA. Likewise with speeds.
We should have a global standard in this shrinking world of ours.
Speaking of astronomers, there's the case of Gene Shoemaker, who was driving on a narrow outback Australian road when he unexpectedly confronted an oncoming vehicle. The standard practice on these roads is to move onto the shoulder so that both cars may pass each other. But the Aussie driver automatically went left and Shoemaker automatically went right, and that was it.
We should all drive on the same side. In the long run it works out safer. And cheaper. As a right hander, I'd rather change gears and fiddle with the radio with my right hand instead of the left like I do now.