Why does America drive on the left?

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 does the US drive on the left?

When cars were invented, Henry Ford was a big influence in American driving customs as he built his Model T with the driver on the left side of the car, meaning drivers would have to drive on the right side of the road so their passengers could exit the car on the curb and not into oncoming traffic.

Why does America drive on the wrong side?

In the US, right-hand traffic goes back to the 18th century. Freight wagons were pulled by teams of horses. and the drivers rode on the left rear horse, using their right hand to more easily control the team. Traffic shifted to the right so drivers could easily avoid collisions.

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.

Why do the Americans drive on the right side and the British 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 some people drive on the right, and some on the left | Did You Know?

Why do the 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 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.

Which is safer driving on right or left?

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. A study performed in 1969 by J.J.

Why do British drive 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 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 America start driving on the right?

The first keep-right law for driving in the United States was passed in 1792 and applied to the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. Massachusetts formalized RHT in 1821. However, the National Road was LHT until 1850, "long after the rest of the country had settled on the keep-right convention".

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.

Does Germany drive on the right?

Tips for driving a rental car

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

When did Canada stop driving on the left?

Canada abandoned the left side of the road in the 1920s to facilitate traffic to and from the United States. In 1967, meanwhile, the government of Sweden spent around $120 million preparing its citizens to begin driving on the right.

Do more countries drive on the right?

Approximately two-thirds of the global population drive on the right side of the street. All in all, 163 countries and territories have right-hand drive traffic while vehicles use the left-side in 76 countries.

Why do Europe 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.

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 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.

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.

Why does Thailand drive on left?

The reason why Thailand drives on the left side of the road is that the first car in Thailand was a gift from the Royal Family of England to the King of Thailand back in the 1900s. Since the United Kingdom drives on the left side of the road, the car given was made for left-hand driving.

When did Italy change to driving on the right?

MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION

Italy first began driving on the right in the 1890s and the highway code of 1912 made it compulsory. However, cities with a tram network could stay driving on the left. Rome did not change to the right until 1925, followed by Milan in 1926.

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.

Does China drive on the right?

However, mainland China drives on the right-hand side of the road while Hong Kong is a left-hand drive city. When a mainland driver crosses into Hong Kong, he is likely to sometimes mistakenly end up on the wrong side of the road, and vice versa.

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.