# RHD article in the paper... **URL:** \ **Category:** Canada Nissan Automotive\ **Created:** [September 22, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928 "2007-09-22T15:21:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TravyPoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@TravyPoo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TravyPoo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/1 "2007-09-22T15:21:22Z")
Crash record dents right-hand-drive cars Import rules reviewed after study shows 40% higher accident rate Alexandra Zabjek, The Edmonton Journal Published: 2:05 am EDMONTON - When Dave Clark started driving a right-hand-drive car in Edmonton almost three years ago, people gave him curious looks, the occasional thumbs up and sometimes asked if he bought his car in Britain. These days, the cars are so commonly found on Alberta’s roads that drivers barely glance at Clark’s 1992 Toyota Soarer, which has the steering wheel installed on what most of us would call the passenger side of the car. That’s not necessarily a good thing, says Transport Canada. Prompted by safety concerns about right-hand-drive cars, the department is reviewing regulations that have allowed thousands of the vehicles into the country. A 36-year-old law allows vehicles 15 years or older to be imported without meeting the Canadian Motor Vehicles Safety Act, which is how most RHD cars come here. At the time of the legislation, most such cars were collector’s items that didn’t have a large impact on road safety. Now, spurred by the spike in RHD cars and a report by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia showing the cars are 40 per cent more likely to be involved in a crash, Transport Canada is considering raising its threshold to cars that are at least 25 years old, said spokeswoman Jessie Chauhan. Consultation sessions are planned for this fall. Car enthusiasts, on the other hand, say the imports are safe as long as drivers take a little extra care. “I don’t think they’re significantly more dangerous,” said Clark, 23. “It definitely takes a bit more attention, but I wouldn’t say it’s a real issue.” Like many drivers, Clark wasn’t initially attracted to a vehicle with a steering wheel on the “wrong side.” What he really wanted was the extra horsepower and high-performance parts found on many used Japanese-built cars that can be imported relatively cheaply. “I actually don’t really like the right-hand-drive. It’s more about the power engine,” said Clark, who does amateur auto racing on weekends. “If this car came with those options in left-hand-drive, I’d get one.” Drivers don’t require special licences to operate RHD cars. Clark said it took him a few hours to get used to little things, such as remembering the turn signal is on the right side of the steering wheel while the windshield wiper control is on the left. Then came the bigger issues, such as lane positioning, shoulder checks and left-hand turns. Clark avoids driving on two-lane highways, where it is difficult, if not impossible, to pass other cars safely. He also takes his time in left-turn lanes when he can’t properly see oncoming traffic. “If I get hit, I’m the one who is going to take the impact, so I’ve got to be pretty careful,” he said. Officials such as Brad Hemstreet, from Vehicle and Safety Carrier Services at Alberta’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation, don’t think extra precautions can always make a difference for RHD drivers. “Common sense” dictates that it’s more difficult to manoeuvre through North American traffic in an RHD car, said Hemstreet, noting the importance of issues such as shoulder checks. While there’s no way of knowing exactly how many RHD cars are in Alberta, Hemstreet acknowledged the numbers are rising steadily. In B.C., about 200 are imported every month, says the ICBC. Once the cars arrive in Alberta, they must pass an out-of-province inspection. Due to the rising numbers, Hemstreet’s department last year notified inspection agencies to look for problematic features on RHD cars, such as headlights. “If you’ve got a car that’s built for Japan, the lights will be aimed for the centre of the road, not slightly to the right, like ours do,” Hemstreet said. Clark wasn’t surprised to hear that vehicles such as his are involved in more crashes. “People are importing them because they’re high performance cars and the people driving them are young males,” he said. “Yeah, the accident rate is going to be a bit higher.” However, Clark also wonders if concerns about RHD cars are partly being spurred by a desire to protect the automobile industry from a flood of imports from another market. [azabjek@thejournal.canwest.com](mailto:azabjek@thejournal.canwest.com) ---
**Author:** ![apex\_drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac8455/32.png) [@apex\_drifter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/apex_drifter)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/2 "2007-09-22T15:37:35Z")
Yeah i read this just a few hours ago, I see it as an attack on the JDM market here in Canada. They’ll grab only a few specific stats that are in there favour and blow them up and focus only on them. I’m planning on my own letter to the journal and to some people in power in our government. If anyone wants to reply to this or protest, please be formal and polite, you are representing us as a group. … ---
**Author:** ![ohsoslo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@ohsoslo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ohsoslo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/3 "2007-09-22T17:22:13Z")
> [@TravyPoo](#): > > " It’s more about the power engine," said Clark, who does amateur auto racing on weekends. its all about the power engine isn’t it dave? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DeathBy240](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@DeathBy240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DeathBy240)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 9:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/4 "2007-09-22T21:11:42Z")
Totally fucked up my quote haha. Gotta love the power engine! And I don’t think this article is an attack on RHD cars at all. The reporter got her facts from straight, and I can’t see any bias in this (contrary to some comments I have received) ---
**Author:** ![240sx2nr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/97f17d/32.png) [@240sx2nr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/240sx2nr)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/5 "2007-09-23T00:06:30Z")
I blame this solely on Amar. :lol: ---
**Author:** ![ohsoslo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@ohsoslo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ohsoslo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/6 "2007-09-23T00:41:54Z")
> [@240sx2nr](#): > > I blame this solely on Amar. > > :lol: i could be wrong here but i do believe all of amar’s s13s were left hand drive. which does prove the point that no matter left or right hand drive people 16-24 are more probable to get into an accident. its just most people buying right hand drive cars are between the ages 16-24 ---
**Author:** ![ChukiRPS13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@ChukiRPS13](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ChukiRPS13)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 1:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/7 "2007-09-23T01:11:59Z")
> [@TravyPoo](#): > > Crash record dents right-hand-drive cars > Import rules reviewed after study shows 40% higher accident rate Correlation does not equal causation. ---
**Author:** ![240sx2nr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/97f17d/32.png) [@240sx2nr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/240sx2nr)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/8 "2007-09-23T14:38:28Z")
> [@ChukiRPS13](#): > > [quote=TravyPoo]Crash record dents right-hand-drive cars > Import rules reviewed after study shows 40% higher accident rate Correlation does not equal causation.[/quote] still… hehehehe. :E ---
**Author:** ![shorti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@shorti](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/shorti)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/9 "2007-09-23T15:55:04Z")
> Clark avoids driving on two-lane highways, where it is difficult, if not impossible, to pass other cars safely. He also takes his time in left-turn lanes when he can’t properly see oncoming traffic. That bullshit right there pisses me off. About 25% of my highway driving is on two lane roads. There are a few things that make it easier, like not tailgating the person you want to pass (duh you can’t see around him) and positioning yourself in the correct part of the lane based on where they’re driving. Heaven forbid that having a little more driving skill is a bad thing. :roll: Oh and there’s that thing about left turns again. If it’s unsafe to turn left or you feel like you can’t see around the car THEN DON’T TURN. HOLY SHIT WHAT A CONCEPT. Stupid people just don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Last\_Fuse](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/last_fuse/32/5847_2.png) [@Last\_Fuse](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Last_Fuse)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/10 "2007-09-23T17:32:50Z")
What? Going blindly on the yellow because the guy in front of you isn’t a accepted thing? Then why do I get honked at when I don’t do it? Oh well Gives me an excuse to “flip the finga” as some less traveled persons would call it. Remember Common Sense isn’t common, its just a big joke to those of us that have it… ---
**Author:** ![TyPhOOn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/typhoon/32/5800_2.png) [@TyPhOOn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TyPhOOn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2007, 8:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/11 "2007-09-24T08:17:20Z")
> [@DeathBy240](#): > > Totally fucked up my quote haha. Gotta love the power engine! > > And I don’t think this article is an attack on RHD cars at all. The reporter got her facts from straight, and I can’t see any bias in this (contrary to some comments I have received) I got interviewed by this same lady last week, I did not say any thing vague that she could twist or use against me. I could totally tell what kind of paper she was going to write from the start. “I am just wanting to speak with some people about what interests them in RHD cars” I am glad they did not quote any of my responses or twist my wording or I would be pretty pissed to be tied onto this ---
**Author:** ![beatshack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@beatshack](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/beatshack)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 9:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/12 "2007-09-25T09:52:37Z")
> [@240sx2nr](#): > > I blame this solely on Amar. > > :lol: hahaha! but Amar drives LHD, so he actually is helping us look like safer drivers 🙂 the real concern is those crazy 240sx w/sr20det drivers!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Buddyworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@Buddyworm](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Buddyworm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/13 "2007-09-25T17:36:32Z")
There is a guy on ivoac.ca who is talking to said journalist and she mentioned the potential for a followup story. Furthermore, the Journal published three rebuttals in the Letters section today so at least it’s not totally one-sided. ---
**Author:** ![fcukven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fcukven1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fcukven1)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/14 "2007-09-25T17:51:04Z")
someone with a rhd should take one of this journalist for a drive and show them how safe it is as long as the drivers IQ and common sense is not 0 ---
**Author:** ![eklips3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@eklips3](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/eklips3)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/15 "2007-09-25T19:18:37Z")
> [@fcukven1](#): > > someone with a rhd should take one of this journalist for a drive and show them how safe it is as long as the drivers IQ and common sense is not 0 ---
**Author:** ![DeathBy240](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@DeathBy240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DeathBy240)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/16 "2007-09-25T19:21:12Z")
> [@fcukven1](#): > > someone with a rhd should take one of this journalist for a drive and show them how safe it is as long as the drivers IQ and common sense is not 0 I actually did take the reporter for a drive and she did say she felt safe. As for shorti’s post, the way I drive is just my personal preference. I see people get hit making left hand turns on almost a daily basis, so I just want to be safe. If I can’t see (which is very rare) I just wait until the yellow. I think we agree on this point, although what was written in the paper is vague. I’ve also been behind a few big trucks on a two-lane highway when it was foggy. I didn’t feel safe trying to pass just because of the two factors of the fog and RHD. If either two of those factors wasn’t there, I think it would have been easier. I just see a lot of crashes so I like to be safe. ---
**Author:** ![jdms13rhd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@jdms13rhd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jdms13rhd)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 10:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/17 "2007-09-26T10:06:22Z")
I read the article and 2 things came to my mind immediately. They say the cars are allowed in and do not comply with CMVSS. But every car that gets OOP’s MUST comply with CMVSS to those words were 100% irrelevant. They also say 40% more likely to crash and what the fuck do they compare it to??? Other kids in fast cars that are just as likely to smash. DUH!! But that’s what I thought the other day and I went to timmies just yesterday and found those 3 other articles and they summed up everything pretty good. Someone should post it up. ---
**Author:** ![TyPhOOn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/typhoon/32/5800_2.png) [@TyPhOOn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TyPhOOn)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 11:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/18 "2007-09-26T11:51:50Z")
please post up the other articles ---
**Author:** ![beatshack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@beatshack](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/beatshack)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/19 "2007-09-29T23:44:53Z")
i still think crotch rockets are more dangerous than RHD cars… don’t you? hahah btw off topic: i saw a guy dump his bike today going about 60kmh… he rolled quite a few times. i think he slipped his rear tire in his own oil leak ---
**Author:** ![TyPhOOn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/typhoon/32/5800_2.png) [@TyPhOOn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TyPhOOn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 9:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928/20 "2007-10-01T09:49:28Z")
> [@beatshack](#): > > i still think crotch rockets are more dangerous than RHD cars… don’t you? hahah > > btw off topic: i saw a guy dump his bike today going about 60kmh… he rolled quite a few times. i think he slipped his rear tire in his own oil leak yeah I agree …center drive is way worse that left or right hand drive [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rhd-article-in-the-paper/147928.md?page=2)