"Near" what? The oncoming traffic?

I'd think that with the driver on the right side of the car, the near side would be the right side, but NOOOOOOOO . . .

And why is the opposite of "the near side" not "the far side?"

Its nearest the kerb...

John

Boring nerd time...

This goes back to cart horse days... we've always driven on the left, for lots of boring reasons involving swords and stuff. When a carter was leading his horses he didn't want to bump into a fellow carter coming in the opposite direction, so he walked on the kerb or hedge side of his horses. The horse next to him was the nearest horse (obviously!) so that was the near side. The other one was off on the other side, so that became the off side.

...there, I said it was nerdy!



David

and some midget frenchman called napollian was left handed so thought that riding towards your enemy with sword in yr hand it would be better(for him)to ride on the right(takes annorac off)

And most spiral stair cases in castles or large homes spiral to the right as you go up them. reason being most folks are right handed so defending from up comming enemy is easy with sword in the right hand, and folks coming up the stairs being right handed couldnt swing their swords because of the main stair column.

takes Tank top off!

Very good responses on the Near Side part of my question (never heard of a Carter), but I still have the 2nd question:
". . . why is the opposite of 'the near side' not 'the far side'?"

carter is a surname (family name) in the UK

atb

steve

<anorak>
People who have the surname Carter had ancestors who used to drive (or lead) carts drawn by horses.
</anorak>



David

ya know, its the little things like this that make the site so worthwhile.

and keeps me outa the garage on a cold night.

but concience makes me freeze tomorrow methinks

atb

steve

The OFF side is called the OFF side because...........

if you offer someone a lift home and they get in the "drivers seat" you tell them to


**** OFF

<offence>

David - I think the <anorak> tag is quite fitting - have you ever been on millionaire? With information like that "you ought to be".

</nooffence>

When I was likkle I used to own an anorak - but I'm feeling better now...

David

<offence>
Hellfire - FCUK off!
</offence>

Just kidding - just....