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It seems that the number of accidents actually dropped for a while after the switch in Sweden but it increased again after people got used to the change. [1] [

It seems that the number of accidents actually dropped for a while after the switch in Sweden but it increased again after people got used to the change. [1] [1] https://realscandinavia.com/this-day-in-history-swedish-traffic-switches-sides-september-3-1967/ https://realscandinavia.com/this-day-in-history-swedish-traf...

jonplackett 3y ago
They put it down to people driving very cautiously to begin with
- Mordisquitos 3y ago
  Then maybe the take-home message is that countries should switch driving sides every few years just to keep drivers on their toes.
  - jonplackett 3y ago
    After the first few years it would be come too standard. We'd have to up the ante each time. How about left side until mid day and right side until midnight. Year after you have to drive backwards. Roads will be so safe.
  - doubled112 3y ago
    How would the cities handle this? If it was something they planned for, would signs be reversible, and traffic lights visible from both sides? Or would they pay people to slowly roll out the reversal, so that which side you should drive on was rather inconsistent?
    - downvotetruth 3y ago
      > How would the cities handle this? Popular argument might be for the driving direction to be local to the orientation of the sun for the majority of commuters to be able to use canopy to prevent glare. For example, north to south flow in morning (NYC) would be LHD & reverse in afternoon.
- masklinn 3y ago
  Which, in hindsight, makes perfect sense. Making drivers feel unsafe is a core component of modern traffic calming.
  - doubled112 3y ago
    Yes, speed bumps and busses running over the flexible bollards to drive head on at me make me nervous.
    - masklinn 3y ago
      Mostly chicanes, narrowing, blind corners, and narrow roads with visibility limitations (e.g. shrubbery). Wide open roads make people speed up, even unconsciously.

jonplackett 3y ago

They put it down to people driving very cautiously to begin with

Mordisquitos 3y ago
Then maybe the take-home message is that countries should switch driving sides every few years just to keep drivers on their toes.
- jonplackett 3y ago
  After the first few years it would be come too standard. We'd have to up the ante each time. How about left side until mid day and right side until midnight. Year after you have to drive backwards. Roads will be so safe.
- doubled112 3y ago
  How would the cities handle this? If it was something they planned for, would signs be reversible, and traffic lights visible from both sides? Or would they pay people to slowly roll out the reversal, so that which side you should drive on was rather inconsistent?
  - downvotetruth 3y ago
    > How would the cities handle this? Popular argument might be for the driving direction to be local to the orientation of the sun for the majority of commuters to be able to use canopy to prevent glare. For example, north to south flow in morning (NYC) would be LHD & reverse in afternoon.
masklinn 3y ago
Which, in hindsight, makes perfect sense. Making drivers feel unsafe is a core component of modern traffic calming.
- doubled112 3y ago
  Yes, speed bumps and busses running over the flexible bollards to drive head on at me make me nervous.
  - masklinn 3y ago
    Mostly chicanes, narrowing, blind corners, and narrow roads with visibility limitations (e.g. shrubbery). Wide open roads make people speed up, even unconsciously.