Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-11-13
Advantages Of the
Left Hand Drive


hand control, they undoubtedly
would have been accepted without
comment, and right hand drives
would never have been popular,
says Perry l.. Ashcraft, Jackson coun-
ty agent for the new Chalmers and
Studebaker cars. But all followed
the custom common with the horse
drawn vehicle. The drivers seat was
located to the right, almost without
exception.
Learning to drive a car in this
position, and not being offered bet
ter ontrol for some years at least, it
naturally followed that the right
hand drive came to be considered the
best, and, in fact, at that period of
promiscuous driving previous to the
strict regulation of traffic in our
cities, either side was about equally
satisfactory. Being used to sitting
on the right hand side, it was only
natural that the automobile driver
should prefer to continue that GUS
tom, even after the traffic regula-
tions made it most convenient.
"As soon as the law in most cities
prescribed that all vehicles keep
strictly to the right, turn square cor
ners and stop on the right hand side
of the street, the need of something
different in the way of control was
felt. Nearly everyone has expert
enced the disagreeable condition OF
stopping at the right hand curb, pos
sibly in the rain, and having to get
out on the left in the rain and mud
At such times the disadvantage oi
the old style control was forced home
"It has been held as an argument
that it would be dangerous to sit or
the left, as one could not see to stoI
at the curb or to cut in close to
country ditch in passing an approach
ing vehicle. Previous to traffic regu
lations, no difficulty was experienced
in driving up to the left curb, nor has
it ever been held dangerous to cut il
close to the left hand ditch whei
= passing a vehicle going in the same
direction in the country. And how
much more safe it is to be on the lef
hand side of your car and be able t.
xrahicln m no n1CCp(
when one is forced over on the lef
side of the road. The entire respon
sibflrty rests with the driver of tn
car about to pass the one ahead ant
going the same way, so he certainl
needs the clearest vision he can get
I'm meeting another vehicle, bot
drivers face each other and natural
can pass with greater safety and
surety of not crowding. The DANCE
always lies more with the vehicle t
be passed than from the side of tn
road.
Again, perhaps the most Difficult
condition in driving is the making G
a left hand turn is heavy traffic. I
make right hand turn, one has onl
to edge over toward the curb an
whip around the corner when tn
cross street is reached. But tur
the other way is altogether differen
There is probably a stream OF traff
going in the opposite direction on tn
other side of the street, and cars con
ing up behind which Immediately tt
to pass to the left the moment or
slows down to make a left turn. Ho
d simple is becomes when sitting @
the left hand side of the car; one ca
glance back to note the condition
behind and signal both those in IL
rear as we'll as those approachin
s making the turn without danger an
! without loss of time. By working
i, close to the curb, no one can crow
h past when making a right hand tur
but crowding is always a possibili
Q when turning to the left.
'It has been stated that the driv'
u on the left cannot open the tonnea
v door, and this is true with close
car if the windows back of the driv
. are closed, but usually the driver
p a limousine sits alone and he CT
easily slide over and open the doc
while with an open body it is real
easier to reach the right hand to
J neau door from the left seat
reaching over the seat back thu
when sitting on the side toward Il
curb.
"To sum up, the chief advantag
of the left hand drive are:
"First, the occupant of the fro
seat can step out on the curb or &
. street, as he may elect.
D Second, better position in turnil
s in traffic.
: "Third, driver can see ahead VIII
passing a vehicle going in the sar
direction.
Fourth, better position VIII
} meeting and passing a vehicle"