In fact, about 65% of people drive on the right. Cook Islands. A total of 78 countries and territories drive on the left. Just four countries in Europe drive on the left-hand side of the road, can you name three? Kenya, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Swaziland, Uganda, and Tanzania all drive on the left side of the road - which makes sense, seeing as they are all former British colonies. More than two thirds of the countries in the world drive on the right-hand side, including China and the USA. The reason is most commonly due to the nation’s historical association with the British. Most of these countries are islands but where land borders require a change from left to right, this is usually accomplished using traffic lights, cross-over bridges, one-way systems or similar. The United Kingdom even played around … Many of the island nations are former British colonies and drive on the left, including … We can’t pinpoint exactly when and where certain countries first collectively decided to drive (or, more accurately, ride) on the left side of the road. Canadians used to drive on the left but changed to the right in the 1920’s to make travel between Canada and the USA easier. When the Highways Act of 1835 came into force, road users were legally bound to the left side of the road, and it has remained that way ever since. These include India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and most recently, Samoa in 2009. A quick research of the countries that drive on the left side of the road points to a common conclusion; that some European countries and almost all the British colonies use the left- hand side of the road. World map showing the spread of plug types. “The old story goes that people should walk or ride on the left, as in the U.K., because that way the sword arm (the right arm) will pass by the sword arm of the person … If you are used to driving on the right, you need to concentrate at all times. The change was made to allow Samoans to buy cheaper imported left side drive (e.g., right-hand drive!) 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. Abu Dhabi (not a country, but a state (an emirate) within the United Arab Emirates), Congo, Democratic Republic of the (Congo-Kinshasa), Congo, Republic of the (Congo-Brazzaville), Cyprus, North (unrecognised, self-declared state), Dubai (not a country, but a state (an emirate) within the United Arab Emirates), French Guiana (French overseas department), French Polynesia (French overseas collectivity), Micronesia (officially: Federated States of Micronesia), New Caledonia (French overseas collectivity), North Cyprus (unrecognised, self-declared state), Saint Barthélemy (French overseas collectivity, informally also referred to as Saint Barth’s or Saint Barts), Saint Martin (French overseas collectivity), Saint Pierre and Miquelon (French overseas collectivity), Somaliland (unrecognised, self-declared state), Tahiti (the largest island in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France), Wallis and Futuna (French overseas collectivity). In the early 20th century, over 100 cities drove on the left side of the road. These days, left-hand traffic remains the norm in Britain and many of its former colonies as well as in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and several other nations. Why Do We Drive on Different Sides? Below the world map you can also find the full list of all countries of the world and the side of the road the inhabitants drive on. Green coloured countries drive on the right, orange countries drive on the left. Throughout the world, countries observe either left-hand traffic (LHT) or right-hand traffic (RHT.) Also, they drive on the wrong side of the road in Hong Kong, too, though on the mainland they switch back to driving on the right. Green coloured countries drive on the right, orange countries drive on the … ... Can you name the countries who drive on the left side of the road? Below are all countries that drive on the left side of the road, many of which are British Commonwealth countries. This basic rule makes traffic move more easily. The United Kingdom, Malta, Ireland, and Cyprus uses the left side of the road. vehicles from nearby Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The main theory is that it started in Britain and spread with the British Empire. Kiribati. In fact, there are 78 countries and territories that observe LHT, or left-hand traffic. Historian and author Sean Stewart, who founded Berlin Historical Walks, describes the prevailing explanation for left-hand driving. Why isn’t there a universal standard electric plug? 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. There are 163 countries that drive on the right-hand side of the road. Nauru. The following is a list of countries of the world whose inhabitants drive on the left- or right-hand side of the road. Drive on the left-hand side of the road. Besides Britain, what other countries drive on the left side of the road? Conversely, driving a Right-Hand-Drive car (as in the UK and in countries listed in this article), driving on the left-hand side of the road will normally imply that the driver’s seat is on the right-hand side … This can be disorienting to get used to, so it is necessary to do a little extra preparation before getting out on the road. became the third country ever to change from right- to left-hand driving. However, 34 transitioned to RHT laws by 1986. … While a majority of the world drives on the right-hand side of the road, 35% of countries prefer the left. Essentially, the remaining left hand drive countries are the former British Empire plus Japan. Each country says whether vehicles will drive on the right-hand or left-hand side of the road. However, more nations and territories observe RHT – or right-hand traffic – which means that all drivers drive on the right side of the road. This is sometimes called the rule of the road. Today, only four European countries still drive on the left: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. Click here if you want to find out the history behind driving on the left or right. Some of the countries that drive on the left-hand side include: Australia; New Zealand; Japan; India; Zambia; However, there are many more countries that drive on the right-hand side of the road. Conversely, driving on the left-hand side of the road usually implies that the driver’s seat is on the right-hand side of the car. The following is a list of countries of the world whose inhabitants drive on the left-hand side of the road. Can you name the countries who drive on the left side of the road? Almost always, in countries where one drives on the right-hand side of the road, the cars are built so that the driver sits on the left-hand side of the car. The driving side of a road is the side where vehicles must drive. What if Britain gave up driving on the left? 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. The tiny island of Mauritius, which only has one highway, also adheres to the left-hand driving rule. In LHT areas, drivers will stay on the left side of the road, while RHT areas require drivers to stay on the right side of the road. There are also a few other territories with no particular connection to British history, but which drive on the left all the same: Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Macau. Why do some countries drive on the left and others on the right? Mozambique was colonised by the Portuguese, not the British, but it still adheres to left-hand side driving - probably because of its proximity to other left-sided driving countries. Australia. A total of 78 countries and territories The countries that drive on the left side of the road … While the majority travel to the right, many countries that were British colonies, including Australia, take to the left side of the road. There are lots of accidents & deaths involving drivers with perfect driving records - until they tried driving on the opposite side of the road to what they were used to. Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Click here if you want to find out the history behind driving on the left or right. This means that all drivers drive on the left side of the road. 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 … Japan, thanks to its railway creation with aid from the British had their trams built on the left hand side, which heavily influenced their driving laws to drive on the left hand side of the road. Which Roman road ran from Dover, via London, to Wroxeter, in Shropshire? Chariot drivers and samurai warriors Originally, it’s believed that most people in ancient times would have used the left-hand side of the road to travel on, due to the fact that most people are right handed and would therefore carry reins in their dominant hand. English: A map indicating which countries drive on the right side of the road, and which drive on the left side. Some countries have actually changed from right to left side driving. Japan also drives on the left. Take particular care when pulling out from lay bays and driveways or when you are tired. Keep left. Europe generally drives on the right hand side apart from Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom. Christmas Island. Oceania. All Rights Reserved. This designates what side of the road a driver will stay on. Why isn’t there a standard voltage around the world? On a map this looks like a minority of the world. This world map shows which side of the road traffic drives on. 75 Countries drive on the left. Today, only 35% of countries drive on the left. But why is it that some countries choose to drive on the left side of the road while others drive on the left? Fiji. Esperanto: Mapo indikanta, en kiuj landoj oni veturas sur la dekstra flanko de la strato, kaj en kiuj oni veturas sur la maldekstra flanko . I have seen some of these accidents. It is very easy to have a lapse of concentration and to revert to habit. Hardknott Pass, with a maximum gradient of 1 in 3, is a minor road between Eskdale and the Duddon Valley in which English county? The right-side traffic tradition began to catch on, with Canada, Italy and Spain changing to right-side driving in the 1920s, a large part of Europe in the 1930s, and Scandinavia in the 1960s. In 2009 for instance, Samoa became the first country for nearly 40 years to change its traffic side. Then, following a national countdown on the radio, at 5am on September 3rd, 1967, Swedish motorists switched from the left to the right-hand side of the road… by Ben Plays Quiz Updated Oct 31, 2018 . © 2003-2020 WorldStandards. Even though about 75% of the world’s drivers are used to driving on the right side of the road, many countries still drive on the left. Only four European countries remain with left-side driving; the United Kingdom, Malta, Cyprus, and Ireland. 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