How do you brits drive and and drink a coffee using your left hand?

 

Not an issue really. I drove for years shifting with my left hand. Morris Mini Minor, MGB/GT, Cortina Lotus Mk2, Series 1 E-Type and Lotus Elan.

In my opinion, for whatever that's worth, coffee is best enjoyed sitting at a table with friends.

 

Think I could shift but have no idea of howcto control a hot coffee

 

There is a real logical reason for right hand drive cars. Most people are right handed dominate. In the days where cars only came in a manual transmission. Its safer to stuff up a shifting a manual transmission with your left hand whilst still having your right hand on the steering wheel to have some control. Its better to keep control of the car steering wheel using your dominate righthand.

I'm ambidextrous so I can write using both my left and right hand. Even though I'm left hand dominate the world are designed for right handed people. Try signing with your other hand notice how awkward it feels. I can write with my right hand and use chopsticks on my left hand at the same time. I can do the reverse instantly.

 

Why would anyone want 300 ml of near boiling hot fluid in a car anyway. Cup holders who needs them

 

XKRAU, you are right that the rule derives from use of the dominant hand. But it all has to do with swords. apparently, not steering. As far back as ancient Rome, the army was required to walk on the left of any road to keep their swords on the side facing any approaching menace (although I'm guessing the Picts and Scots showed the weakness of this rule by attacking from all sides...). Around 1300, the Pope decreed that all pilgrims to Rome must proceed on the left side of the road, the first known codification of the left-hand rule.

Do you know the story (made-up, I assume) of how the boosters on the Space Shuttle were designed based on the width of an ancient Roman's cart-horse's ***/****? The boosters were assembled in Utah and shipped by rail to Florida for launches. The boosters had to be of a length and diameter that would fit through rail tunnels on the way. The width of the tunnels was based on the gauge of the track. The gauge of US railway tracks is based on the UK gauge. And the story goes that the UK gauge was based on the track of Roman carts that were used during the period of Roman presence in Britain. The width of the wheels of Roman carts were typically a little wider than the width of the horse's ***. Ergo...

 

Is drinking coffee in the morning as you go to work not common place in Europe, here the drive thru's are lined up with people all morning getting coffees and breakfast.

 

I don't think so. I don't know of many people who take a hot drink in their cars. A bottle of water maybe. Just about no drive through coffee places either. Most people don't seem to be able to drive competently at the best of times but still insist on having a phone in their hand so they would be completely swamped with a hot drink too

I have breakfast at home and another hot drink as soon as I get into work. Or I did when I was working from the office.

 

We can also walk and chew gum at the same time. I think they call it 'evolution'

 

Unless prepared to get penalty points on our driving licence and a fine, we don't!!

(I don't allow such drinks in my car anyway as a spill could occur.)