Swedish Dispute On Left-Hand Driving

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27666, 24 May 1955, Page 13

Swedish Dispute On Left-Hand Driving

(Rec. 8 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, May 22. A split in Parliament and a controversy among the general public on the issue of right-hand traffic is behind the Swedish Government’s decision to submit the choice of right or left hand driving to a referendum. In October the Swedish Government wants to change traffic from the left-hand side to the right, to bring the country into line with developments in international traffic, but throughout the country there is considerable opposition. A six-man committee a» jointed by the Government to investigate the change declared that although it would mean an increase in risks during the actual change-over period, it would in the long run increase traffic safety. One of the members who opposed the change argued that it would cost about £16.666,000. The mone v would be better spent on new roads and other improvements, he said. No dependable statistics are available about accidents due to the change from one traffic system to another on the Swedish borders, but it is generally believed that the change causes many accidents. . In 1953. 1,000,u00 vehicles crossed the

Swedish border, and the figure is expected to double by 1960. Stockholm taxi-drivers say that the change-over would cost them about £1,333,000. They would have to switch taximeters from the left hand to the right hand side of their vehicles, and have other structural changes made. The investigating committee suggested the amount which the scheme would cost the State in changes in roads, signposts, traffic lights, roundabouts. and so on should be covered by an increase in petrol tax. Right or left-hand traffic is not a political question, all parties being content to let the nubile decide, but the Opposition Liberal and Conservative parties estimate that the State could carry through the scheme for about £11.300.000.

There would, they argue, be no need to increase the oetrol tax as the sum could be found by other means The strongest argument advai -d so far for the change is that Sweden is largely dependent upon imported motor vehicles and her own motor manufacturing industry needs foreign markets if it is to work profitably. Under present conditions, the majority of Swedish drivers sit on the in-

side of the road since American, German, Italian, and other foreign cars (except British) have the steering wheel on the left-hand side because traffic in the e countries keeps to the right. The Swedish-built motor-car, the Malso, must have a steering wheel in K this position if they are to be exported to other countries, notably Norway and Denmark, where right-hand driving is the rule. Finallv the keep to the right rule in Sweden would bring her closer to her Scandinavian neighbours. Driving licence registrations and insurance policies taken out in one of the Nordic countries are valid in the other/. If, therefore, Svzcden went over to the right-hand drive she would complete this road unity.