The division into a versatile movement began, even when the first car was not in sight. Historians are continually arguing about what kind of movement in Europe was primordial.
In the era of the great Roman state, horsemen always went on the left. This was done so that their right hand with a weapon was always ready to strike a counter enemy.
Evidence that Rome was notright-sided movement, namely the left-hand, became evidence found in 1998 in the English area of Swindon, where the quarry of the Romans was excavated, near which the broken left track was stronger than the right one. In addition, the Roman denarius, dating back to the fiftieth year BC. E., were depicted horsemen, riding on the left from the crew direction, harnessed by horses.
In addition, a single crew with a coachman in the front is much more convenient to go to the right side, because when traveling with the other crews, the coachmen must very strongly pull the reins with their right hand.
In Russia, even under the reign of Peter the Great, right-hand traffic was accepted as the norm, and sledges and wagons dispersed, adhering to the right side.
His predecessor was supported by the followingemperors. In 1752, Queen Elizabeth Petrovna, through her official decree, installed and obligatory on the Russian streets mandatory right-hand traffic of carriages and wagons. Among Western states, the law establishing the parties to the movement was first issued in the UK: it was a bill from 1756, according to which, on the London Bridge, movement on the left side was determined, even then a "pound of silver" was levied when "leaving to meet".
And only after twenty years the government of Englandissued its famous "Road Act", which prescribed the introduction of the left-hand traffic. The same movement was established on the Manchester-Liverpool railway line, which was opened almost half a century later.
According to one of the existing versions, Englandborrowed this from its maritime rules, since it was insular, and the only connection with the rest of the countries was shipping: the ships missed other ships that were approaching them on the right.
Countries with right-hand trafficGreat Britain is considered the main "culprit" of such "leftism", which subsequently influenced some countries. Right-hand traffic is mainly associated with France. In the era of the French Revolution, by a decree issued in Paris, it was recommended to move precisely on the right, considered "common" side.
A little later Napoleon strengthened this decree, ordering and the military to keep the right direction.
Right-hand traffic, as it is strange notit sounds, at the beginning of the XIX century was associated with big politics. Those countries that resisted the onslaught of the Napoleonic troops - Britain, as well as Austria-Hungary, and Portugal, became "left", and those that supported Napoleon - Germany, Italy, Holland, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, switched to right-hand traffic. In Austria, in general, there was a curious situation: in some provinces the movement was "left", and in others - "right." Although only after the Anschluss with the Germans, in the thirties, it was completely re-qualified for right-hand traffic.
In Europe, after the advent of the car began a real leapfrog. Most countries went on the right side according to the custom imposed upon them from Napoleonic times.
However, in the foggy Albion, Sweden, and in a certain part of Austria-Hungary, there was a left-sided movement.
In Italy, in every city there weretheir specific rules. The first cars with the right rudder, "wrong" for us, were created, and no matter in which direction the cars moved.
This was envisaged with one goal in mind: the chauffeurcould better see the car that was overtaking. In addition, with the right rudder the driver had the opportunity to leave the car directly on the sidewalk, and not on the roadway.
