Evening star., 1895-09-16
THE RULE OF THE ROAD
Why Americans Kesp to the Right and
Englishmen to tie Left of the Road.
Condition Of the ROads-If Our Hi9b.
ways Were Different We Might
Well Adopt the British Method.

From the New York Herald
In America the rule of the road is al
ways to keep to the right. In England, on
the contrary, the unwritten law declares
that the left is the side to be taken. How
this divergence is to be explained has pug
zled many persons.
1t would be folly to suppose that the
variation was caused by any reason less
substantial than real necessity. The En-
glish rule has existed from time immemor-
ial. and an arbitrary alteration would have
occasioned extreme and altogether needless
confusion.
Those who introduced the change into
this country were the first settlers in New
England-persons who were habituated to
the ancient order persons who would never
have dreamed of a revolt against 1t, de-
spite the rebellious spirit lurking secretly
In their blood. They made the change for
the simple reason that careful driving de-
manded 1t.
Influence of Good Roads.
Since the time when the Romans built
their magnificent roadways in "the fur
thermost isles of the sea" the Britons have
enjoyed good roads. The driver naturally
sits at the right end of his seat where he
has the free use of his right hand. while
the reins swing clear. Sitting in that posi-
beneath his eye. 1t is where he can best
see it. and as he follows the English rule,
keeping to the left, il he be tinorous, IT is
easy for him to be sure that he is
yard from the threatening hubs of any
passerby. If he be a Cockney Jehu he can
deftly skim by the other vehicle with never
bit of space to spare. On those crowded
roads there is need of care in passing. lest
the hurrying wagons come IN collision.
But the roads are broad and smooth, and
"a q h ind rhn drnx
dangerously off the road. Were the En-
glish driver 10 turn to the right in pass
ing he would be obliged to sit at the left
end of his seat, or else, sitting on the right,
he would not have before his eyes that
projecting hub which is the danger point
for collision. -
The case is altogether different in this
country. The cowlike manner in which In
dams pursued their way has given a name
to that method Of movement, known as
1rdian file, and that habit Of the aboriginas
seems to have ezerted a disastrous in
hrence on the white men who conquered
them. How else can we adequately ex-
plain the atrocious fashion in which gen.
GRAFTON after generation of otherwise intel
ligent and forceful men up and down this
republic have made roads which at the
best can be driven over only in Indian file,
and with never shunting place?
Our Bad Highways.
These blessed states are notorious and
neighbornods there are roads, but the bulk
Of the country is latticed with preposter-
Gus shams. That this bad quality Of the
roads was greater. although excusable
then, n the early days OF colonization is
apparent. There were stumps. holes and
houlders in the roads. There were ravines
often enough at either hand.
when travellers from opposite directions
met in that period the driver rocked little
OF clashing hubs, but he looked sharp to
escape mishap in the ditch. 1t was then
natural that, as he saw a team approach
ing, he should turn out on that side where
carefully-the right. From that the GUS
tom grew, and by its simplicity and reason
ableness naturally superseded the older
law. AS in most things the environment,
when it had made change necessary,
caused the change to come to pass
Let the man who does not credit this ex-
pianation' take a drive over a Vermont
cross-road that can be found where the
way runs close to cliff and no turning to
the right is possible. He will find that
when he meets a loaded wagon and must
yield the road. turning into the gaping
ditch on the left he will slip to the left
end of his seat very swiftly in order that
he may keep keen eye on the exact
route of his outside wheels.
The trial will convince him that he must
sit and turn oat on the same side. If he
be driver he must know that he has an
advantage at the right end Of his seat
which the left does not afford.
That the English system is the better
for good roads there can be no doubt. That
1t could be adopted in the United States
generally is impossible until the lawmakers
and the roadmakers produce worthy high
ways. Doubtless, in the case of that millen-
nial event, the change would be subtly
wrought by its own merit.