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Some daily problems may just come from being left handed!
The world's first and biggest Left handed ShopAre Left-Handers Better Drivers?
Press release from The AA
AA Driving school reveals Left-Handers are best drivers in UK
Left-handers ten per cent more likely to pass their driving test first time
When it comes to driving, left-handers have a natural advantage according to the AA Driving School. A study commissioned by the school indicates that being left-handed makes for a smoother driving test. According to the findings, almost six out of ten (57%) left-handers passed their driving test first time, making them 10 per cent more likely than right-handers to pass at the first attempt.
The news comes as millions of left-handers around the world will be celebrating 'Left-Handers Day 2008' on Wednesday 13th August.
The study also reveals that only five per cent of left-handed drivers believe being left-handed made learning to drive more difficult than if they were right-handed, although a quarter (27%) believe that cars are designed with right-handers in mind.
It should come as no surprise that left-handers appear to be the more accomplished drivers; some of the best drivers in history have been left-handed, including:
- Ayrton Senna (deceased Formula 1 driver and three times world champion - considered to be one of the best ever)
- Valentino Rossi (Seven times MotoGP champion - considered to be one of the best ever)
- Buzz Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 11 - the first manned mission to the Moon)
- Chewbacca the Wookie (co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon - Star Wars)
Simon Douglas, director of the AA Driving School, comments: "Scientists have hypothesized for years that left-handers are quicker to learn than right-handers and, looking back through history, some of the most important drivers in the world have been left-handed.
"We wanted to see if we could find some evidence to support the theory. Some of our instructors point out that left-handers tend to be left-footers too and, as one of the hardest things to learn is changing gear and clutch control, they tend to pick this skill up more quickly. So we've taken a deeper look into the phenomenon of left handed drivers."
Douglas adds: "Although fewer students are left-handed, some of our instructors have commented that it's the left-handers that seem to pick up skills like clutch control much more quickly than the right-handers.
"Changing gears with the left hand can also sometimes be a challenge for right-handers but it's an easy thing to overcome and, with a good instructor, anyone can learn to drive."
Survey based on YouGov poll of 2000 people between 6th and 8th August 2008.
19th December 2008 - 8:14am
Por favor quiero el programita para cambiar mi mouese de derecha a la izquierda, lo tuve pero formatie mi maquina y ya no lo tengo envienmelo a mi correo
24th October 2008 - 1:29pm
Interesting information. Her in the US (we being backwards from England), the cars are built with the stick on the right hand side, which I find makes it easier to shift, because the hand with greater control (my left) is still on the wheel, allowing me to shift in turns and while changing lanes.
15th August 2008 - 11:00am
had heard this on the radio too. but the jury is out on this one. both myself and my late mum are left handed. it took my mum 4 atempts to pass her test
14th August 2008 - 2:58pm
I've always thought that UK driving is designed for left handers - what could be more natural than driving on the left side of the road? And in cars - the gear stick is on the left. Im a total coward as I wouldn't even attempt to drive on the continent - it just seems unnatural! But it did take me 3 attempts to pass my driving test, and I can only parallel park to the left!
13th August 2008 - 11:57am
A few years back I locked my keys in my car. The locksmith asked me almost immediately if I was left handed. He too was left handed and said he had been on the job for about 25 years and his estimate was that about 75% of his customers that had locked their keys in were lefties as well. My tally is 4 times since I started driving - maybe there is some truth to that as well.
13th August 2008 - 9:01am
I never thought much about it, but yes, US cars are right handed. No wonder I never did very well with manual transmissions. I've GOT to try a British left handed car someday.
13th August 2008 - 3:56am
All the critical controls of a car are in the 'centre-line' of the vehicle; good for me in the British Isles, because that is where my left-hand is. Not so good abroad; I had terrible trouble driving a right-handed car in Tel Aviv; an experience, I might add, not advisable for the faint-hearted right-hander...
...however, driving a british car in France; no problem.
Best wishes to all other lefties in the world on L-H day!
13th August 2008 - 3:02am
Well I wish I'd known this 20 years ago because it took me 3 attempts to pass my test whereas my right handed wife passed first time!!!
12th August 2008 - 10:54pm
I immediately think of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart, both currently in U.S. NASCAR Sprint Cup. My question: to what degree has cross-dominance (e.g. LH but R-eyed) been factored in?
12th August 2008 - 7:50pm
I initially learned and then drove a standard transmission in the 70's and 80's. Over the next decade and a half I was driving automatic shift cars. In 2004 I began driving a manual shift car again although I was somewhat reticent about the clutch and gear shift choreography. Within minutes of the test drive, once I'd gotten the 'feel' of the clutch I was golden and took the 5-speed home that afternoon!! 'Just like riding a bike!!
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