There's More to Right and Left Than Politics

Ireland is thinking of shifting traffic to right-hand driving to avoid accidents. Personally, I think more accidents would be avoided if everyone switched to left-hand driving. When we look at something, we naturally scan it from left to right. I think if we drove on the left, instead of people drifting into oncoming lanes if they fall asleep or their attention wavers, they would drive into the ditch, avoiding head-on collisions. I lived in Japan for four years and it is quite an adjustment. There is the ceremony at the gas station, where you fill up, get into the car and find no steering wheel in front of you. That is accompanied by everyone else applauding as you slink around to the right side of the car. Then, there is the more dangerous habit of looking to your left before stepping off the curb and having someone pull you back onto the sidewalk to avoid being hit by the bus coming from your right. And, adjustment to right-hand driving is just as difficult when you come back to the states. I was sleeping while my ex drove on one trip and awoke to find her driving off the interstate to a nearby town to gas up -- at twice the speed limit and on the wrong side of the road. Making a turn would always mix her up. End of pointless post.