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Commentary
Right-hand drives and beer goggles
Oscar Kabbatende
On Sunday, it was reported that the mystery of ‘beer goggles’ had been solved by researchers at the Roehampton University in the UK. Despite sounding suspiciously like an April fool’s day hoax, this article was serious.
Scientists had spent time studying how drinking makes women prettier and men more handsome in the eyes of the person drinking. It may sound like frivolous research but you have to admit that it is bound to capture the attention of the non-scientific public in a way that a debate on whether neutrinos really do travel faster than light never will.Our right-lane driving does not hinder trade, it only means that our neighbours drive cautiously for a little while until they get used to driving on the right
As interesting as this story was, it was overtaken by news from Russia where President-elect, Vladimir Putin, approved the development of ‘zombie guns’. Officially known as ‘psychotronic guns’, these are weapons that utilise microwave energy to do all sorts of terrible things to the human body and mind. Can we hope that our scientist will come up with something to capture our imagination and/or attention? Perhaps some grenade blocking force field seeing as, like a herpes sore, the grenade terrorist has popped up yet again last Friday.
Grenade terrorists and zombie guns aside, the research into ‘beer goggles’ got me thinking about recent reports on how the government is still considering the questions on whether to drive on the right or the left [to harmonise with most East African countries] and whether to let right-hand drive cars onto our roads or not.
There is something of a beer goggle quality to the desire to switch to the left lane and let in right-hand drives. It looks good at the time the decision is made but we’re bound to regret it later on.
For one, it is an additional expense that could be spent much better on the people of Rwanda rather than making it convenient for our neighbours to drive on our roads. Are we to pay our teachers a pittance citing scarce resources and then spend billions on an unnecessary switch?
Then of course no one is thinking about the fact that for at least 5 years, most cars will be left hand drives on the left lane. This, in addition to Rwandan’s unfamiliarity with driving on the left, means that the potential for road accidents will be that much higher.
The second traffic related item under consideration is the question of whether to let right-hand drive cars into the country even as we keep driving on the right. The proponents point at affordability of reconditioned vehicles from Japan while opponents [myself included] will point out that cheap cars are not necessarily a good thing.
Think of the traffic jams, the deterioration of air quality and the massive amounts of money that will have to be spent on widening roads to fit in all the new cars. Money that would have been better spent putting in place a cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly public transport system.
So here’s my suggestion. We really do not need to change from the right to left lane to ‘harmonise’ with our neighbours. Our right-lane driving does not hinder trade, it only means that our neighbours drive cautiously for a little while until they get used to driving on the right. There may be an argument for right-hand drive cars and I think we should let them in but our insurers could charge them more on the premiums so that in the end the price of purchasing and owning a right-hand drive will be equal to that of a left hand drive thereby retaining the incentive to buy left hand drives.
Exemptions could be made for public transport vehicles as a way of attracting investment in the public transport sector. Cheap vehicles and harmonising with our neighbours may sound great today but like a guy with beer goggles, we risk waking up to something ugly.
Contact email: okabatende[at]gmail.com
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Comments
Even though Rwanda doesn't switch to the left hand drive but let us be allowed to import cars with right hand drive like others in East African Community because those cars are less expensive compared to the one allowed (with left hand drive)in Rwanda. Otherwise we, Rwandans we will remain moving in our beautiful roads on foot until Rwanda will be able to manufacture cars which are not expensive.
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Your article is one sided. Costs are part of development and the important issue is whether the benefits will out weigh the costs. kigali is among the cities with the narrowest roads. it is inevitable that they will have to be expanded in the near future to accomodate the rapidly growing population.i have to admit i was bit disappointed with the kigali masterplan as it mainly focusses on development of high rise buildings yet the road newtork design is intergral to city planning as well. my recommendation is a technical team should carryout a study and provide recommendations on a long term solution as well as carryout a census and allow the road users of rwanda to have a say in this matter.
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This strange quirk of left hand right hand perplexes me and all Rwandans; but there is a perfectly good reason.In the past, almost everybody travelled on the left side of the road because that was the most sensible option for feudal, violent societies. Since most people are right-handed, swordsmen preferred to keep to the left in order to have their right arm nearer to an opponent and their scabbard further from him. Moreover, it reduced the chance of the scabbard (worn on the left) hitting other people.Security was the major concern for keeping left, i don't see any relationship in keeping right to the later, if cost is the main concern then the government should revise the tax policy. We either choose right or left a mixture would be catastrophic.
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The importation of Right hand cars will definately cause one hell of traffic...who wouldnt in his right sense not opt for a cheaper car..however my concern goes out to my fellow east Africans who work here and have the necessary work permits but are constantly irritated by the crossing to the border ever 2 weeks...it just doesn't make sense.EAC is based on free movement of labour without hindrances (among the many others)and here we go(us Rwandans)making it difficult for fellow east Africans who work here and contribute to the economy suffer with the 2weeks crossing of borders with their vehicles they have brought from their country land...atleast the 3months was fair enough though i don't comprehend why there is need to cross borders to "clear"(clear what)..Otherwise the change of lanes shouldnt change...they can easily adapt to our road systems..
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It is good You point out this Oscar, When I am in Sweden, we drive on the same side is Rwanda, when I am in Uganda and occassionally England, I drive on the left. I have two or both experiences but I would like to assure You the right hand drive is the best (where presently Rwanda) drives. I would have liked a change to the right hand drive because it is safer to drive as long as we have manual Gear changing cars.
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Whatever the case, righthand drives have to be allowed, as Rwanda opens its doors to East Africans, we will have more righthand driven vehicles on a daily basis from other East African countries, so why not Rwandans?! I agree howver with the author not to change our roads status quo! After all 80% of worlwide countires drive our way! Thanks for provocating this debate though.
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Lets do it for our children, siwtching lanes in the long run will benefit the future generation.....At the moment people are forced to change the steering wheel from right to left,that to me is the biggest contributor to accidents in Rwanda at the moment.....Not forgeting that we are the only ones in the region importing cars that were manufactured in 1990...
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