Which countries drive on the left?

How many countries in the world drives on the left?

All in all, 163 countries and territories have right-hand drive traffic while vehicles use the left-side in 76 countries. The bulk of countries that drive on the left are former British colonies including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Are we the only country that drives on the left?

Today, only four European countries still drive on the left: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta.

Does Canada 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.

Why does Japan drive on the 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.

where are the countries that drive on the left side

Why did the US decide to drive on the right?

New York, in 1804, became the first State to prescribe right hand travel on all public highways. By the Civil War, right hand travel was followed in every State. Drivers tended to sit on the right so they could ensure their buggy, wagon, or other vehicle didn't run into a roadside ditch.

When did Sweden switch 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.

Did France ever drive on the left?

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.

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.

What side do Chinese drive on?

In mainland China, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Various neighbours such as Hong Kong, Macau, India, Nepal and Pakistan drive on the left.

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.

Which is better driving on the left or right?

According to the company, left-hand driving greatly improves safety since the driver can easily spot incoming vehicles. At present, only four European countries use the left-hand driving system.

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 all of Africa drive on the left?

In the African continent you drive on the left in Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland (Eswatini), Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda.

Do all African countries drive on the left?

African countries have left-sided traffic including the former British colonies of Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Swaziland, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Does Germany drive on the left?

What side of the road does Germany drive on? Germany, like the rest of continental Europe, drives on the right-hand side. In Europe, only the British Isles and Gibraltar drive on the left-hand side.

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.

Why did Sweden switch to driving on the right?

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.

Is driving on the left safer?

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 start driving on the right?

The 1921 code was also the first time that the rule of driving on the right was officially enshrined in law in France.

Who invented driving on the left?

The practice is believed to date back to ancient Rome. Romans steered their carts and chariots with the left hand, to free up the right so they could use weapons to defend against enemy attacks. This carried over into medieval Europe and in 1773, the British government passed measures to make left-hand traffic the law.

Did Finland drive on the left?

One difference from other parts of the world is that in Finland, like in the United States and Canada, you drive on the right side of the road, unlike countries that drive on the left side, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, or Australia. In Finland, drivers overtake (pass) on the left.

What country invented cars?

The automobile was first invented and perfected in Germany and France in the late 1800s, though Americans quickly came to dominate the automotive industry in the first half of the twentieth century.

When did Canada switch to driving on the right?

Newfoundland was the last to follow suit and switch from left to right in 1947 before officially becoming a part of Canada in 1949. According to the Statistics Canada, 15.4 million Canadians regularly commute to work, and 74 per cent of them drive a vehicle to get there.