Comments on: Right Hand Cars http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/20/right-hand-cars/ News, analysis, and what it looks like from the inside by an expatriate American in Astana Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:12:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: ChrisM http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/20/right-hand-cars/#comment-147 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:11:17 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/20/right-hand-cars/#comment-147 Also, check out the buttons on the Pres's coat - the picture is too low-res to be sure, but whilst one of the blotches could be a popper-style fastening, the other (BELOW the collar) looks like it could a button; unless he wears women's jackets, it is possible the image was reversed... Yours sincerely, Your favourite conspiracy nut, Chris :) Also, check out the buttons on the Pres’s coat - the picture is too low-res to be sure, but whilst one of the blotches could be a popper-style fastening, the other (BELOW the collar) looks like it could a button; unless he wears women’s jackets, it is possible the image was reversed…
Yours sincerely,
Your favourite conspiracy nut, Chris :)

]]> by: Chris Merriman http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/20/right-hand-cars/#comment-132 Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:48:31 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/20/right-hand-cars/#comment-132 I meant to say, is it not also possible that there is a different reason for the increased likelihood of an accident occurring if one of the cars in the vicinity is a right-side steering model? It may not be the height of political correctness to pose this question, but the sort of person who is able to afford such cars may be the catlyst in this equation, not purely the side of the steering wheel. I would be very interested if someone were to analyse the same accident stats, and include the income bracket of the people involved. If you have more money, for example, you're more likey to have a mobile phone, than say a lada driver. If you're driving and speaking on the phone, or fiddling with your nice car hi-fi, or otherwise distracted, you're far more likely to have an accident than someone pottering along in their old Lada, who is paying more attention to the road... I meant to say, is it not also possible that there is a different reason for the increased likelihood of an accident occurring if one of the cars in the vicinity is a right-side steering model?
It may not be the height of political correctness to pose this question, but the sort of person who is able to afford such cars may be the catlyst in this equation, not purely the side of the steering wheel. I would be very interested if someone were to analyse the same accident stats, and include the income bracket of the people involved. If you have more money, for example, you’re more likey to have a mobile phone, than say a lada driver. If you’re driving and speaking on the phone, or fiddling with your nice car hi-fi, or otherwise distracted, you’re far more likely to have an accident than someone pottering along in their old Lada, who is paying more attention to the road…

]]> by: Chris Merriman http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/20/right-hand-cars/#comment-131 Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:42:21 +0000 http://kazakhstan.blogsome.com/2006/11/20/right-hand-cars/#comment-131 When I heard of this decision, through my wife, my understanding was that only imports would be banned, that is to say current owners would not be expected to dispose of their right-side steering cars, only those who did not have one, and now wanted to obtain one, would be affected. However, the fact that these protests did not result in the expected 'normal' heavy handed approach is indeed a bright spot in my day... When I heard of this decision, through my wife, my understanding was that only imports would be banned, that is to say current owners would not be expected to dispose of their right-side steering cars, only those who did not have one, and now wanted to obtain one, would be affected.

However, the fact that these protests did not result in the expected ‘normal’ heavy handed approach is indeed a bright spot in my day…

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