Did Australia ever drive on the right?

Unlike 66% of the world's population, Australians abide by left-hand traffic laws. That also means the steering wheels in vehicles are on the right-hand side, so the driver is closer to the centre of the road. Other countries that do this include New Zealand, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

When did Austria change to driving on the right?

When the Nazis marched into Austria on 12 March 1938, Hitler ordered all of Austria to switch to driving on the right. The break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire caused no change: Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Hungary continued to drive on the left.

Which country first drove on the right?

After the Middle Ages, European countries like France and England started to make their own choice about which side of the road to prefer. England was the first nation to pass an official rule, in 1773, which made driving on the left the law. France, on the other hand, chose to drive on the right.

Did New Zealand ever drive on the right?

One of those countries was Great Britain, which in 1835 made it mandatory to drive on the left side of the road. All other members of the British Empire followed suit, and that's the main reason why New Zealand and 73 other countries are right-hand drive today.

Why do Brits drive on the left?

Traffic congestion in 18th century London led to a law being passed to make all traffic on London Bridge keep to the left in order to reduce collisions. This rule was incorporated into the Highway Act of 1835 and was adopted throughout the British Empire.

Why Do We Drive On The Right? | WheelHouse | Donut Media

Why do Japanese drive on left?

Overtime, Japan has built up a very large and very successful railway system, which is and has always been on the left-hand side. This precedent naturally led to building roads for cars that also drive on the left side.

Why driving on the left is better?

Left Hand countries deliver safer driving

In left-hand traffic systems, the better-perfoming right eye is used to monitor oncoming traffic and the driver's wing mirror. In right-hand traffic, the weaker left eye takes over. Plus, left-sided driving is safer for the elderly due to their failing visual abilities.

When did France switch to left hand drive?

It enshrined in law the rule of driving on the right-hand side of the road, although the country very nearly chose “English-style” left. France's first official highway code is 100 years old today, having been published on May 27, 1921.

Why do Brits drive on the right?

Driving on the right became synonymous with democracy and Napoleon's conquests throughout Europe. The Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia, Poland and Germany have all been firm supporters of right-hand traffic ever since. Left-hand traffic only managed to keep its stronghold in the British colonies.

Did Canada ever drive on the left side?

Nevertheless, with the rise of the automobile, many countries have switched to the right to fit in with their neighbors. Canada abandoned the left side of the road in the 1920s to facilitate traffic to and from the United States.

Did Sweden ever drive on the left?

Högertrafikomläggningen, of course! That's the day, September 3, 1967, that Swedes switched from driving on the left side of the road to driving on the right side. Most cars in Sweden already had their steering wheels on the left side, anyway, so the change made turning and passing much safer for everyone.

Why did France change to left-hand drive?

In Europe, Pope Boniface VIII instructed pilgrims to keep to the left in the year 1300. Later, class distinction in France meant that aristocrats drove their carriages on the left side of the road forcing everybody else over to the centre or to the right-hand side.

Is left hand drive legal in Australia?

Unlike 66% of the world's population, Australians abide by left-hand traffic laws. That also means the steering wheels in vehicles are on the right-hand side, so the driver is closer to the centre of the road. Other countries that do this include New Zealand, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Does Japan drive on the left?

In Japan, vehicles usually drive on the left-hand side of the road. Be sure to obey any signs that indicate a speed limit. The legal speed limit is 60 km per hour on general roads and 100 km per hour on expressways.

Why did the USA choose to drive on the right?

With the growth of traffic, the roadside ditches also led to a growing tendency in the United States in the late nineteenth century for drivers of light horse-drawn vehicles to both drive on the right and sit on the right to avoid the greater evil of the ditch.

When did Sweden change to driving on the right?

Swedes began cautiously driving on the right-hand side of roads around the country at precisely 5am on 3 September 1967, following a radio countdown.

Does Hong Kong drive on the left?

Hong Kong drives on the left side of the road, mainland China on the right. So how do you prevent crashes when driving between them? side of the road; people in the latter drive on the left (a vestige of the British empire).

Does China drive on the left?

About two thirds of the countries in the world drive on the right including the USA, China and Russia. Canada used to drive on the left but changed to the right to make border crossings with the United States of America more manageable. The reasons for driving on different sides of the road are historical.

When did Japan start driving on the left?

An order issued in 1902 by the Tokyo police said for the first time that pedestrians had to keep to the left side of roads. Finally in 1924, left-side driving was mandated as official law.

Was Napoleon left handed?

Napoleon was left-handed. He was more concerned with protecting his own derrière than with doing what made sense to the majority. As emperor of France, Napoleon ordered the French to switch sides.

Does Germany drive on the right?

You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license to legally drive in Germany. In Germany, drivers drive on the right and overtake on the left. When traffic is backed up and two or more lanes are going in the same direction, vehicles on the righthand side may overtake vehicles on the left.

Why did Sweden changed driving side?

Sweden initiated the driving change in part because its neighbors already drove on the right side of the road. Many members of the Swedish parliament also argued that the left-hand vehicles Swedes drove had caused too many head-on collisions.

Why do Indians drive on the left?

This is because, when the country decided to build their national railway system, they used the expertise of British railway engineers, who decided to stick to driving on left-handed tracks just like they did back home. This was transferred to the roads as well later on.

Does South Korea drive on the left?

What do I need to know when driving in South Korea? South Korea drives on the right side of the road.