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In most countries around the world, people drive on the right. It’s something we practically take for granted. However, there are a number of countries where people drive on the left. The origin of this custom dates back to the Roman era, but it was in the 18th century that a law was enacted in Great Britain mandating left-hand driving in London, which later spread to the rest of the country.
Driving on the Left: The British Legacy
The connection to the British Empire is crucial to understanding why some countries drive on the left. Many of the countries that currently drive on the left are former British colonies or overseas territories of the United Kingdom.
Why Do They Drive on the Left?
The custom of driving on the left is believed to have originated in Roman times, when soldiers mounted horses from the left to keep their right arm free for combat.
More recently, during the era of horse-drawn transportation, riders held the reins with their left hand, leaving their right hand free to salute or draw a sword.
Fortunately, these days we don’t fight enough to need to keep our dominant hand free. Getting around in a car with the controls on the other side is a real hassle. Something as simple as reaching for a parking ticket or ordering at a drive-thru turns into a complete farce worthy of a comedy sketch.
Has the United Kingdom ever considered switching sides?
Although it was a success, the day Sweden switched to driving on the right was a complete chaos that went down in history
In 1969, the United Kingdom considered switching to driving on the right side of the road after Sweden successfully did so in 1967. However, the United Kingdom rejected the idea for cost and safety reasons. The cost would have been around 264 million pounds. Adjusting for inflation, the calculation shows that today, the operation would cost about 4 billion pounds. A real fortune. Therefore, it makes sense that at the time they adhered to the classic adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
On the other hand, if you’ve ever visited Gibraltar, you may have been surprised to find that they drive on the right there. This change was made in 1929, and as a result, it facilitates traffic flow at the border with La Línea (Cádiz). However, most cars sold in Gibraltar have their steering controls swapped, just like in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Why do Europeans and Americans drive on the right?
Connecting two countries with different driving sides requires complex solutions, such as this bridge called “The Flipper,” which was designed for the Pearl River.
Napoleon is often credited with imposing right-hand traffic in Europe, as the nations he conquered—such as Russia, Switzerland, and Germany—switched from driving on the left to the right.
In North America, the history is less clear, but Henry Ford played an important role in switching to left-hand traffic in 1908.
Countries That Drive on the Left
Below is a list of countries, dependencies, and territories that drive on the left:
Europe
- Cyprus
- Guernsey
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Malta
- United Kingdom
Africa
- Botswana
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Eswatini (Swaziland)
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Asia
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- East Timor
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- India
- Japan
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
Caribbean
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica