Re: Why is steering wheel on right side?
Here is the story I was told, which is similar to Snailman's. When the British ruled the seas they setup standard rules of navigation. They established the red port light and the green starboard light as a way of determining the right of way. When power boats appeared on the scene and started running into each other at higher speeds; they mandated that the helm be placed on the starboard side of power boats so that helmsmen could better see vessels that he would have to give way to. Vessels approaching would thus see a green light and would know that they could probably maintain course and speed. As you know, the British also drive on the left side of the road and have their vehicle steering wheels on the right (just like a lot of modern power boats). Incidently, airplane red and green lights also derive from this tradition. That is what I heard.....Who knows if its "the rest of the story"
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Here is the story I was told, which is similar to Snailman's. When the British ruled the seas they setup standard rules of navigation. They established the red port light and the green starboard light as a way of determining the right of way. When power boats appeared on the scene and started running into each other at higher speeds; they mandated that the helm be placed on the starboard side of power boats so that helmsmen could better see vessels that he would have to give way to. Vessels approaching would thus see a green light and would know that they could probably maintain course and speed. As you know, the British also drive on the left side of the road and have their vehicle steering wheels on the right (just like a lot of modern power boats). Incidently, airplane red and green lights also derive from this tradition. That is what I heard.....Who knows if its "the rest of the story"
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