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(Some Guy)   Prime Minister of Samoa spontaneously decides to reverse country's vehicle traffic from right to left. What could possibly go wrong?   (tvnz.co.nz) divider line
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7848 clicks; posted to Main » on 19 Aug 2009 at 6:20 AM (10 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



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Calamormine
2009-08-19 3:17:32 AM  
Prime Minister of Samoa spontaneously decides to reverse country's vehicle traffic from right to left. What could possibly go wrong right?
 
doglover
2009-08-19 4:24:56 AM  
Oh my... I see followups in the future.
 
GoDeep
2009-08-19 4:44:47 AM  
As if anyone would notice, the way they drive.
 
MaxxLarge [TotalFark]
2009-08-19 4:50:34 AM  
The map is intended to show,
The road on the island plateau.
The change, I have found,
Is "turning around."
Now clockwise is how we shall go.
 
GoDeep
2009-08-19 4:51:18 AM  

MaxxLarge: The map is intended to show,
The road on the island plateau.
The change, I have found,
Is "turning around."
Now clockwise is how we shall go.


Very nice.
 
Somaticasual [TotalFark]
2009-08-19 6:23:27 AM  
Crafty samoans. Also, maxxlarge, it's nice to see the awesomeness again. You went all "normal conversation" on us there for a while..
 
Blueintheballs
2009-08-19 6:24:57 AM  
death lanes?
 
Grumpybollocks
2009-08-19 6:27:21 AM  
I heard that from next Monday all the cars in Ireland are going to switch to driving on the right hand side of the road.

Apparently if that works, all the trucks and buses will follow suit the week after.
 
at80eighty
2009-08-19 6:28:14 AM  
If going left is right, i don't wanna be right
 
therhinodep
2009-08-19 6:34:07 AM  
comeonelleen.files.wordpress.comView Full Size


mmm, Samoas.
 
Sgygus [TotalFark]
2009-08-19 6:34:25 AM  
Anyone here driven on a Samoan highway? Most roads on the main island it doesn't much matter which side you are driving on ...

/back in the day, anyway
 
SparkyMcFarksalot
2009-08-19 6:35:52 AM  
I came for the girl scout cookie

//cheers rhino
 
LegalizeThoughtCrime
2009-08-19 6:36:26 AM  
True story:
when I lived in Salt Lake several years ago, there was a huge snowstorm - something like 3 feet of snow over 2 days. The governor declared Martial Law, and called in the National Guard to bring in their earth-moving equipment (giant Tonka Toys). I thought it was a reasonable solution.

here is the Fark-y part:
to allow the equipment to remove the snow from the streets, citizens were asked to park on the right-hand side of the street on even-numbered day, and park on the left-hand side of the street on odd-numbered days. Think about that a bit - roll that concept around in your brain.... Which side of the street would you park on (relatively speaking)?

I was able to buy a VW bus for $100 because it had been towed for being on the wrong right-hand side of the street.
 
Nakito
2009-08-19 6:36:34 AM  
A Samoan thread? Let me be the first to say: Thin Mints rule!
 
suraimu
2009-08-19 6:36:55 AM  
What can he do, the brotha's Samoan.
 
Ed Willy [TotalFark]
2009-08-19 6:37:15 AM  
Video of the speech where the Prime Minister announces other changes to to the country.
 
BloodyL
2009-08-19 6:43:54 AM  
I had over looked or forgotten about H-dagurinn in Iceland, but I was well-aware of H day in Sweden. In typical Scandinavian fashion, everything was executed quite orderly and with minimal disruption (for such a major change), something that I don't think the case will be for Samoa.

Vanatu has probably the most sensible explanation for the side of the road on which they drive.

For Samoa, it probably does make the most sense to get changed now and open up the used vehicle market, rather than relying on LHD cars from the United States. Oz, NZ, Singapore, and most importantly Japan (with the infamously-difficult Shaken test required every 3 years) all drive on the left with RHD cars. Once Samoa switches, they can buy those cars instead.

Interestingly, I have a friend who just got back from a driving trip down to the Timbuktu area (Western Africa). He was with several other students who all purchased cars in Britain (some kind of Peugeots) and drove them from London to Mali. Even though in that part of the world everyone drives on the right (and therefore would ideally have LHD cars), they had no problem selling the British-market RHD cars. Apparently the used car market in that world is ravenous, regardless of which side of the car the steering wheel is on.
 
rocky_howard
2009-08-19 6:44:07 AM  

LegalizeThoughtCrime: True story:
when I lived in Salt Lake several years ago, there was a huge snowstorm - something like 3 feet of snow over 2 days. The governor declared Martial Law, and called in the National Guard to bring in their earth-moving equipment (giant Tonka Toys). I thought it was a reasonable solution.

here is the Fark-y part:
to allow the equipment to remove the snow from the streets, citizens were asked to park on the right-hand side of the street on even-numbered day, and park on the left-hand side of the street on odd-numbered days. Think about that a bit - roll that concept around in your brain.... Which side of the street would you park on (relatively speaking)?

I was able to buy a VW bus for $100 because it had been towed for being on the wrong right-hand side of the street.


i182.photobucket.comView Full Size
 
Gothnet
2009-08-19 6:44:55 AM  
Ah, the correct side on which to drive :)
 
ciberido
2009-08-19 6:45:06 AM  

suraimu: What can he do, the brotha's Samoan.


So do Samoans give massages to the LEFT foot or the RIGHT foot now?
 
Mighty Tighty Whitey
2009-08-19 6:49:27 AM  

LegalizeThoughtCrime: True story:
when I lived in Salt Lake several years ago, there was a huge snowstorm - something like 3 feet of snow over 2 days. The governor declared Martial Law, and called in the National Guard to bring in their earth-moving equipment (giant Tonka Toys). I thought it was a reasonable solution.

here is the Fark-y part:
to allow the equipment to remove the snow from the streets, citizens were asked to park on the right-hand side of the street on even-numbered day, and park on the left-hand side of the street on odd-numbered days. Think about that a bit - roll that concept around in your brain.... Which side of the street would you park on (relatively speaking)?

I was able to buy a VW bus for $100 because it had been towed for being on the wrong right-hand side of the street.


That's a standard rule in many areas of Sweden, you get fined if you park on the wrong side,
this being for the reason that cars can't pass if two cars are on either side of the road
 
at80eighty
2009-08-19 6:49:44 AM  
that goddamn mario pic ALWAYS makes me LOL
 
jenx
2009-08-19 6:57:37 AM  
Thanks for the cookie, rhino.
 
gregoropolis
2009-08-19 7:04:47 AM  
those biatches have cars?
 
theorellior
2009-08-19 7:10:06 AM  
The Economist had a little sidebar article about this. They compared and contrasted the way Sweden did the changeover with the way Samoa is handling it. Evidently, you can practice left-hand driving in a soccer stadium, but that's about it.

You could tell the Economist was thinking there'd be a Follow-Up tag, too.
 
WelldeadLink
2009-08-19 7:11:37 AM  

Mighty Tighty Whitey: ...
That's a standard rule in many areas of Sweden, you get fined if you park on the wrong side,
this being for the reason that cars can't pass if two cars are on either side of the road


I can't find a missile photo which shows how far over your head that story went.
 
TwistedFark
2009-08-19 7:18:54 AM  
This has been in the news down here (Australia) off and on for a while now. In my opinion, they should have rethought this process long before it had gotten so close to the switch over date. I understand the prime minster was trying to do people a favor by reducing the price of cars, but it was very much against popular sentiment.
 
mks113
2009-08-19 7:39:45 AM  
The story making the rounds was that a small african nation decided to change the driving side. After some debate as to the confusion this would cause it was decided to bring it in in stages -- trucks and buses would switch over one month, and cars would switch over the next...
 
SharkTrager
2009-08-19 8:07:31 AM  

Mighty Tighty Whitey: LegalizeThoughtCrime: True story:
when I lived in Salt Lake several years ago, there was a huge snowstorm - something like 3 feet of snow over 2 days. The governor declared Martial Law, and called in the National Guard to bring in their earth-moving equipment (giant Tonka Toys). I thought it was a reasonable solution.

here is the Fark-y part:
to allow the equipment to remove the snow from the streets, citizens were asked to park on the right-hand side of the street on even-numbered day, and park on the left-hand side of the street on odd-numbered days. Think about that a bit - roll that concept around in your brain.... Which side of the street would you park on (relatively speaking)?

I was able to buy a VW bus for $100 because it had been towed for being on the wrong right-hand side of the street.

That's a standard rule in many areas of Sweden, you get fined if you park on the wrong side,
this being for the reason that cars can't pass if two cars are on either side of the road


You may have missed the point. Right or left depends on which way you are driving. The instructions, as given, do not tell you which side to park on unless it's a one way street.
 
Hebalo
2009-08-19 8:11:18 AM  

mks113: The story making the rounds was that a small african nation decided to change the driving side. After some debate as to the confusion this would cause it was decided to bring it in in stages -- trucks and buses would switch over one month, and cars would switch over the next...


Really, only 28 comments, and you couldn't be bothered to check to see if your joke was already used?


Grumpybollocks: I heard that from next Monday all the cars in Ireland are going to switch to driving on the right hand side of the road.

Apparently if that works, all the trucks and buses will follow suit the week after.
 
jaymzz
2009-08-19 8:12:06 AM  

SharkTrager: You may have missed the point. Right or left depends on which way you are driving. The instructions, as given, do not tell you which side to park on unless it's a one way street.


Perhaps Sweden has standardized that too?

/damned efficient Swedes....
 
FLMountainMan
2009-08-19 8:25:48 AM  

Hebalo: mks113: The story making the rounds was that a small african nation decided to change the driving side. After some debate as to the confusion this would cause it was decided to bring it in in stages -- trucks and buses would switch over one month, and cars would switch over the next...

Really, only 28 comments, and you couldn't be bothered to check to see if your joke was already used?


Grumpybollocks: I heard that from next Monday all the cars in Ireland are going to switch to driving on the right hand side of the road.

Apparently if that works, all the trucks and buses will follow suit the week after.


Are you new to fark? You just invited twenty people to post the same joke just to annoy you.
 
Obnox
2009-08-19 8:29:24 AM  
i195.photobucket.comView Full Size


What a Samoan prime minister may look like.
 
Hebalo
2009-08-19 8:30:49 AM  

FLMountainMan: Hebalo: mks113: The story making the rounds was that a small african nation decided to change the driving side. After some debate as to the confusion this would cause it was decided to bring it in in stages -- trucks and buses would switch over one month, and cars would switch over the next...

Really, only 28 comments, and you couldn't be bothered to check to see if your joke was already used?


Grumpybollocks: I heard that from next Monday all the cars in Ireland are going to switch to driving on the right hand side of the road.

Apparently if that works, all the trucks and buses will follow suit the week after.

Are you new to fark? You just invited twenty people to post the same joke just to annoy you.


No. There's a difference between doing it to be clever, and just not paying attention.
 
ttyymmnn
2009-08-19 9:20:20 AM  
Remember: Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left.
 
reelpirate
2009-08-19 9:35:50 AM  
I hope FOX sends a television crew.
 
NYRBill
2009-08-19 9:45:58 AM  
TFA: The nation's prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is driving the change in the belief that aligning Samoa with Australian and New Zealand rules will encourage vehicle importation.

if only there were countries that made LHD cars....
 
Slartibartfaster
2009-08-19 9:59:38 AM  

NYRBill: TFA: The nation's prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is driving the change in the belief that aligning Samoa with Australian and New Zealand rules will encourage vehicle importation.

if only there were countries that made LHD cars....


If you are in the south west pacific, the left is the standard.
LHD cars ? why would we want them ?
Most cars down there (where I come from) are imported from Japan... not USA (hehehe, gee I wonder why)

If you are surrounded by NZ, Australia, Japan, etc... LHD seems illogical
 
cherryl taggart [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2009-08-19 10:06:45 AM  
What's this 'driving on one side only' of which you speak?
 
dittybopper [TotalFark]
2009-08-19 10:09:28 AM  
Prime Minister of Samoa spontaneously decides to reverse country's vehicle traffic from right to left. What could possibly go wrong?

Socialized medicine?
 
Slartibartfaster
2009-08-19 10:15:01 AM  

dittybopper: Socialized medicine?


They already have that (incidentally, most civilized countries do)
 
Slartibartfaster
2009-08-19 10:16:40 AM  

Slartibartfaster: incidentally, most civilized countries do


(not that Samoa is real civilized, but ya know, the other 4 english speaking nations have it)
 
Sim Tree [OhFark]
2009-08-19 10:16:54 AM  

LegalizeThoughtCrime: True story:
when I lived in Salt Lake several years ago, there was a huge snowstorm - something like 3 feet of snow over 2 days. The governor declared Martial Law, and called in the National Guard to bring in their earth-moving equipment (giant Tonka Toys). I thought it was a reasonable solution.

here is the Fark-y part:
to allow the equipment to remove the snow from the streets, citizens were asked to park on the right-hand side of the street on even-numbered day, and park on the left-hand side of the street on odd-numbered days. Think about that a bit - roll that concept around in your brain.... Which side of the street would you park on (relatively speaking)?

I was able to buy a VW bus for $100 because it had been towed for being on the wrong right-hand side of the street.


On even-numbered days, you park on the side of the street where the houses have even-numbered addresses; on odd-numbered days, you park on the side of the street where the houses have odd-numbered addresses. Address "1" is automatically the "beginning" of the road, and continues on to the "end" of the road, so you should face "downstream" to determine right and left.

Although there is a similar stupid rule: those going upstairs stay on the right, those going downstairs stay on the left.
 
mks113
2009-08-19 10:32:27 AM  
ttyymmnn: Remember: Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left.

Did you hear about the two Chinese brothers who made an airplane? Two wongs made a wright.

/Trying to make up a little for my earlier inattention -- likely not succeeding.
 
Kim Jong B Illin
2009-08-19 10:46:22 AM  
onemansblog.comView Full Size


/hot like a BK Bathroom!
 
dittybopper [TotalFark]
2009-08-19 10:54:07 AM  

Slartibartfaster: Slartibartfaster: incidentally, most civilized countries do

(not that Samoa is real civilized, but ya know, the other 4 english speaking nations have it)


I wouldn't necessarily call them civilized. All four (The UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia) restrict civilian ownership of firearms to a large degree, with Canada and Australia being the lessor of 4 evils.

Subjugated, maybe. But not civilized. The very concept of civil society is based upon voluntary cooperation between individuals. If the state enforces cooperation by a monopoly or near monopoly on the use of, or capability to use, force, it is no longer a civil society.
 
Fighting The Urge [TotalFark]
2009-08-19 10:56:49 AM  
FTFA: In the Supreme Court this week, PASS is claiming the switch is unconstitutional because the government could not guarantee Samoans' right to life.

Basically what they're saying is since the government can't guarantee that this change won't result in casualties, it's unconstitutional.
 
wsommerv
2009-08-19 11:03:35 AM  

dittybopper: Slartibartfaster: Slartibartfaster: incidentally, most civilized countries do

(not that Samoa is real civilized, but ya know, the other 4 english speaking nations have it)

I wouldn't necessarily call them civilized. All four (The UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia) restrict civilian ownership of firearms to a large degree, with Canada and Australia being the lessor of 4 evils.

Subjugated, maybe. But not civilized. The very concept of civil society is based upon voluntary cooperation between individuals. If the state enforces cooperation by a monopoly or near monopoly on the use of, or capability to use, force, it is no longer a civil society.


If one's worldview is so narrow that they blindly define civilization based on only one measure, I would question their own claims to civilization.
 
Slartibartfaster
2009-08-19 11:10:04 AM  

Fighting The Urge: FTFA: In the Supreme Court this week, PASS is claiming the switch is unconstitutional because the government could not guarantee Samoans' right to life.

Basically what they're saying is since the government can't guarantee that this change won't result in casualties, it's unconstitutional.


errrr, forced what ? and errr, unconstitutional ?
who's constitution ?

I can yell out that my nations leader is ugly and should go kill themselves.
can you ? (go, try it)
 
Hebalo
2009-08-19 11:16:31 AM  

dittybopper: Subjugated, maybe. But not civilized. The very concept of civil society is based upon voluntary cooperation between individuals. If the state enforces cooperation by a monopoly or near monopoly on the use of, or capability to use, force, it is no longer a civil society.


/rolls his eyes, goes back to reading the thread
 
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