LEFT VERSUS RIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 288, 1 September 1919, Page 8

LEFT VERSUS RIGHT.

A MOTORING CONVERSATION— THE COMING oi<: THE LEFTHAND DRIVE. "Isn't she a dandy little car?" said the Man at the Wheel enthusiastically to his friend the Passenger. They wore gliding along tho main town road, steering for the open , country. "I bought her on my last furlough at Home, and through being an officer of the N.Z.12.F., I was specially favoured with a brand-new advance model." "But, good gracious, man,youhav# a left-hand drive. How long has that been the fashion in England?" "It's the coming fashion, my boy; in a year or: two there'll be more 'left drives'than'rights.' After all, everything that can be said in favour of the ok] style can be said for tho new, and a few other points besides.' "I don't quite see how the left-hand drive harmonises with tho rule of the road,' keep to the left.'" "That's because you're blinded by custom. Just think—if you're seated on the left of tho car you can see exactly how much roadway you have on your own side; you can watch the kerbing and the edge of the road; and if the man you're passing does the same, tho two cars have all the available space in which to pass. Doesn't that seem reasonable?"

"Yes; I must confess that it does. But what would happen when passing in a narrow road, if yon' iiad to closely watch the other fellow'B car?"

"Well, you can do it as well when seated on tbe loftaa on the right. Sit in ray place here for a moment; is there anything to block your view of approaching traffic? Yon can watch an other car's approiichandjudgeoxactlyofyourability to pass by safely. And all the time you have the advantage of seeing the edge of your own sido of tho road—and that's a big convenience pretty often, I can tell you. Another thing, I still operate the control levers with my right hand, and what's the result?' Why, I have my loft hand always upon tho wheel; and that means having the right hand in the right place. In fact, it's really the natural way of-handling a car; it'* not only theoretically right, but—it works. All American cars,are designed and built for left-hand drive, and I believe the idea is spreading in England, judging by this car of mine. 'If you watch motor car development in thenearfuture,you'll find moreandmore cars coining along with left-hand drives. Mine isn't the only one about at the present time; but before long this leftdrive car will be lost in the crowd of aimilar styles. . . Here's a big truck coming—watch how easily we'll go by. . . Now, what could be better than that?"