In message <[log in to unmask]>, Michael Feldman
<[log in to unmask]> writes
<snip>
>
>Recently I read a series of articles explaining the origin. When armies
>traveled on horseback, they wanted to keep their lances and swords ready
>to clobber the bad guys coming the other way. Since most of them were
>right-handed, it made good sense to drive on the left. Apparently this
>goes back to the ancient Romans.
>
<snip>
>
>The theory I heard about why we in the US drive on the right is that
>people traveled in wagons, with a driver and a guard who "rode shotgun".
>If you're right-handed, you want your right finger to pull the trigger,
>so you sit on the left and hold the gun out to the left of the wagon.
>But then it makes sense to drive on the right. Voila.
>
The defence (defense) influence at the origin cannot have escaped your
notice. It seems quite appropriate in the circumstances. :-)
--
--Michael--