Why Do Some Countries Drive on the Left? 

What side of the road does your country drive on? 🚗 Edit: I made an error at 0:43; Japan drives on the left

In Australia along with driving in the left we also walk on the left side of the footpath and we stand on the left when riding escalators/travelators.

the title should be "why do countries even drive on the right?"

In Alcoholica, drivers drive on both the left and right sides, in the center of the road, and on the sidewalks, on railroads...

Simple, most people have right hand dominance, keep dominant hand on steering (very important). Why would you drive on right and use weaker, less capable hand to steer?

I was stationed (Air Force) on Okinawa in the late 1970's. The country went through a process called "Reversion" where the U.S. turned it back over to Japan. As part of that process we went from right-hand driving to left-hand. If I remember right, it was at 10 o'clock one night. There was a curfew and the government sent out about 1500 workers to change all the road signs. In the morning there was a sort of Leman's start were every driver cautiously drove again. It went surprisingly well. Your video brought back memories. Thanks.

In Italy most people used to drive on the left in the countryside, only switching to the right in towns! Basically because driving on the left made more sense when there was no one around in a car. Even after WWII Italian trucks often had the steering wheel on the right.

Thank you for proving that the left side is the correct side of the road to drive on

They drive on the left because they are right!

Because, in those countries, to drive on the right is too friggin' dangerous.

I'm from Malta and I hate that we drive on the left. All our neighbours drive on the right, so we can't get cars for cheaper from Sicily/Italy. It also hinders car diversity, most cars are Toyotas/Mazdas/Hondas from Japan, and now with Brexit it's no longer worth it to import from the UK, the country that made us drive on the left! Thanks Brits!

There are significant countries where trains run on the left on double-track lines, while on their roads traffic drives on the right. Railways started in Britain and British engineers were commissioned to plan railways in many countries. The countries which drive on the right, but whose trains run on the left, include: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Israel and China. The eastern part of Austria has (or had) left-hand running (not changed from Hapsburg Empire days). By contrast, In Alsace and part of Lorraine, the German annexation of that part of France 1871-1918 resulted in railway operation being changed to the German standard (running on the right) and France did not change it back to left-hand running on regaining these provinces in 1918.

What I found really weird about the UK is while they drive on the left they actually keep to the right when riding escalators unlike most left driving countries.

Also note that, whilst China generally drives on the right, both Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left.

If I am not wrong, Indonesia WAS a right-hand traffic due to their ex-colonizer Netherlands, but then in 1960 switched back to the left 'til this day.

It's very simple. Let's say that you're in the year 1376, and you're riding from your property in the English countryside into the nearest town to perform your duty to the King and attend the assizes. As you ride along, you see someone approaching you, too far away for you to identify him. So you move a bit to the left and he does likewise. That way, if he's a friend you can salute him and shake his hand as you meet. If he's not a friend, then you can rapiDly draw your sword if that becomes necessary.

Imagine going to a foreign country and accidentally driving on the wrong side of the road! Must be an easy mistake to make.

Whereas Napoleon spread the practice of driving on the right, it was the French revolution that motivated the change. Prior to the revolution, when driving on the left was the rule, peasants were required to get out of the way when aristocrats were coming. To make it easier to see when the aristocrats were coming they started driving on the right. That way they could see the oncoming traffic in plenty of time to move and need not be concerned by fast moving coaches coming from behind. After the revolution, no one wanted to be seen to be an aristocrat. Something that puzzles me is why are motorcycles are set up to be mounted from the left? Just like a horse when all traffic moved on the left side of the road. Mount from the left (the non-traffic side), kick up the stand, glance over the right shoulder and join traffic on the left of the road.

I'm Australian and Ive been to America a few times. Each time, converting to driving on the right was fine, except for once..

I live in Australia and it is extremely difficult to import a left hand drive vehicle into the country but if its right hand drive no problem we can import any Japanese car into Australia intact there is a large grey import system in Australia there is are two vehicles which we can import into Australia any postal service right hand drive vehicle but who would want one and the Ford GT40 not officially an American car it's a British car and there are a couple of them in Australia and the South African replica another right hand drive country there are left hand drive cars in Australia mainly old American cars in Australia Mustangs Corvets ect also you can import left hand drive cars but they have to be converted l met this bloke who imported a 2016 Chevrolet Corvet into Australia and had it converted to right hand drive cost him aud$70000 he is into it for about aud$400000

The irony of following the British driving conventions (drive on the left lane, right hand steering) is that the countries that do that are now considered "rebels" or "eccentric" in a world where the majority of countries are driving on the right lane with left hand steering.

In Australia, in 1972, the Prime Minister (Billy McMahon) announced that, because Australia's major trading partner had become the USofA,: ALL cars would drive on the right side of the road from the 1st of July that year... And if everything went to plan, Trucks & Buses would follow suit as of the 1st of August. *As a politician, he didn't last out the year...* he lost a general election in December... *and the plan was scrapped well before any implementation.*

this is a very well made video! I hope it gets more views :)

Canada changed to right side drive from left side drive in 1924

Whether it's left or right, drivers still have accidents because they just don't have awareness, don't care, too lazy or taught incorrectly. Drive to survive.

Men,i love how you mention Timor Leste history of driving side. Very correctly 👏 👌

Okinawa switched from right-hand-rule of road to left in 1978, following the agreement with the US military to return the administration to Japan. Myanmar switched to the right-hand-rule of traffic because the military dictator "misunderstood" the astrological reading. Many vehicles there are still right-hand-drive. London actually passed the law in 1789 to denote the left-hand-rule of road as to reduce the gridlock: the reason for left is many freight wagons were tall and the drivers sit on the right side as to prevent the whips from damaging the goods. Like the American pioneers, the drivers had to watch the space when passing each other.

Burma was bit more recent in changing to right side of the road.

Steering wheel in the right hand. Gear shifter on the left. Pretty straight forward really.

The answer to that is reciprocating....why do some countries drive on the right?

not driving on the same side of the road across the world would have to be one of the bigger mistakes made in history . Australia's (where I am) motoring history would likely be very different as we would have had access to far more USA built cars , and trucks . So Australia bought more English built cars/trucks until Australia made it's own cars and some trucks If all left hand drive , there would not be all the costs of designing/building/converting cars to right hand . The goes for cars exported from Australia to left hand drive counties . Your maps also show how the British Empire dictated cars would be right hand drive One the older problems is the USA truck motors have the exhaust system on the right side which made right hand drive trucks rather hotter for the driver as there was just a thin sheet of metal between the turbo and the driver . The are stories of older (1950-60s) Mack truck drivers in Australia having to bandage their legs to stop them from getting burnt from exhaust heat . Nice in winter though . Now; it there a difference between left/right hand motor bikes ?

Imagine if the world had the same driving side we could drive everywhere.Another win for the system

I understand it was through the Revolution that the French started a new dating system, & also decided to drive on the right. Being left-handed, Napoleon was happy with this system, & forced all the countries he conquered to drive on the right. Hitler continued ghis process, also forcing Austria to drive on the right at the Anschluss. In the 19th century, parts of Canada also drove on the left.

0:47 some countries on this map are wrong, for instance I know Japan uses left-hand traffic.

Unusual, but high-quality camera position, and of course a great picture.

Left is normal.

In the days of horse and carts, the driver had his whip in his right hand so as not to snag it in the trees above, that was the main reason to drive on the left.

I drove on both sides of the road. Left side is more natural.

You got the reasons wrong. At first everyone drove on the left. Well sort of. It was a convention rather than the law. Then Napoleon decided to be different, not because he was left handed but because he wanted to change everything. Also Britain drove on the left and Napoleon hated the British. USA naturally adopted the practices of their French ally. And dare I suggest that in the late 1700s anything British would be anathema. The excuse about the wagons sounds very much like something invented after the event. Remember that virtually all vehicles had the driver sitting in the wagon and not on the horse.

Why? Because we can! And it feels just right!

I was also told, without verification, that the Czechs used to drive on the left until Mr Hitler turned up driving tanks on the right....😀

The title should read: "Why Do Some Countries Drive On The Wrong Side of the Road?"

Taiwan can be added to your list, they also switched to the left.

Very interesting video! Thanks for sharing!

We drive on the right because Americans licenced production of their cars in Europe. In China trains go on the left side, but cars on the right side.

There is no right or wrong side of driving. If you drive on the left, the steering wheel would be on the right. On the other hand, however, is that, if you drive on the right, the steering wheel is on the left.

You missed Japan

Leaving Japan of the left hand driving map at the beginning of the video is a not insignificant oversight….

In Kenya we keep left

Driving on the left has always been the established rule. There are still some countries that followed the French habit of driving on the right but it was just error originally….

Driving on the left is more comfortable... 😅

It's because the steering wheels on the right.

europe should change driving side right to left

More countries drive in the left

Been waiting awhile for some videos from this channel. Finally able to enjoy some quality content. (Also right side is better ngl)

America drive on the right side and we in Australia drive on the wrong side.

Very interesting. Samoa decision was obvious and should be followed by countries in same situation. Also, I was wondering, what is the song used from 4:20 to 5:15 please? Many thanks.

Should the question be Why do most countries drive on the right?

Title is wrong. Cars drive on the Right & Left. Just in different directions in different countries.

Very odd you left Japan out @1:04

Because driving on the left is the right way to go.

You call us Brits weird and we call you righties weird The feeling is mutual

Before I watch your video it is a simple. In Britain at least, we would ride our horses on the left so that our right dominant hand was ready at the hilt to draw a sword should it be required. The majority are right handed hence that is the protective space. We passed it on when we adopted carriages and then cars. Right hand driving countries are mostly modern by colonialism and didn't think that one through properly. Such countries took the Magna Carta, changed it for the sake of it, then had to make many amendments over decades so that it became the Magna Carta they started off with. Right to bare arms. No seizures, right to roam freely etc. I think America has made the most amendments to get their constitution back to the original source, the Magna Carte Britain still hold on to. Common law made centuries ago.

The argument about the weapon is probably a myth. The Wikipedia article, for one, doesn't make any mention of it. At the age of 30, I moved from a drive-on-the-right country to a drive-on-the-left country. You get used to it. The most difficult thing, which only lasts for a minute or so, is that when you shift gears, you tend to hit the door. After all, when you drive on the left, your steering wheel is on the right, and you use your left hand to shift gears. So, if you go back to driving on the right, like a family visit, your steering wheel is on the left, and you use your right hand to shift gears. But because you're used to using your left hand, you hit the door. You learn quickly enough, within a minute. But when you go back, you'll be hitting the door with your right hand. It doesn't really matter on what side you drive. People who shout that "they drive on the wrong side" obviously have never driven on the other side. As such, their opinion isn't terribly relevant.

Why do some countries drive on the right then?

Why do some countries drive on the right?

Japan also drives on the left

I drive on the left, and you drive on the right. Who cares? Stop worrying about it. Why are you bothered about what side of the road other people drive on, as long as it's correct for the country you're in at the time???

Well I guess its a bit beyond you thats where it started

Because they don't drive on the right?

Interesting video

Just the question about the left side had me knowing this was American content🙄

It was law in Scotland to keep left fifty years before it was made law in England & Wales. In the act of union in 1707 between Scotland & England we kept our separate institutions & that included Scots law. keep left, you know it makes sense, just watch people pushing a bike & getting on & off it, always from the left. 🤪💙

You mean why do some countries drive on the right hand side of the road?

most drive on the left

Cause we're smarter

fr why are they doing it😂

How arrogant to think your the norm 😢left is best

👎

im live in the UK and driving on the left feel normal

you missed Japan