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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ OT: Random friday curiosity question

Posted by: bondo Mar 17 2006, 11:56 AM

All the countries I can think of that have you drive on the left side of the road are islands that are far enough away from right side driving countries that you can't directly drive to or from them over a bridge.

Are there any countries where you drive on the left that are bordered by countries where you drive on the right? What happens when you drive across the border?

Posted by: lapuwali Mar 17 2006, 12:10 PM

There are only three RHD countries I can think of that aren't islands: South Africa, India, and Pakistan. However, all of them are surrounded by countries where the rules of the road are so, um, flexible, that you drive whereever no one else happens to be at that moment...

Japan, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the UK, and Ireland are all islands.

Posted by: Cloudbuster Mar 17 2006, 12:17 PM

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/driving%20on%20the%20left.htm

Posted by: balljoint Mar 17 2006, 12:32 PM

You can drive to France from England now can't you?

Posted by: goose2 Mar 17 2006, 12:40 PM

A few years ago, I drove across part of Africa in a Land Rover...at the border going from Uganda into Rwanda we switched from left to right side. It wasn't a big deal because everybody had to stop anyway to clear customs, bribe the officials, and spend an hour or so filling out papers. When we were cleared, they opened a big gate and motioned with their rifles to "drive on that side". It wasn't hard to remember.

Posted by: lapuwali Mar 17 2006, 12:58 PM

QUOTE (balljoint @ Mar 17 2006, 10:32 AM)
You can drive to France from England now can't you?

No, the Chunnel is a rail tunnel. You can load your car onto the train, and unload it on the other side, but you can't drive the whole way.

Posted by: Gustl Mar 17 2006, 01:34 PM

long time ago a teacher told me that he was on a longer trip with his Land Rover
he crossed Pakistan, when he came to the border to China, there was only a big sign which said:

China
drive right

Gustl

Posted by: jhadler Mar 17 2006, 02:43 PM

Isn't Hong Kong left side drive?

-Josh2

Posted by: dstar Mar 17 2006, 02:46 PM

QUOTE (jhadler @ Mar 17 2006, 12:43 PM)
Isn't Hong Kong left side drive?

-Josh2

Yes, but only because the Brits owned it for the duration of their
100 year *lease*!

Don

Posted by: fiid Mar 17 2006, 03:27 PM

Australia and NZ are also drive on the left (RHD) countries, but they are both islands. Although calling Aus an island feels a bit wierd because it's HUGE. There's no land borders tho.

Posted by: Rotary'14 Mar 17 2006, 03:33 PM

If you ever hop on the tour bus from HK and cross into china, you'll see how the chinese do it. It's a concrete bridge you cross at the border. on one side of the bridge you're on the left side, then on the other side of the bridge, you're on the right!

really not too dramatic.

Posted by: bondo Mar 17 2006, 03:38 PM

QUOTE (Rotary'14 @ Mar 17 2006, 02:33 PM)
If you ever hop on the tour bus from HK and cross into china, you'll see how the chinese do it. It's a concrete bridge you cross at the border. on one side of the bridge you're on the left side, then on the other side of the bridge, you're on the right!

really not too dramatic.

But wouldn't you run into the guys going the other way? Or is it double layered like the bay bridge? (one direction on top, other direction underneath)