Countries that drive on the left and right

Last UpdatedMarch 5, 2024

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Currently, all countries have uniform rules on driving except China, which was a completely right-driving country It turns out that about 30% of the world’s countries mandate left-side driving and another 70% or so stay to the right. These nations include Samoa in 2009, as well as India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. Feb 22, 2013 · 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. The history of left hand drive cars dates back to the late 19th century, when the first automobiles were being developed. Jun 11, 2019 · Countries in red drive on the right; countries in blue drive on the left. Cameras enforce speed limits and traffic Oct 2, 2019 · In the world, 78 countries drive on the left, including the United Kingdom, India, Japan and Australia. Green coloured countries drive on the right, orange countries drive on the left. Asia is a mixed bag: China and the Philippines are right-handers, but in Japan Jan 23, 2024 · In Europe, the remaining left-driving countries switched one by one to driving on the right. Japan also drives on the left. Apr 9, 2024 · The majority of countries in the world drive on the right side of the road. 50% of the Caribbean island nations drive on the left. In all countries with left-hand traffic, these conditions are the opposite. SOURCE: www. Nov 29, 2014 · There are also parts of countries that drive on the left while the rest of the nation they belong to don't, which you may or may not want to include (in that case maybe mention in the description that all aren't independent countries), for instance Hong Kong and Macau in China and the U. The majority of countries that still drive on the left are mostly old Some countries in Africa, Asia and South America have land borders where drivers must change to the other side of the road. In the midst of all of this is the matter of which side of the Dec 17, 2018 · COUNTRIES THAT DRIVE ON THE LEFT: About 2/3 of countries in the world drive on the right side. Apr 30, 2021 · Please click on the right answer. 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. Former Dutch colonies, like Indonesia and Guyana, didn’t follow suit. This practice carried through time, and eventually, in 1773, Britain passed the General Highways Act, promoting vehicles to drive on the left. May 26, 2024 · How many countries are left hand drive? There are 76 countries and territories that drive on the left side of the road, while 163 of them drive on the right. 66% of the world’s population (163 countries and territories) drive on the right, while the remaining 34% (76 countries and territories) drive on the left. Uganda. The change took place on the same day in the whole country, including the colonies. In Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte Jan 23, 2024 · On the 1st of October 1924 Madrid switched to driving on the right. 2. 10 January 2014. That meant the driver was on the left side, and the wagon was on the right. g. Just about every Hollywood movie with a scene set in London That decision itself meant that cars would drive on the road’s right-hand side, so passengers in both the front and back seats could enter and exit the car onto a curb. [1] This is sometimes called the rule of the road. The throttle and clutch are in the same place as they are in a right-hand drive car. Anguilla *. Virgin Islands. 72% of the world’s road distance carries traffic on the right. Jun 6, 2018 · Most of the countries of the world drive on the right-hand side of the road. According to the European Commission, seatbelts and car restraints (for kids up to 12 years old or under four feet, nine inches or 80 pounds) are mandatory. 53. Oct 19, 2018 · There are 163 countries and territories that drive on the right side of the road, while 76 of them drive on the left. Only 35% of nations today still use the left-hand drive. Jan 1, 2023 · In 1300 AD, a rule was passed that meant those traveling to Rome had to keep on the left-hand side of the road. In Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte Feb 29, 2024 · Green coloured countries drive on the right, orange countries drive on the left. S. Africa displays a mixed scene, reflective of its colonial past, with countries like South Africa and Uganda driving on the left, whereas places like Nigeria and Egypt drive on the right. Ambidexterity is exceptionally rare, although it can be learned. Most of the left-driving countries on the globe are former British colonies. Virgin Islands), Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Mexico, Brazil, Mainland China, North and South Korea, and most countries in the world. How it got that way is a winding tale. Mar 8, 2019 · With the exception of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta, drivers in European countries drive on the right-hand side of the road. Here's the key: Though Jun 26, 2023 · In the world today, approximately 65% of countries drive on the right side of the road, while the remaining 35% drive on the left. Jamaica. United Kingdom. Countries who were part of a colonial empire, political union, or otherwise non-existent at the time of the switch are listed as well. Red marks the countries with right-hand traffic and Mar 13, 2024 · Today, there are over 75 countries that drive on the left, including the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia. Many of the countries that drive on the left — making up about 30% of the Left-hand traffic. It turns out that about 30% of the world’s countries mandate left-side driving and another 70% or so stay to the right. ”. In fact, most of continental Europe drives on the right, so if you’re planning a driving holiday abroad Feb 10, 2023 · There’s a reason for this. 1 / 14. The us and Germany were the first countries to “invent” the car and both of those countries drive on the right, but Oct 21, 2023 · Mr. But the larger map gives a little more context. In Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte Nov 26, 2023 · According to various sources, several countries around the world drive on the left side of the road. K. If you ever drive a right-hand drive car on the right side of the road, you’ll quickly Mar 2, 2024 · It turns out that about 30% of the world’s countries mandate left-side driving and another 70% or so stay to the right. Indonesia drives on the left because it was a Dutch colony and the Netherlands used to have left-hand driving. The other two-thirds drive on the right. Of those countries that still use a left-hand traffic pattern, with the exception of Japan, the most notable are Apr 3, 2024 · Story by Isabella Thornton. What side of the road have you learnt to drive on? Oct 4, 2021 · Citing worldstandards. Jul 5, 2018 · The rules of the road for cars were modeled after the flow of train traffic. In Thailand, there are approximately 37 million registered vehicles that drive on the left. Though it seems like an arbitrary rule in a world where getting Nov 26, 2022 · A right-hand drive, or RHD, is a vehicle chassis configuration in which the engine and steering wheel are placed on the right side of the vehicle. This means that the steering wheel is on the left side of the vehicle, and you should stay on the right side of the road while driving. These countries include Australia, the Caribbean islands, India, Japan, South Africa, Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom. After the defeat of Japan during World War II, Okinawa was under control of the United States and made to drive on the right. ) Includes nations where right and left hand traffic previously coexisted in different parts of the country. Examples of the former with cars being right-hand-drives are the U. As more and more Conestoga wagons were on these roadways, the country’s Nov 10, 2020 · India, Japan, Cyprus, South Africa, and Malta also have right-side, left-lane drivers. In other words, the steering wheel is on the right arm including the driver’s seat. Countries that drive on the right side of the road include France, the United States (except U. Apr 17, 2023 · At 4. 66% of the world’s population lives in countries that drive on the right side of the road while the remaining 34% live in countries that drive on the left side. That’s only around a third of the global population. Asia shows even more complexity with right-hand driving countries such as China and Vietnam juxtaposed against left-hand drivers such as India and Japan. If you want to know more about which countries drive on the left or right, here is a complete list: Right-handed people are more dexterous with their right hands when performing tasks. Very few countries drive on the left in Europe like we do in the UK. This arrangement is most commonly found in countries where traffic drives on the left side of the road, such as Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Jul 17, 2018 · Driving direction: 1919 vs 2019. It made sense in other ways, too. Name the current sovereign countries on whose territory you would have once driven your car on the right, but now drive on the left. . As you can see, most former British colonies, with some exceptions, drive on the left side of the road, whereas the United States of America, Latin American countries and European countries drive on the right. Zambia. Since, once again, most drivers were right-handed, the controls would be on the left side of the wagon. While RHD vehicles may seem strange to Apr 19, 2024 · Sometimes, the driver would also pull ropes and levels to keep the horses in better control. Yet, an estimated 30% of countries observe the Left-hand Traffic (LHT) system, signifying a significant portion of the global populace, roughly 35%, driving on the left side of their roads. K, Japan, Australia, India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia. England, Southern Africa, India, parts of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Guyana, Suriname, and Japan drive on the left. Sweden remained on the left until 1967 and changed to the right following a lengthy road safety campaign. Click here if you want to find out the history behind driving on the left or right. This means that the majority of countries have adopted right-hand drive cars, with left-hand drive cars being more prevalent in countries that were once part of the British Empire. Portugal made the change from left to right in the 1920s; countries with border crossings found there was great confusion if drivers were required to change sides of the road when passing from country to country. In Canada, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The driver's seat is on the right side of the vehicle, where the passenger would sit when driving in the US. However, the country received technical aid in building its railway Feb 29, 2024 · List of all left- & right-driving countries around the world. BMW 530 MLE E12. Ford Falcon Cobra. The history of driving on the left goes back many Oct 24, 2022 · While most countries drive on the right side, there are still over 70 countries that drive on the left—the largest of which include Australia, India, South Africa, Kenya, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. In those days, cars were mainly used on unmade roads and so drivers usually sat on the right side of the vehicle so that they could more easily control the horse-drawn traffic on the left side of the road. Driving on the left meant that people leading horses could hold the reins in Feb 29, 2024 · Green coloured countries drive on the right, orange countries drive on the left. According to estimates, currently 163 nations and territories are driving on the right-hand side, while 76 countries and territories are using left hand traffic. Meanwhile, some 75+ countries drive on the left-hand side of the road. They started with the western part of Austria in 1919 and finished with lower Austria in 1938. Jun 5, 2023 · Kenya. Vehicles on roundabouts travel in a clockwise direction and right-turning vehicles must give-way to oncoming traffic. The break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire caused no change: Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Hungary continued to drive on the left. Apr 22, 2023 · However, in countries where people drive on the left side of the road, the driver’s seat is on the right side of the vehicle, and traffic patterns are designed with left-side driving in mind. However, there are still a fair amount (76 countries per Statista) who drive on the left. ” Well, I’m going to explain why, indeed, most of the world drives on the right side even though it is the wrong side – and why a few select countries drive on the left side which is, in fact, the correct side. In the Middle Ages, horse riders and cart drivers rode left-handed because they wanted their right hands free to grab their swords in case of attack. Most left-hand drive countries are former colonies of the once-expansive British 163 countries drive on the right-hand side (RHT), and 78 countries and territories drive on the left side of the road (LHT). 28% of the world’s road distance carries traffic on the left. Which countries drive … Apr 1, 2024 · History of Left Hand Drive Cars. Jan 10, 2014 · Right: A guide to who drives where. European countries with left-hand traffic (1922): United Kingdom, Ireland, Portuguese, Swiss, Czechia, Hungary. South Africa. Most Europian and South American countries generally drive on the right-hand side apart from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, and Guyana. (e. Interestingly, Japan has never been a part of British rule. Left. it’s been a must-see sight for tourists riding boats right into the action 3 days ago · The bulk of countries that drive on the left are former British colonies, including South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. 9 million people drive on the left. This leads to very little traffic crossover between two Sep 22, 2022 · England is certainly not the only country that drives on the left. Australia, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Tanzania, and the U. 54. As you can see, most former British colonies, with some Sep 9, 2023 · Other countries switched over to right-hand driving in stages, Austria being a good example of this. A standard, Europe-wide rule Dec 13, 2023 · The most important countries in this group are the UK, Australia, Japan, and South Africa. Sep 10, 2009 · Because Hitler Said So. Jun 4, 2012 · Everyone else drives on the right side of the road. With the invention of the automobile, countries had good reason to pick a side and stick to it, although not all did. Green colored countries drive on the right, orange countries drive on the left. Mixed-Handedness is the change of hand preference between different tasks. Most of the World drives on the right. 80% of the world population is right-handed. Zimbabwe. Each country says whether vehicles will drive on the right-hand or left-hand side of the road. , and Vietnam are a handful of those countries. Those countries make cars and have a long history of car production, so there will only be some nice and interesting cars with right-hand drive. • 21m. Many of these countries were once part of the British Empire, which explains their left-hand driving customs. By 1938, there was another reason: Wherever Hitler English: A map indicating which countries drive on the right side of the road, and which drive on the left side, coupled with whether they use kilometers as a distance/speed unit, or miles. Many countries gradually followed this standard, with Spain, Italy, and Canada in the 1920s and most Eastern European countries in the ‘30s. 1% of the world’s people live in right-hand traffic countries. Rumor has it right-side driving began in Paris under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was famously left-handed, and preferred to have his fighting hand ready to attack any oncoming rivals. Jan 10, 2023 · The United States isn’t alone, though; Statista says 163 countries drive on the right-hand side of the road. Portugal made the switch in 1928. Most people are right-handed, so by driving on the left, that’d place their stronger hand in the best position to greet those coming the other way, or whack them with a sword, as seemed most appropriate. In fact, only nations which were once under the British rule drive on the left side. Esperanto: Mapo indikanta, en kiuj landoj oni veturas sur la dekstra flanko de la strato, kaj en kiuj oni veturas sur la maldekstra flanko . We’ve gathered the best 25 of them here. The Channel Islands, Ireland, The Isle of Man, Cyprus Feb 17, 2023 · Swedish people tended to buy left-hand-drive cars, so the switch to the right was carried out for safety reasons. Oct 23, 2023 · Most of the world drives on the right side of the road because Napolean Bonaparte was left-handed. As mentioned earlier, there are 76 countries around the world with left-hand traffic. [2] Most areas of the world which were formerly British colonies still drive on the left hand side of the road including Australia, the Caribbean, India and South Africa. Out of 241 countries around the globe, there are still 67 countries where you drive on the left side. Check out the map below to see which countries drive where! Map of Countries that Drive on the Right vs. Ford started the clash between left hand drive vs right hand drive in which the former standard came out as victorious. This is only a small section of countries driving on the left side of the road. In these countries, the driver sits on the right-hand side of the car, and the gear shift and other controls are located on the left-hand side of the vehicle. Be Prepared for Adverse Weather Conditions. Feb 10, 2022 · According to Auto Week, Sweden made everyone switch from the left to the right on September 3 in 1967. The samurai influence. In Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte Feb 14, 2024 · Roughly 30% of the countries in the world drive on the left side of the road. New Zealand's population of 4. The nations of India, Japan, Cyprus, South Africa, and Malta mandate right-hand drive vehicles and left-lane driving. Feb 17, 2023 · Swedish people tended to buy left-hand-drive cars, so the switch to the right was carried out for safety reasons. The driving side of a road is the side where vehicles must drive. Guyana and Suriname are the only countries Mar 2, 2024 · It turns out that about 30% of the world’s countries mandate left-side driving and another 70% or so stay to the right. Europe generally drives on the right hand side apart from Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom. Thanks largely to the British Empire, a majority of the world used to drive their cars Centuries ago, almost all counties travelled on the left-side of the road. Why does England drive on the left and America on the right? Mar 2, 2024 · It turns out that about 30% of the world’s countries mandate left-side driving and another 70% or so stay to the right. A sign on Australia 's Great Ocean Road reminding foreign drivers to keep left. Provided by The Daily Digest The British Empire, countries that have/had British rule drive on the left. 50 am, all of Sweden's traffic came to a complete stop for ten minutes before starting up again, this time on the right. They had horses before cars, so continued the traditional side they used with horses when they also added cars. This is common in the population with about a 30% prevalence. This largely unexpected quirk in the global traffic system has its roots in history and colonial legacy and continues to be a fascinating aspect of cultural Mar 27, 2018 · Reversing the side of the road you usually drive on can be daunting, so it’s good to be prepared. Territories, however, which bordered other left-driving countries were exempted. But when Napoleon invaded the Netherlands, the Dutch switched to driving on the right. However countries such as Russia, Netherlands, and Sweden, both practice the right-hand driving or drive on the right-hand traffic. There are currently only four countries in Europe where people drive on the left: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus. This led many other Jun 21, 2023 · How many countries drive on the left? Of the 193 countries recognised by the United Nations, some 54 drive on the left-hand side of the road. This world map shows which side of the road traffic drives on in each country. In Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte Aug 3, 2023 · The majority of European countries – except for the UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta – drive on the right side of the road. Countries such as Ireland, Malta, Britain, Cyprus, and several other European Countries drive on the left-hand side of the road. This world map shows which side of the road traffic drives on. When I last visited, South Africans, like all their neighbours, drove on the left. Nov 19, 2021 · Most countries, 163 countries to be exact, drive on the right-hand side of the road. Finally in 1924, left-side driving was mandated as official law. While right-hand drive systems may seem unusual to those who are accustomed Feb 12, 2016 · The opposite is true for countries driving on the left, where cars are built so that the driver sits on the right-hand side. Now, however, the turmoil of which side to drive on is pretty much over, with countries sticking to their side, as pictured above, with those in red now driving on the right side. You’re probably aware that around 30% of the world’s countries drive on the left while 70% drive on the right. Mar 25, 2024 · A really easy way to start is getting into the correct side of the car. Also, at the time, the countries they occupied were influenced to drive on the left side of Apr 15, 2013 · There are surprisingly few land borders on Earth where right-hand-drive countries meet left-hand-drive ones. About one-quarter of all of the world’s roads and about 35% of the world’s population drive on the road’s left side. When the Nazis marched into Austria on 12 March 1938, Hitler ordered all of Austria to switch to driving on the right. The steering wheel is also on the left. 4 out of the 10 ASEAN countries drive on the left. worldstandards. As a general rule, England, and former British colonies such as New Zealand and Australia are on the left, while the USA, Latin America and Europe drive on the right. Right-hand traffic, kilometers Apr 2, 2012 · 52. eu Dec 5, 2023 · English: A map indicating which countries drive on the right side of the road, and which drive on the left side. Since most people are right-handed, it makes sense that people May 1, 2014 · The smaller map is a quick and dirty look at where people drive on the left (blue) and where people drive on the right (red). Today, most countries drive on the right, led by all of North America, mainland Western Europe, all but two South American countries and well over half of Africa. Almost two-thirds of the countries (66% of the world’s population) drive on the right side of the road including the USA, France, China, Mexico, and Russia. Why Americans Drive on the Right and the Brits Drive on the Left ©Source: True West Mag. The island of Timor is divided between Indonesia (left) and East Timor (right). The UK rejected the idea on the grounds of cost and safety . Always follow the road signs and markings to stay on the correct side. eu, about 35% of the world population drives on the left, and the countries that do are mostly old British colonies while the majority of the others drive on the right lane. Type below all the countries that drive on the left hand side of the road. Apr 10, 2023 · Aside from Australia, other countries that drive on the left-hand side of the road include the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Thailand, and several others. Most of these are former British colonies. Brazil, Egypt, Iraq, Spain, the U. Many of the countries that drive on the left are former British colonies, including ones in Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, and Oceania. In 1919, 104 of the world’s territories were left-hand traffic and an equal number were right-hand traffic. Then go through the car's various levers. Countries that still drive on the left usually use right-hand drive vehicles. In fact, about 35% of the world’s population drive on the left including Japan, Malta, Cyprus, Indonesia, Ireland and most of the old English empire countries: India, Australia, New Zealand, and a number of African countries. Here’s a glance at some regions with this unique split: The border between Thailand (drives on the left) and Laos (drives on the right). Conversely, the countries that drive on the left side typically have standardized right-hand drive vehicles for access and visibility purposes. This can create difficulties for drivers from right-side driving countries, who may find it challenging to adjust to the different orientation and Jul 11, 2017 · According to Statista, “163 countries and territories have right-hand drive traffic while vehicles use the left-side in 76 countries” and “only four countries in Europe still drive on the left […] the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Left Hand Drive vs Right Hand Drive, which one is safer? Jun 4, 2024 · 1. John Stein. This applies to roads and highways where vehicle transport is basic. These include India, Australia, New Zealand and former British colonies in Africa and the Caribbean. These countries also inherited the practice from their British colonial past or were influenced by countries that drove on the left, such as Japan. if the Soviet Union had switched, the answers would be Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, etc. Only four countries in Europe still drive on the left, and they are all islands – the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus. Most of them are or were once dependent on the British Crown. 9% of the world’s people live in left-hand traffic countries. So most of the world’s “traffic” stayed to the Sep 26, 2023 · In my research, I found that: 66. 55. if the Soviet Union had switched, the answers would be Russia May 5, 2024 · Indonesia, the fourth most populated country in the world, drives on the left. From 1919 to 1986, 34 of the left-hand traffic territories switched to right-hand traffic. According to Road and Track, the practice was adopted by the British Empire because people used to carry swords on their left-hand side while on horseback. In Europe, drivers switch from the right in France to the left in the UK after crossing via the Channel Tunnel. This system goes back to horse-and-buggies. Countries with left-hand traffic. 33. are some of those countries. Countries originally drove on the left side of the road. ps wv vs bc mo jc ta ma rg hb