Thanks to Ray Gibbons who wrote:
You get onto a horse on the near (left) side. If you try to
get on the right side, the horse will throw you *off*. So
the right side is the off side, in England or the US.
Ray, I agree that the near side is the side that you mount from, which
is the left side of horses everywhere, but the right side of cars in
England. This appeared reasonable to me, particularly since home model
manuals (RHD) seem to indicate the near side is the driver's, or right
side.
Thus the question remains: If the near side is the side you mount
from, wouldn't that be the left side for left-hand-drive cars and the
right side for right-hand-drive cars?
Once this is settled by some Recognized Authority (Hi, Chip!!) I
suppose I will then have to learn my right from my left...
Jerry Keller
52 TD LHD
53 YB RHD
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