Correct side for the steering wheel...??

[Hellooo Newman]

After looking at some pics of UK cars, it got me thinking about what's the better side of the road to drive on and thus, which side of the car is best for the steering wheel and shifter?
Since 85-90% of the worlds population is right handed, would it not make more sense to have the steering wheel on the left side of the vehicle so the driver would have their dominant and more coordinated arm and hand available to shift the gears in a car with a manual transmission.
Especially since manual transmissions were the norm back in the day.
I've seen many Top Gear's where the celebrity driver has messed up the gear changes, probably because they are not used to left hand changes and also because they are probably right handed.
Doesn't this make sense to you.

[benyeats]

Wouldn't you rather have your dominant and most co-ordinated hand on the wheel at all times ?

I have driven LHD manual cars and have not found it a problem changing gear with my right hand, it is really not a problem.

In a longitudinally mounted engine the torque will tend to cause the car to twist in an anticlock direction, sitting on the right the car is better to counter this, hence so many vintage racers were RHD.

Finally most race circuits run in a clockwise direction, RHD allows the driver to be closer to the apex on corners and counter the roll of the car.

Apart from all those reason there are many reason for LHD being the best option, no least because the Geo Metro is not available in RHD

Ben

[Nicholas]

Middle.

'nuff said.

[Trigger]

RHD is best coz all my favorite countries are like that....New Zealand, Japan, Britain....enough for me.

[Wmcmanus]

It simply depends on where you live and thus what you're used to. 

In Cayman, both RHD and LHD cars are allowed on the road, although we drive on the left. 

After years of experimenting, I've concluded that I'll always feel more comfortable driving LHD cars (even automatic transmissions but especially manual transmissions).  It's what I grew up with and thus what feels natural.  I have no problems driving RHD cars, I just feel like a bit of an idiot when doing so.

My friends from the UK here in Cayman of course feel the opposite way.

[Changeling]

I take it you know why in some countries you will drive on the right and in others drive on the left.
I have seen one Atom with both left and right handed steering mounts, is this an optional extra?

[benyeats]

I take it you know why in some countries you will drive on the right and in others drive on the left.
I have seen one Atom with both left and right handed steering mounts, is this an optional extra?

Yes called an ambidextrous chassis and can be specified at build.

[Bruce Fielding]

I drive both in both situations making a total of four alternatives (although the LHD car has paddles but I can still use the gearstick).

I'd agree as a right-handed person that I'd rather have my right hand on the steering wheel where input needs to be most delicate. However, it's much harder to judge the width of the car when the wheel is is on the 'wrong' side of the car for the road.

I'd also agree that a McLaren is possibly the ideal solution!

[Mr. Woolery]

In the case of the Atom and aside from legallities, the best side is determined by weight distribution.  I remember reading on this site a few years ago that:

If you have a Honda powered Atom, the driver on the right side gives you the best lateral weight distribution due to driver weight offsetting the weight of the transmission.
If you have an Ecotec powered Atom, the driver position is slightly favorable to the left side.

[WorkingOnIt]

Middle.

'nuff said.

...
I'd also agree that a McLaren is possibly the ideal solution!

Well, there you have it then...     

[Stew Bartley]

If you have a Honda powered Atom, the driver on the right side gives you the best lateral weight distribution due to driver weight offsetting the weight of the transmission.

surely thats weight of the engine not the transmission??.     or to make up the amount of what the transmission doesnt weigh compared to the power unit.
the ecotec's gearbox being on the opposite side to the honda.....

[benyeats]

If you have a Honda powered Atom, the driver on the right side gives you the best lateral weight distribution due to driver weight offsetting the weight of the transmission.

surely thats weight of the engine not the transmission??.     or to make up the amount of what the transmission doesnt weigh compared to the power unit.
the ecotec's gearbox being on the opposite side to the honda.....

No the engine is fairly centrally mounted with the transmission 'sticking out' of whichever side it is mounted on. 

[fiestycolumbian]

Middle.

'nuff said.

I second that!

Once you drive a formula car whilest sitting in the middle, you cant go back! 

fiesty

[Norway A]

There is no question about this, the stick needs to be in the right hand! Only then can you move it up and down between first and second gear with a steady firm hand 

How is it that England is the only contry in the western world who drives on the Right hand side of the road...?

[John Scherrer]

In addition to what Bruce said about most people being right-handed and therefore it's better to have this dominant and most controllable hand on the steering wheel, most folks' right eye is dominant and this is the best one to look around the car in front down the centre of the road for best long range vision.