El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-28
DRIVE ON LEFT
GAINING FAVOR
More Autos Change Steering
Wheel and the Control
Levers to Off Side.

The adoption Of the method Of driv-
ing an automobile on the left side in
stead Of the right has engaged the at
tention of American manufacturers
during the last two years. Since the
introduction of the left side control it
has made great strides in automobile
engineering, having been adopted by d
number of prominent designers. Many
OF the latter ADMIT freely the utility
of the left side steer, and the equally
new though practical central arrange
ment of control levers.
The much discussed question as to
which type of drive and control should
be made standard is still an open one,
as each type has many advocates. The
status of the right side drive as
standard construction is still doubtful,
although the left side advocates are
rapidly gaining in numbers. The ten
dency OF builders of small cars favor
the left side drive, some of them plac-
ing the levers on the left side and
others making the gear control central
Manufacturers of the larger, higher
priced machines have been more con-
servatiye, nearly all of them adhering
to the right side drive with the levers
on the drivers right The announce
ments Of the 1913 models develop that
several Of the manufacturers have been
converted to the left side drive with
the levers on the left of the driver or
located in the center Of the floor
boards.
Cling to Right.
The great majority, however, still
continue to make the right side drive
their STANFORD construction, although d
number have settled the question TO
their own satisfaction by placing the
levers in the center and making the
situation of the steering wheel on the
right or left optional with the Gus
toner.
Left side steering is favored for city
driving, while advocates of the right
side assert, that the type has all the
advantages on the country roads
As regards motor trucks, it is almost
universally conceded that the left side
drive is better, as the greater part of
their work is performed on the city
streets Most OF the right side ad-
herents cOncede that the left type OF
drive is preferable for city driving, at
least in congested sections, where the
traffic is fast and dense, but all main
tain that this is a minor consideration,
as the long distances are covered over
the country roads, where the right side
drive has all the advantage. The be-
levers IN the left side principle, how
ever, assert that their type Of driving
IS superior under all conditions.
The uncertainty Of the attitude Of a
number of manufacturers leaves IN
doubt the question Of standard con-
struction. Whether the location of the
steering wheel is to be optional time
alone can determine, but all the indi-
cations, the placing of the gearshift
and emergency brake levers in the cen
ter, will come to be generally adopted
at some time not very far in the fU-
ture.
May Become Standard.
Throughout the industry there seems
to be a feeling that left side drive is
the coming standard, Irrespective OF
the location of levers. But the general
sentiment is that it is not yet time for
want it as yet, and that the new state
Of affairs will come about gradually.
The controlling features of the mod
ern automobile, consisting of the steer
ing wheel and generally, a gearshift
lever and an emergency brake lever,
permit Of five possible arrangements.