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Left or Right ?
Page 39
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FROM time to time the subject arises of changing Britain to righthand traffic flow. The echoes of the last lap of this particular course are still dying away and, as closer associations are forged between the U.K. and the Continent, it will crop up more frequently as a subject.
It is now well known that Sweden decided last May to conduct such a left-to-right switch in 1967. The actual mechanics of the problem can only be discussed theoretically in Britain, so here (as discussed in an article on page 71 of this week's issue) is an opportunity really to examine how this is done. The U.K. can learn a lot from this Swedish action, because it may well become increasingly difficult for this country to remain the only major European country using left-hand drive.
Of course, the problem Js considerably simpler for Sweden in that their road system is much smaller in mileage and—apart from buses— all their vehicles have always been left-hand drive. Nevertheless, it does represent a unique chance for Britain to study at first hand some of the problems which might one day crop up here.
Although every aspect of the Swedish change over may not be strietLY comparable, there should be enough to furnish a study on the subject. Perhaps it would be worth while for Mr. Marples to delegate I... one of his Ministry colleagues a watching brief on Sweden's switch to right-hand traffic flow. We should then, at least, be in the possession of an up-to-date held survey of a matter which Can certainly not be regarded as of no concern to the United Kingdom.
A permanent Channel link between the U.K., and France is likely to intensify the need for such a switch here, so now is the time to gather the information.