Right-hand-drive vs Left-hand-drive

[Chilly]

So, I was bored this morning after breakfast and picked a tiny set to build. Chose the B model of 8281 - Motorcycle and sidecar. While building I wasn't paying much attention, just mindlessly followed the instructions. When it was built I started to look at it properly, and it reminded me of an article on the radio a couple of days ago, where they were discussing driving "combinations" on the wrong side of the road, and how that would put the sidecar passenger out there with the traffic. (I think they mentioned some law that stopped the sale of them in the wrong "hand".)

Anyway, that set me thinking as this B model is right-hand drive and therefore perfectly suited for me (UK), but my 8880 Supercar is left-hand drive - I've got a post-it stuck in it's IB reminding me to reverse the sides so it feels better. Did/do TLG produce different handed instructions for different sales regions?

I'm now going to have a look at the other two-seaters and see what they are.

[Alasdair Ryan]

Not that I know off.

I always change the driver side too,generally it is very straight forward to do.

[legomuppet9]

I think it often depends on the nationality of the designer whether they are left or right hand drive, but as you said Alasdair, it is incredibly easy in most sets to transfer to left/right hand side

[JM1971]

In days of old logic dictated that when people passed each other on the road they should be in the best possible position to use their sword to protect themselves. As most people are right handed they therefore keep to their left. This practice was formalised in a Papal Edict by Pope Benefice around 1300AD who told all his pilgrims to keep to the left.

:D

Edited January 20, 2014 by JM1971

[Lipko]

Hmm, and only a very few countries keep that tradition. It's good that some useless traditions are not kept alive.

Edited January 20, 2014 by Lipko

[Vee]

It doesn't matter in which side you drive, what matters is that EVERYONE must choose the same side to drive.

[Gee]

I used to convert 8865 and also the Model Team truck that I had as a kid. Don't recall any that were RHD to start with, and 8868 doesn't even have a steering wheel!

[kieran]

I always move the wheel as well

[Paul B Technic]

I always convert my sets to right hand drive to suit Australia :)

[DrJB]

Reminds me of my last trip to Italy. I had a rental car ... and the display+gauges (Instrument Cluster) were in the middle of the dashboard, between driver and passenger. I 'naively' thought this was a way to keep all passengers informed as to the vehicle operation ... A colleague then mentioned they (European manufacturers) do this for cost-reduction. Since the same car is to be sold both in the continental EU and in the UK, it is much cheaper to have a single dash-board that would fit both versions.

I find it rather 'awkward' to have to look back left and right when driving. Looking up/down (when controls are behind the steering wheel appears much easier...

Edited January 21, 2014 by DrJB

[dr_spock]

Reminds me of my last trip to Italy. I had a rental car ... and the display+gauges (speed + engine RPM + ...) were in the middle of the dashboard, between driver and passenger. I 'naively' thought this was a way to keep all passengers informed as to the vehicle operation ... A colleague then mentioned they (European manufacturers) do this for cost-reduction. Since the same car is to be sold both in the continental EU and in the UK, it is much cheaper to have a single dash-board that would fit both versions.

I find it rather 'awkward' to have to look back left and right when driving. Looking up/down (when controls are behind the steering wheel appears much easier...

Toyota Yaris, Nissan X-trail, and Saturn Ion were sold in North America with center mounted instrument cluster.

I don't have to bother moving steering wheel of Technic sets since most of them come in LHD already.

[Rockbrick]

HOG made it easier to convert LHD to RHD - I remember converting 8860 and 8865 to RHD even though where I live we are LHD

all part of wanting to modify and experiment - if lego produced L&RHD versions then not only would it cost more to print two different instruction sets/box art, it would lead to less

creativity...

[DrJB]

Toyota Yaris, Nissan X-trail, and Saturn Ion were sold in North America with center mounted instrument cluster.

I don't have to bother moving steering wheel of Technic sets since most of them come in LHD already.

I guess the reason is those are relatively 'small' cars and could operate very well on EU roads. I never drove a small car in the US and thus, never noticed.