Why do Americans 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.

Why does the UK drive on the left and the US on the right?

In the early years of English colonisation of North America, English driving customs were followed and the colonies drove on the left. After gaining independence from England, however, they were anxious to cast off all remaining links with their British colonial past and gradually changed to right-hand driving.

Why do Britain 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.

Is America the only place that drives on the right side?

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.

Why do most countries drive on the right?

The subsequent Revolutionary wars and Napoleon's European conquests led to the spread of driving on the right to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Napoleon ordered his armies to use the right-hand side of the road in order to avoid congestion during military manoeuvres.

Why Do Americans Drive on the Right?

Why do Japanese drive on left?

The samurai influence

During the Edo period of Japan (1603 and 1868), before cars were even invented, the country had already established a number of strictly followed rules regarding which side of the road pedestrians could walk on, and as you may have guessed it was the left.

Does China drive on left?

The Hong Kong-mainland China cross-border driving scheme allows the smooth movement of vehicles from one side to the other. However, mainland China drives on the right-hand side of the road while Hong Kong is a left-hand drive city.

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.

Which country drives left?

The bulk of countries that drive on the left are former British colonies including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Only four countries in Europe still drive on the left and they are all islands. They consist of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus.

Did Canada ever drive on the left?

Canada abandoned the left side of the road in the 1920s to facilitate traffic to and from the United States.

Why do French drive on the right?

When horses and carriages were first cruising through France, peasants and the poor ducked to the right side of the road while the aristocrats plowed through on the left.

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.

Is it safer to drive on the left or right?

It has been noticed that countries that drive on the left side of the road have considerably fewer traffic accidents and fatalities than those that drive on the right side of the road.

Does Germany have left-hand traffic?

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.

Does Germany drive on the right?

Tips for driving a rental car

In Germany, you drive on the right side of the road.

Does New Zealand drive on the right?

Driving in New Zealand

For example: we drive on the left-hand side of the road. it's easy to underestimate travelling times. our roads are narrower, more winding and sometimes steeper than you might expect.

Does India have left-hand drive?

While India is a right-hand drive market, LHD vehicles account for nearly 87% of total passenger car market in the world, with China being the largest market followed by the USA.

Why did Sweden change 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 UK left hand drive?

Even though the vast majority of cars in the UK are right hand drive, It's entirely legal to drive a left hand drive car in the UK.

When did Sweden start 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 Italy drive on the left?

What side of the road do they drive on in Italy? Unlike in the UK, motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road in Italy and overtake on the left – which can take some adjustment if you're used to driving on the left.

Does Scotland drive on the left?

What side of the road do I drive on in Scotland? Always drive on the left hand side of the road.

Why does Australia drive on the left?

Australia: Left-hand traffic

We drive on the left for one reason and one reason only: Britain told us to. No, really. As a British colony up until we became a federation in 1901, Australia readily adopted left-hand traffic, no doubt because it made both cultural and economic sense to do so.

Why does Europe drive 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.