A 1969 study showed that left hand traffic countries like the UK have a lower collision rate than the right hand traffic systems. I always thought Napoleon changed to the right-hand side, not only to do the opposite of the enemy (the British), but because he was left-handed himself. A righthanded person mountys a horse from the horse's left side. The majority, at 66%, drive on the right, including most of mainland Europe, and are detailed on the map in red. Why do we drive on the left side of the road in the UK but most other countries drive on the right? Non-essential cookies allow us to enhance your customer experience through testing and personalisation. Weve used a number of sources to help compile our list of more than 70 countries and territories in which you drive on the left. In the absence of a drivers seat inside the wagon, the driver sat on the rear left horse, with his right arm free to use his whip to keep the horses moving. Back in 2009, Samoa became the first country in decades to officially switch from driving on the right hand side of the road to the left. Why have so many countries adopted right hand traffic? This would find it easier to draw their weapon should it be needed. It is possible to cheat an emissions test to conceal catalytic converter faults. There is, however, substantial evidence that left hand traffic has been the preferred option since at least Roman times in Britain. Yes, you can. Therefore, make sure you check well before the planned trip that yours will be valid. According to the BBC, this practice was widespread outside of Britain, too, potentially dating back as far as ancient Greece and Rome. Hampshire The right handed answer is the most popular answer. For us to use our non-essential cookies, we need your consent. The story goes that we opted to walk on the left hand side as most people were right handed. In days passed, this also stopped your weapon from restricting your movement when mounting, as weapons were predominantly worn at the left hand side, and stopped the weapon from injuring the horse. You will also need to get approval for the car as well as registering and taxing it with the DVLA. The custom therefore originated as an essential part of self defence and simply carried over into our present convention for traffic flow. Over time, left hand traffic countries whose borders meet larger countries who drive on the right, have adopted the same 'rule' and converted to right hand traffic to make travel and trade between their countries easier. We use cookies, some of which are essential to make our website work. It's a Roman thing. Today, about two thirds of the world drive on the right and a third on the left, but how did it come to pass? Since he was sitting on the left, he wanted other wagons to pass on his left, so he kept to the right side of the road. Beaulieu According to Business Insider, only 30% of the world's population drives on the left. VCARS found out. I heard it was something to do with avoiding swords clashing. Just why do Brits drive on the opposite side of the road from most other countries? With the onset of the French Revolution in 1789 and the subsequent declaration of the rights of man in 1791 many aristocrats decided to keep to the poor side of the road so as not to draw attention to themselves. Was it worth it? Keeping left had really only ever applied to riding or driving. This can also take some getting used to. Napoleon changed a lot of things after the French Revoloution, including the alphabet and the direction of travel, as a way to drive a wedge between the new "progressive" France, and the old Bourgoise regime. Czechoslovakia and Hungary were the last countries in mainland Europe to keep left, only changing to the right following invasion by Germany in the late 1930s. In an extension to the above answer, the Romans drove on the left so that, when approaching an unknown rider on the road, a horseman would have his sword arm nearest the stranger. Right Hand Traffic countries Afghanistan, Burma and the Russian Far East permit both left and right hand drive vehicles. Driving abroad isn't for the faint-hearted. We reveal the car models with the highest interest to purchase on Google Search compared to the number of models available to buy. Driving would be more challenging for drivers currently owning right-hand-drive cars. 159 on the right. As recently as 1967 (and thanks to around $120 million from their governments pocket) Swedish drivers began driving on the right. Europeans and Americans are the odd ones. So why does everyone else drive on the right? In fact, it goes back to the Middle Ages. Here are 5 great used choices | AA Cars, Green number plates: Heres what you need to know | AA Cars. However, many of these are actually former British Colonies, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia and New Zealand. Youll need to apply at least a week before you travel. This necessitated him sitting adjacent to a wheel, and as you get a better view of the road the nearer to the middle you are, the carriage ended up on the left. Riders travelled on the left to keep their sword arm free. For safety, it would be better to mount and dismount from the side of the road as opposed to the middle of the road. For example, in the UK, most drivers will sit on the right side of the car. They don't of course. While you dont need to carry a green card in the EU, it may be required in other destinations, such as Albania, Belarus, Russia, and Turkey. AC systems in passenger cars use either a thermal expansion valve (TXV) or an orifice tube. Bucking the normal trend, the Pacific island of Samoa made the switch from driving on the right to driving on the left side of the road on 7 September 2009.
Rules and customs are always different when you go abroad and its just a case of adapting to whats required.
Re the question of why we drive on the left there are several answers about it being because of the Romans. Lets say you took a map of the world showing countries that drive on the left. We take a look at the best dash cams on the market right now. The theories below generally cover the main reasons why we drive on the left. The General Highways Act of 1773 recommended that horse traffic should keep to the left of the road and this was included in the Highway Act 1835. The Netherlands changed to driving on the right in 1795, but Dutch colonies in the Far East continued the old practices. Notably, Napoleon was a fan of right-side driving, and brought the practice to territories he conquered (as did French colonists). However, the advice is to pay attention to pedestrians crossing the road at green lights, cyclists on payments, and taxi drivers stopping suddenly. He could be sure to keep clear of the wheels of oncoming wagons and avoid damaging his horses he did that by passing on the right hand side.
Some manufacturers are experimenting with drive-by-wire and brake-wire vehicles which allow the steering wheel and brake controls to slide from left to right. However, there are strict rules and regulations governing the importing of cars to the UK. This was essential for self-defense. In 1792 a decree in France created a uniform traffic law requiring traffic to keep to the right, and Napoleon ordered the military to stay on the right. AND, on left hand driving cars, the largely dominant right hand stays on the steering wheels while the left changes gears, tunes in the radio and unwraps sweets. In those cases, it might make more sense to hire a car when youre in the country. Walk on the right side of the road and your body would be vulnerable while you drew the sword.unless you were left-handed. If youre taking your own vehicle, you also need to take your log book, also known as your V5C, along with your insurance certificate. Here are the main areas where cars drive on the left: Do countries change the side or the road on which they drive? As a visitor, one of the most disorienting parts of being in the UK is crossing the street. Archaeologist surmised that, since carts would exit the quarry heavy, and enter it empty, that Romans drove on the left. Of course, the car also needs imported car insurance. All rights reserved. Well, although this is certainly uncommon, there has been a relatively recent example. Canada stayed on the left until the 1920s. Before this, the drivers of coaches leaving London for the country simply chose the firmest part of the road. However, the challenge is getting the car to the location. There are plenty of theories as to the origins of the UK driving on the left. | AA Cars, Can I still buy a car in lockdown?| AA Cars, Thinking of buying your first electrified car? It was the left-handed Napolean who changed the way France rode, and the rest they say is history. Hence they travelled on the left and only the hedgerows suffered. Most British cars have the driver's seat on the right of the car but this was not always the case. Answer, 99.9% of us have the largest portion of our heart in the left chest. It's not just the Brits who drive on the left. 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. If its a country that drives on the left then this should feel more like being at home. The cars are also likely to be built differently, depending on the countrys road rules. The main dates for the introduction of the legal requirement to keep left are: In Europe, Pope Boniface VIII instructed pilgrims to keep to the left in the year 1300. It is possible that the custom of driving on the left dates back to pre-history and may later have been used as an early road safety measure. When you are walking up, your right hand is against the wall, causing you to walk on the narrower side of the step. Let the sounds of a bad starter help you diagnose and repair your hard-to-start or no-start problem with your car.
Vehicles with steering wheels on the left are often cheaper due to being mass produced. Or perhaps the current arrangement was brought in to end a reign of terror by a gang of left-handed bandits? This suggests that full, heavily-laden carts, possibly on the way into towns to sell goods at market, travelled on the left, causing deep grooves on entering. cookie policy. But its helpful to know before you visit a country so you can be prepared. Theres no right or wrong! A look back at Cars: Accelerating the Modern World - an exhibition at the V&A in 2019. Many learner drivers practise in a car that isn't their instructor's. Next question, "why are most people right handed?". Originally, almost everybody traveled on the left side of the road, according to BBC America. Things changed in the late 1700s when large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses were used to transport farm products in France and the United States. The invention of the car had profound effects on culture, the landscape, and even fashion. This consideration for self-defense is illustrated in the way spiral staircases were built in castles. However, there are countries where this is not the case. As more people are right-handed, horseman would have been able to hold the reins with his left hand and keep his right hand free to offer a hand of friendship or draw a sword. The few that have borders with right-side-driving countries handle the changeover by using traffic lights, crossover bridges, or one-way systems. This is the case for many areas in Oceania, India, and east and southern Africa. Lets take a look at which counties do and dont drive on the left, and how you can prepare for driving in a country that doesnt. The only European countries who don't drive on the right are the UK; Ireland; Malta and Cyprus. The big exceptions to this are the USA and Canada. Seth from Edinburgh asks why does everyone else drive on the right. No-one is 100% sure. A little more recently, historians suggest that it was the advent of horse travel that really cemented left-hand driving on our green and pleasant isle. The few small pockets of South America once part of the British Empire also drive on the left. Passing on the right would leave your left hand side unprotected. So perhaps the question here should be, why did people stop traveling on the left? In Austria from 1805 to 1939 half the country drove on the left whilst the other half, the area that had been invaded by Napoleon, drove on the right! AC systems remove heat and moisture from a car's passenger compartment using refrigerants such as R-134a in a closed system. Considering most of the world drives on the right, this is likely to be a problem. There are currently only four countries in Europe where people drive on the left: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus. Cant get a more straightforward answer than that. And why is the UK in the minority? Around 35 percent of the world population does the same, including people in Ireland, Japan, and some Caribbean islands. There are still countries and territories around the world that take the same approach. Any answers? However, their mode of transport was quite different from today: Think four legs instead of four wheels. Pakistan considered changing from left to right in the 1960s. How to change the power steering fluid in your Toyota Camry. If you are left handed and not peaceful, it is to your advantage to pass on the right. In ye olden days, when traveling down a highway put you at risk of being attacked or robbed, traveling on the left was a matter of safety. Many states followed suit, but Henry Ford really cemented the practice; he chose to put the Model Ts steering column on the left, and the cars immense popularity meant that the rest of the car industry followed suit. Because if we drove on the right we would crash. Confused.com, 3rd Floor, Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, CF10 3AL, United Kingdom For Medieval swordsmen on horseback, it made sense to keep to the left to have their right arms closer to their opponents. Amidst all this driving confusion, the British and the French were yielding their power across the globe, and as part of their rapid colonization, they insisted that the countries they occupied drive on the same side of the road. Therefore, ones heart is less vulnerable when you fight right handed. For a comprehensive analysis of who drives which side and why, see www.travel-library.com/general/driving/drive_which_side.html. The grooves in the road on the left were much deeper than those on the right. The article warns us: 'Trains often do not operate on the same side of the road as cars do.'. I was told that it was all to do with getting on your horse. It's supposedly easier to mount a horse from the left if you're right-handed. Sweden remained on the left until 1967 and changed to the right following a lengthy road safety campaign. The main argument against was that camel trains often drove through the night while their drivers dozed. Now to you know. However, there may be limitations on the policy when it comes to protection for theft or damage that takes place abroad. Meanwhile post-revolution France, under their left-handed ruler Napoleon, embraced a permanent move to the right side of the road. These can be sourced for a fee from organisations such as the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA). Company No. I've heard it's a Napoleonic thing but can't think of any reason why this was ever an advantage. One of the things you probably always wondered about is why we drive on a different side of the road than our British cousins. Find out which car gadgets have been the most popular on TikTok and Amazon for some great inspiration. In left-hand traffic systems, the better-perfoming right eye is used to monitor oncoming traffic and the drivers wing mirror. After the USA gained independence from the British, it switched from left to right. The actual reason we drive on the left is due to the fact that most people are right handed. 1/3 don't have any roads, 68 countries drive on the left. We always have, supposedly dating back to the times when, passing other riders on horse-back, we could defend ourselves with our free sword hand (the right) - or presumably offer the hand of friendship. We recommend our users to update the browser. Once the rider is up on the horse the more adept right foot can find the other stirrup on its own. This became the normal etiquette when using roads or paths. It might seem bizarre that U.K. drivers stay on the left, but theyre not the only ones. You'd be surprised what you find out. officially switch from driving on the right hand side of the road to the left, until the increase in traffic made it essential, What to do if you're hit by an uninsured driver, The most popular car gadgets on TikTok and Amazon, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Whichever side, that is what dictates how the rest of the 'rules of the road' are structured and organised. As carts would exit the quarry with a heavy load and enter it much lighter, this groove pattern suggested that Roman vehicles were already traveling on the left. I believe that driving on both the right and the left were seen in the USA prior to the introduction of the Model T, but that Henry Ford decided that drivers would find it easier to cope with changing gear with their right hand, and so contributed to the general adoption of driving on the left. For more information, read our The subsequent Revolutionary wars and Napoleons European conquests led to the spread of driving on the right to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. We drive on the right because its the right thing to do. Getting to grips with new road layouts in unfamiliar cars is tricky even if youre highly experienced. This convention is so that a drivers line of sight is as long as possible down the road important for overtaking. When life spins out of control and you are overwhelmed with debt and bills, bailing out and reducing your living costs may be the only chance you have. Customs and laws were established in Ancient Rome concerning transport and travel, to ease traffic congestion in the city. In Denmark, the system was adopted in 1793, and in Belgium in 1899. What happens behind the scenes will shock you. Go to Malta or Ireland and you should be fine, but head elsewhere on the continent and you need to be on the right. Wagons had no drivers seat, so a postilion (rider) sat on the left rear horse. Denmark had not been invaded by the French but changed in 1793. Approximately 1/3 of the world's population drive on the left. Generally, a right-handed rider finds it easier to mount a horse from the left side; this would be a reason to ride on the left. If people walked/rode on the right the swords would meet in the middle. Riding on the horse on the left hand side allowed the driver to use the reins and crop to control the horses. Mounting and dismounting were also easier from the left side of the horse, and safer done by the side of the road than in the center. This was later made law thanks to The Highway Act of 1835. In fact an interesting further question would be what proportion of the world's population live in countries where driving is on the left. What happens if you're involved in an accident with an uninsured or untraceable driver. The depth of the tracks going into these areas are significantly deeper than the grooves travelling out. I always understood that Romans carried their swords on their right side so that, with training, they could draw it without having to move their shield from in front of their body. What kind of insurance does your small business need? 1835 All roads in Great Britain and Ireland. In a fore-runner to the congestion charge, those travelling over London Bridge were order to keep left, disobeying the order incurred a 20 shilling penalty.
In order that they could use a sword effectively against their opponent, they would have to pass right to right (all good knights were of course right handed!). In 1998, archaeologists found a track leading to a Roman quarry near Swindon. Obviously dont leave this to the last minute. Brockenhurst This was so their right hand was free for battle. Plus it made it less likely that youd end up in a ditch. However British drivers remain on the left, and this is highly unlikely to change. Buses, coaches etc. America has been driving on the right side of the road since colonial times, according to the Federal Highway Administrations research, likely both as a rejection of British customs and because it made it easier to control a wagon. Most countries in Europe that became part of the British Empire used the keep-left rule, but over time many have converted to the right. Priority must be given to steering as the more critical function in terms of safety. Some chose the side closest to the curb so that drivers could avoid collisions with objects along the curbside more accurately; others manufactured vehicles with the driving seat closest to the road to give drivers a good line of sight ahead. This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. To drive (or ride, as was) on the left hand side of the road allowed free movement of the right hand. In Africa, Asia and South America some countries have borders where drivers must change to the other side of the road most notably Thailand (a left hand driving country surrounded by right hand driving neighbours). The real reason for the British driving on the left is that the French drive on the right! Please click on the DSA logo below to see the DSA's advice on 'choosing a driving instructor'. Whichever side is adopted, by whichever country, organised traffic flow is fundamentally dependent on whether left hand traffic is legislated, or it's right hand traffic that's stipulated. But various pressures eventually shifted travelers to the right. Historians have found evidence of traveling on the left in Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome. Back in the 1960s, both Sweden and Iceland switched from driving on the left to driving on the right hand side of the road. Interestingly, theyre dotted around the world, including parts of Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas. Their position in the road would change. Its even more challenging for UK drivers visiting countries that dont drive on the left. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Have you got a Big Question you'd like us to answer? Unfortunately France vied with England when it came to colonialism at the time, and those countries now driving on the Right are those that had a greater French influence in their makeup. You hate the feeling you get in your gut if you discover a dent on your bumper, a scratch on your bonnet, or rust and peeling paint on the body of your vehicle. It was also thought to be a positive strategy by some countries as it reduced the risk of accidents on border crossings. You might find that the cost is higher for an imported car. 1/3 drive on the right Living full time in an RV sounds like fun. To enable the rider to avoid the wheels of other passing freight wagons, left hand traffic was abandoned in favour of driving on the right hand side of the road, reducing the risk to the driver. The British Government refused to give up their left-hand driving ways, and in 1773 introduced the General Highways Act, which encouraged driving on the left. In olden days strangers passed each other on the left so their sword hand (usually the right)was nearest the potential enemy. The grooves on the right hand side of the road, speculated to denote travel out of the towns, have proved to be shallower. Other counties switched over to right-hand driving in stages, Austria being a good example of this starting with the west in 1919 and finishing with Lower Austria in 1938. There are a few theories about why many countries changed to driving on the right. The move from left to right took place in the US due to wagons pulled by several pairs of horses. But relief is available if you are able to perform the repair on your own. The difficulty in teaching old camels new tricks was a decisive factor in Pakistan rejecting the change. Left Hand countries deliver safer driving. The keep right rule was applied to the Pennsylvania turnpike in 1792, New York in 1804 and New Jersey in 1813. How much will overweight luggage cost you? So why was this system in place? By 1771 the number of coaches on the road had dramatically, making the choice of tracks even more important. Last updated 12 January 2022. Because the Romans did. According to National Geographic, this influenced a change in many countries: Canada, Italy, and Spain changed to right-side driving in the 1920s and most of Eastern Europe followed suit in the 1930s. As a family car, a Ferrari could never compete with a safe 4WD, but as a gift for a man who has spent decades working hard and driving kids around, what could be better than a beautiful red Ferrari? RELATED:This Is Why Traffic Lights Are Red, Yellow, and Green. Also, this list only includes a handful of European destinations. Either way, the rule demanding people stick to the left didnt become law in Britain until the increase in traffic made it essential. During the 19th century, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, and parts of Spain adopted the right-hand traffic system, to be aligned with France. During the American War of Independence, French liberal reformer General Lafayette gave advice to the revolutionary forces and spread the idea of driving on the right. Because we have to drive on one side of the road, anyway, there are far more important things to be pondered over. Driving on the left also enabled positive social behaviour, in that it left the right hand free and enabled people to shake hands, etc. Similarly, in countries that drive on the right, the drivers are generally on the left hand side. Napoleon ordered his armies to use the right-hand side of the road in order to avoid congestion during military manoeuvres. In the past this allowed a weapon to be freely drawn and used, (both in defence and attack!). Youre likely to see many of the same spots lit up. So, lets take a closer look at which nations share our left-hand sided preference. Here's my experience at the exhibit! Therefore, all other 'rules of the road' stem from which side of the road directs the flow of traffic. The UK, as an island, has never changed, and many (. Keeping to the right of the road was also seen as a way of defying the earlier Papal decree. Since most people were (and still are) right-handed, passing on the left meant leaving your sword-hand free to take on any challengers. Right or left handed, it does not matter, if you are a peaceful person, you are safer to pass on the left. Why anyone would ever want to leave Thailand is beyond us. Download our app to help manage your car dates, running costs and insurance. Let's see. e.g. Whether on foot, horseback, or in a carriage, you needed to be able to whip out your lance, sword, pitchfork, or staff in response to a threatand quickly. Copyright 2008 - 2022 Confused.com. Here we highlight which countries drive on the left, look into why the UK has traditionally driven on the left, and highlight the car insurancerules youll need to obey. If the car is designed around the driver, then it follows that steering is logically performed by the right hand, with the left performing the less critical function of gear changing, for a right handed person.