Why cant LHD and RHD live together? - Page 2

Cobra · 10-12-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

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.

benXaGt · 10-12-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

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

Antwon · 10-12-2009, 03:10 AM

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

chevypower · 10-12-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

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

gtxb67 · 10-12-2009, 06:31 AM

so other countries allow both rhd and lhd - big deal
most other countries do not allow 5.4+ litre v8's without placing a huge tax on them either. in australia you can - i would rather that option than driving a lhd car
and maybe the other countries have it because you can travel from a rhd country to a lhd country so easily. ever tried to drive a mustang to australia - no real point in allowing them here is there
the average australian driver is dangerous in a rhd vehicle, especially when trying to overtake. putting them on the wrong side of the car would surely not help, would it. but then again, this is australia - we can just blame someone else if something went wrong

kiwimark · 10-12-2009, 07:37 AM

From NZ and having driven my father in laws Z06 corvette (LHD) a few times (have a RHD car normally) have found that you just have to be a bit more aware.
You dont need to change your instincts at intersections (when driving in the US found that the hardest) but you need to remember to use your front left wheel as the guide otherwise you go wide to the right. Having insane power also helps

bigdude1011 · 10-12-2009, 11:43 AM

On Canberra roads, the garbage trucks have dual controls and are often used in LHD mode, plus, I've seen various recent Japanese cars imported from the US (Mazda Millenia, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Honda Pilot, Toyota Sienna), they must have been personally imported by American expats, as no enthusiasts would want to import these cars.

imugli · 10-12-2009, 11:48 AM

Interesting sidenote about the Samoa's recent change... All of the bus doors now open into the traffic as opposed to the gutter.

DBourne · 10-12-2009, 05:31 PM

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)

JACK250 · 10-12-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

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

XC GXL · 10-12-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

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 · 10-12-2009, 08:19 PM

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** · 10-12-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

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 · 10-12-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

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.

**Falcon Coupe** · 12-12-2009, 05:41 PM

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

[Tonko] · 12-12-2009, 06:31 PM

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 · 12-12-2009, 06:41 PM

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 · 13-12-2009, 10:29 AM

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 · 14-12-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

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 · 14-12-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

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".

Ohio XB · 16-12-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

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

Interceptor · 14-12-2009, 07:57 PM

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!

outback_ute · 16-12-2009, 04:10 PM

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 · 16-12-2009, 07:06 PM

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

mash again · 16-12-2009, 08:48 PM

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 · 17-12-2009, 09:51 AM

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

Steve

outback_ute · 17-12-2009, 02:24 PM

mash again - you are talking about the club/conditional registration rules there, the same would apply to a rhd car so it's really a separate issue.

Steve, yes another way to a) make sure we continue to have a local industry and employment (NOT), and b) lower tariffs to below what most other countries impose from what I have seen (10%).