Right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles

[Lucas]

I have two questions. But first: According to Wikipedia, the United States is a country that drives on the right side of the road. Are people allowed to drive a car from the United Kindgom in the States? (Considering that in the United Kindgom, people drive on the left side of the road) If so, are there any restrictions for them?

And question Nº2: Are cars from different countries (when speaking of left and right hand driving) allowed to race in a racetrack against each other?

They may sound like stupids questions (like most I have done here), but I would like to have them answered. On the first case, I would like to see detailed information in the especific case of the United States, if possible. On the second case, just a simple "No" or "Yes" will do.


Thanks in advance. 👍

Codename L​

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

And question Nº2: Are cars from different countries (when speaking of left and right hand driving) allowed to race in a racetrack against each other?

Yes.

 

[Joey D]

You can legally drive any RHD vehicle in the US barring it passes safety and emissions requirements. People import Japanese and British cars without a ton of issues (outside emissions), I even know a couple of guys with RHD Classic Mini Coopers.

I don't know how the insurance works on it though, you might need to shop around because I'm guessing some companies won't insure an imported vehicle.

 

[Lucas]

Thanks, guys! I will leave the question open, though, if someone has something to add. 👍

 

[homeforsummer]

Just regarding the racing thing, as Holden said above - basically yes. Though there is more to it, in that often race teams will try and use left-hand drive chassis where possible as the majority of circuits are clockwise with more right-handers than left-handers, so a left-hand drive car gives the driver a better view of the majority of corners - rather than trying to look around the A-pillar for the apex as you'd do otherwise.

That said, sometimes you're restricted if a car is only available in one market.

And yes, you can use right-drive cars in the States, and left-drive cars in the UK. In the UK any personally-imported car has to pass the Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) test and if necessary be retro-fitted with parts necessary for the vehicle to conform to UK laws - a basic example being something like a rear foglight being fitted to a Japanese import. They aren't required in Japan, they are in the UK so imports must be fitted with them.

 

[opelgt1969]

To add more to your question here in the USA they do build some right-hand drive cars. Mailmen (postal workers) like them so they can put mail in mailboxes easier (outside of cities people have their mailboxes alone side of the road). Ever seen "Smokey and the Bandit" movie? A lot of car chase movies have mailboxes flying in the air as cars mow them down.

 

[buickgnx88]

I do know that Jeep builds a right-hand drive Wrangler for the US.

 

[Steele_obsidion]

When lookign around online, i found some Jeep Wranglers down in Arkansas, they were RHD, and completely legal to have in the US, Any RHD vehicle is Legal in the US as long as it passes your states Emissions standards and came FROM THE FACTORY RHD, there are companies that convert which is apparently not street legal because of safety concerns and junk

 

[wfooshee]

Both GrandAm and the American LeMans Series put cars on track at the same time with left- and right-hand drive, although they're usually in different classes. Production-based cars will be left-hand drive with prototypes will generally be right-hand drive. Back in the early 90s I recall Davey Jones complaining of difficulty shifting his Jaguar because it was RHD and the shifter was in the center of the car, so he had to learn to shift left-handed.

Cars built here as RHD are usually for the postal service, or if not owned by the postal service, they're owned by persons or companies contracted for postal delivery. The aforementioned Jeep is one such vehicle. RHD puts the driver at the curbside for easy stuffing of mailboxes.

 

[Steele_obsidion]

If i ever get the extra cash i will purchase the RHD jeep i saw... think of how many people you would wierd out around the US here if they see you in the RH side of the vehicle but cant see the steering wheel, seeing as how the jeep is raised and someone may be in a lowered car but they see that there is no one in the left side... haha

 

[mafia_boy]

There's a couple of little things under the bonnet too. Some car companies have more difficulty building a RHD version of some vehicles (Ford's are notorious for this) due to being unable to mount parts correctly and redesigning them for RHD versions.