Why cant LHD and RHD live together?

[flappist]

Originally Posted by RAPID XR8

All I will say is, go and have a drive of a LHD car. Then all will be revealed.

If you are behind a truck,van or 4x4 for that matter and want to overtake, forget it.

75% of your car is on the wrong side of the road just to see if anything is coming in the opposite direction.

Horrible outcome if a car is there when you decide to try and see if it is OK to overtake.

You can actually look up the other side of the vehicle in front you know, I often do it on my bikes.

Or make just don't sit right up the **** of the vehicle in front so you have plenty of room to see past (yes I do realise that this is a difficult concept for most drivers, especially city ones).

Or how about a reversing camera attacted to the front of the right hand mirror with the screen set up on or next to your SATNAV?

Do Australians really have the mentality that it is easier and better to ban something than solve a problem technically?

It does say a lot about our driving culture that the bigger and shinier the 4wd the closer to the centre of the road (and the further away from any dirt on the edge of the road) they sit.

It is also quite amusing that the only LHD vehicles that are allowed in most states are the ones WITHOUT airbags, crumple zones, ABS, DSC or any of the other safety enhancements of the last 30 years.....

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by flappist

It is also quite amusing that the only LHD vehicles that are allowed in most states are the ones WITHOUT airbags, crumple zones, ABS, DSC or any of the other safety enhancements of the last 30 years.....

It is such a minority, they are usually weekend or fine weather once a month cars etc .....

As far as looking around the truck on the left to see whats coming ....... I know you will say you have driven heaps of LH cars so you would know that it doesn't work, damn dangerous in a car on a highway doing 90k's with one wheel slipping onto the gravel sitting behind a truck ..... no matter how far back you are.

Let the rest of your recomendations & insinuations slide to the keeper .......



| [/url] |

[WOLF]

Yes the law it seems is a total contradiction.
So let me see....In VIC if a car is LHD and over 30yrs old, R/worthy & registered etc it can be driven as per normal everyday of the week.
If a car is LHD and under 30yrs old, it can't and has to be converted.
Pretty ridiculous isn't it and I guess that rules out the safety argument, as if it was unsafe then surely nobody would be allowed to drive a LHD car here :

The overtaking issue/saftey concern is bollocks, otherwise laws would not allow you to register a LHD car in Oz period.

Just like driving any car, we are taught to never overtake unless it is 100% safe to do so, so why should that be any different in a LHD car? Its called common sense....

I am pretty sure the current laws exist to protect the local car industry, oherwise most people would happily import much cheaper LHD cars from the U.S

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by Antwon

Maybe have a second driving test that allows you to drove HD cars? like a different license class or something?

How would the licensing be any different Q91: What side is the steering wheel on in an LHD car? LOL

[The G6ET Spot]

Originally Posted by flappist

You can actually look up the other side of the vehicle in front you know,

With a statement like that it is obvious that you have never driven a LHD car at all.

Originally Posted by flappist

I often do it on my bikes.

And if you go around doing things like that on a bike, you must be the bravest man in Australia.
Or the biggest idiot.
I'll let you choose which one! Because I already know

[DBourne]

also the angle of headlights would come into it wouldnt it?

RHD headlights angleing to the left and vice versa.

I remember having to tape up the sides of our headlights in france (car coming from the UK)

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by benXaGt

My mate has a lhd caddy and said the only problem he has is he cant order properly in the macdonalds drive through window lol

LOL that's funny! But it is a practical issue, he wouldn't be able to go into a car park which requires you to take a ticket either.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by RAPID XR8

With a statement like that it is obvious that you have never driven a LHD car at all.



And if you go around doing things like that on a bike, you must be the bravest man in Australia.
Or the biggest idiot.
I'll let you choose which one! Because I already know

No never driven a LHD car, well other than a Mustang and an aircraft carrier on wheels disguised as a cadillac.

Of courser that was in Australia; in USA, Mexico, Canada & Tahiti all of the cars I drove were LHD but then so were most of the others on the road.

As far as looking up the left side of a truck or car on a motorbike as well as looking up the right only someone who does not ride would think that is foolish.
It is very easy for vehicles to hide over to the left in front of trucks and if you just overtake and assume that there is only one vehicle and not someone else overtaking a car in front of them or are not aware of an upcoming junction that someone may pull out of then you can get very dead very quickly.

[XC GXL]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Other than the usual money grab by the authorities I was wondering what was the reason why we cant have LHD and RHD vehicles on our roads?

I understand there is a pre-60's rule of some sorts (or a 25 y.o rule??), so if its ok for those cars why is it an issue with new ones?

Say for instance you imported a Ford GT from the US, why go to all the trouble and time to convert it when in reality it doesn't make the car any safer or better.

Im yet to drive through Europe (will do next July), but Im guessing people from the UK go to France a fair bit and they seem to manage. I wonder if someone from the UK can register their car in Euro-land.

Just seems like such a waste of resources and potentially collectible cars to go converting them.

Local manufacturers also get away with test vehicles by wacking a great big sticker on the rear bar aswell.

The American car scene in the UK is massive.
All the American cars in the UK are left hookers and there are a lot of European LHD cars on the road as well.
I have driven a 1979 LHD Trans-Am in the UK and I didn't have any problems/issues with visibility etc.
I like you don't see an issue and can't see why the rule doesn't apply to cars older than 10 years (I think). Maybe it is a case of older cars (in theory) don't get driven as much and the owners who do have them are extra careful but new cars tend to be driven every day!

Wayne

[XR6_190]

At the end of the day, laws aren't made for the smart people, or for people who use common sense, or even for the uneducated. Laws are made with the sole purpose of protecting the idiots from themselves (and protecting the rest of us from said idiots at the same time).

Do you seriously want that moron down the road with his japanese import who drives like he is a cast member of Fast and the Furious in a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side?

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by XR6_190

At the end of the day, laws aren't made for the smart people, or for people who use common sense, or even for the uneducated. Laws are made with the sole purpose of protecting the idiots from themselves (and protecting the rest of us at the same time).

Do you seriously want that moron down the road with his japanese import who drives like he is a cast member of Fast and the Furious in a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side?

Um I am pretty sure the Japs are on the same side as us, hence why they are everywhere.

Still no good reasons why its not allowed. I certainly dont think that LHD should be made available mainstream, but grey imports etc should be fine.

As Flappist said, if your underbraked (drums!) 300 odd HP mustang with sloppy suspension and no crumble zones can get away with it I cant see why new vehicles cant.

I also cant see the general muppet looking at a $50k import either.

[XR6_190]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I also cant see the general muppet looking at a $50k import either.

I disagree, Money doesn't assure brains. What about that 'muppet' a few weeks ago who drove his $1.5million bugatti into a lake because he was distracted by a Pelican? Idiots come in all shapes and sizes (including Bank account sizes)

As for classic cars, I think the main argument there is the rarity of parts, and the cars themselves means they get the exemption.

[benXaGt]

Originally Posted by Cobra

LOL that's funny! But it is a practical issue, he wouldn't be able to go into a car park which requires you to take a ticket either.

haha yeah but the good thing is his car is licenced with no seat belts so all he has to do is put it in park and slide right across his bench seat and grab one

[JACK250]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

also the angle of headlights would come into it wouldnt it?

RHD headlights angleing to the left and vice versa.

I remember having to tape up the sides of our headlights in france (car coming from the UK)

You need to install aussie headlights for roadworthy, we have just been through the process in our american XR. Also had to change white indicators to orange

[aussie muscle]

I used to own an 88 firebird. it was LHD so i was required to convert it to RHD. that would have cost $10,000 (no really) and it was hard to find someone who wanted to do it (most specialise in mustangs only or new cars (RWW).) I ended up selling it instead. i'll buy one already RHD. :togo:

Originally Posted by WOLF

I am pretty sure the current laws exist to protect the local car industry, oherwise most people would happily import much cheaper LHD cars from the U.S

for a personal import, you have to own it for 12 months in the country of origin, so they've already covered that.
more info here:
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...les/index.aspx

[Ohio XB]

Well, so far it seems the most popular issue among the posters here is the concern about passing another vehicle. It would seem to me (since I have a RHD car in a LHD world) that knowing that you will not be able to pass another vehicle on a two lane road is part of owning a car with the steering wheel on the opposite side. Nobody is forcing you to pass anyways. What happens if you don't pass? It will take another 3 minutes to get somewhere, no biggie.

Other than that, the car can be driven without incident, and therefore, why should there be a law to keep someone from driving such a car?

If I understand correctly LHD cars need to be 30 years old in order to be permitted to be driven? So this means that a car 29 years old will have to wait another year, when NOTHING will be different, and now it will be ok to drive. What is the sense in that?

Other than sentiment, allowing "classic" cars that are LHD in Australia to be driven is not a reality based difference. There is no difference in a 2009 LHD car and a 1969 LHD car when it comes to the driving experience. Everything will be done the same way between these two cars, it's just that one is a car that many people have a warm spot in their hearts for. That is hardly a reason to base law on.

I agree with many here. The newer cars are better prepared to keep the driver safe in the case of an accident.



Steve

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

Nobody is forcing you to pass anyways. What happens if you don't pass? It will take another 3 minutes to get somewhere, no biggie.

Other than that, the car can be driven without incident, and therefore, why should there be a law to keep someone from driving such a car?

Steve

No biggie for someone with a half a clue. Rules across the board are made to suit the lowest common denominator.
If there is a chance this could result in even a single collision (which there is) the law should not be in place.

[Ohio XB]

Even cars in Australia that are RHD get into many accidents a year. Statistically even at a higher rate than LHD cars, therefore cars in general should be banned, or maybe just the RHD ones.



It all depends on who wants what as to how things are written. The above example is one that could be made, though many would find it preposterous. Yet, somewhere I am sure there is a bleeding heart that feels this way. How many different ways can the same situation be viewed?


1. LHD cars leave you blind to pass and therefore will cause accidents.

2. RHD cars are involved in many accidents every year, out numbering LHD cars as a percentage of those that exist.

3. I have a problem driving a LHD car so no one should be driving them.

4. I don't have a problem driving a LHD car so I don't see why anybody else should.



That's just an example of the different sides of the same subject. The problem is, if laws are passed to protect everyone from themselves from everything, nobody will be doing anything but standing around.

We have this problem in the US as well where the government feels the need to legislate safety for anyone that may be hurt by anything. This then negates the process of "natural selection" which thins the less intelligent from the herd and improves the general populous. Instead, now the more intelligent need to be denied their pursuits so that the ignorant may continue to flourish.


I don't like this.





Steve

[Falcon Coupe]

Using natural selection to dictate road laws, now I've heard it all.

[[Tonko]]

haha yep, so the idiot in the LHD pulls out to pass a B-double, Hits a family or something, everyone dies.
Yep, Natural selection works well there...

[gtxb67]

it is threads like this that makes me grateful our unquestionably smart members do not make the rules. i read everywhere that the governments are taking away our rights by making rules to protect the dumb. well at first there was probably no road rules at all. until stupid morons took things too far and started killing and maiming people. we had what alot here wanted and guess what - innocent people were killed. so speed limits, p plates, drink driving etc. were introduced - not to protect us from ourselves, but to protect us from the morons. unfortunately these morons are usually selective with who they take out and they don't just take themselves out

because of those so called smart people, we now have rules much tighter than they maybe should be

but it is the governments fault though - not the idiots that thought it was their obligation to push the boundaries - at least that is what the people from the higher end (self appointed) of the gene pool would suggest

[noosacuda]

I've been driving a LHD car for a few years now and it does take a bit of getting used to, overtaking is the biggest thing to be aware of- i always wait for overtaking lanes or 100% clear vision due to a curve in the road. The only other things that are a PITA is getting used to the rear view mirror on the wrong side and the Macca's drive thru's oh and toll booths too.
I think the main reason they don't allow later LHD cars is the same reason they don't like Jap imports- it affects local car sales of new cars,Toyota were leading the charge against the imports.

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by noosacuda

I've been driving a LHD car for a few years now and it does take a bit of getting used to, overtaking is the biggest thing to be aware of- i always wait for overtaking lanes or 100% clear vision due to a curve in the road. The only other things that are a PITA is getting used to the rear view mirror on the wrong side and the Macca's drive thru's oh and toll booths too.
I think the main reason they don't allow later LHD cars is the same reason they don't like Jap imports- it affects local car sales of new cars,Toyota were leading the charge against the imports.

See? I always thought it was that simple. It seems you've solved the problem. I did the same thing here with my RHD car. When did this kind of thing become a super power?


BTW, I drove through a McDonald's drive-thru backwards so that I would be close to the window to pay and get my food. Sad thing is, the person giving me my food didn't notice anything unusual!!!!





Steve

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Ohio XB

See? I always thought it was that simple. It seems you've solved the problem. I did the same thing here with my RHD car. When did this kind of thing become a super power?


BTW, I drove through a McDonald's drive-thru backwards so that I would be close to the window to pay and get my food. Sad thing is, the person giving me my food didn't notice anything unusual!!!!





Steve

And in addition to this.

The first maccas in Australia was built in Sydney from yank plans using yank building supervisors.

It was not until just before opening that someone noticed that the drive through was "backwards".

[Interceptor]

why dont we allow LHD cars to share our roads freely with RHD cars?

simple, theres enough people on the road who cant drive to start with, nevermind adding extra hazards!

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by flappist

And in addition to this.

The first maccas in Australia was built in Sydney from yank plans using yank building supervisors.

It was not until just before opening that someone noticed that the drive through was "backwards".

Now that's funny! McD's has their own contractors too, eh? About as bright.


Steve

[outback_ute]

The idea would be that there are so few 30+ year old lhd cars and they don't get a lot of use, so there won't be a huge issue with drivers being on the 'wrong' side. Also being recreational use you aren't as likely to be in a hurry and take risks overtaking.

I think a key difference between Australian and overseas road conditions is travelling long distances on dual-lane, undivided roads with little/no overtaking provisions. It wouldn't be that unusual for not overtaking slow cars to add 15 minutes to a trip time.

[S3SR]

not sure if its been said already but another reason may be to stop grey imports flooding our market

[mash again]

we have some funny rules, i have a left hook pontiac in SA and they require it to be original and over 30 years old for rego, would not pass it with chrome rocker covers. i had to get originals. Cant be a safety thing because they wont allow a disc brake conversion because it has to remain original, apparently 350 ci drum brakes and no seat belts is OK, but dont you you put chrome rocker covers on it! Would agree on the overtaking thing though, good to have a passenger you trust or patience.

[Ohio XB]

January 1st the tax on importing cars (in Australia) goes down from 10% to 5%. HHhhmmm.....



Steve