Inside, Outside, Near Lane, Far Lane, whatever...

[Carol]

Potioncat wrote:
> Oops. I changed terminology. I should have said inner. I'm starting
to understand why I have such problems giving and understanding
directions.
> 
> But, one more time, then I'm outta here.  So, as you drive along a 
multi-lane highway, your outside lane is next to oncoming traffic's
outside lane?

Carol responds:

Maybe it's like "rush hour": the words convey something rather
different from the thing itself. :-)

Carol, wondering if all this confusion traces back to the Romans, who
perhaps drove their chariots on the "sinister" side of the road back
when there were only two lanes, if that, and the "inside lane" was the
road itself as opposed to the verge or shoulder