In watching the local news and weather the traffic report lady

[Effete Snob]

6. First thing I learned today

https://jakubmarian.com/right-side-vs-right-hand-side-in-english/

The problem with “right side” and “left side” is their ambiguity. For example, when someone tells you:

Write your name on the right side at the top of the page, please.

it is not clear whether you are supposed to write your name on the correct side of the sheet of paper or in the upper right corner of the side you are looking at. By using “right-hand side” and “correct side” instead of “right side”, you can make your statements unambiguous.

“Left side” is similarly ambiguous (although its ambiguity is much less likely to cause any misunderstanding) because “left” can also be the past participle of “leave”, so “left side” could be understood as “abandoned side”.