How did driving on the left side of the road start?
The practice is believed to date back to ancient Rome. Romans steered their carts and chariots with the left hand, to free up the right so they could use weapons to defend against enemy attacks. This carried over into medieval Europe and in 1773, the British government passed measures to make left-hand traffic the law.
What countries drive on the wrong side of the road?
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. Japan also drives on the left. Europe generally drives on the right hand side apart from Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom.
Which is on the left or right side of the road?
Green coloured countries drive on the right, orange countries 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.
Why do people in the UK Drive on the left?
The British drive on the left because most people are right handed. There is a logic which everyone seem to be missing. The two basic hand functions are gear changing and steering. Most cars in the UK have a manual gear change.
Why did the British and French drive on the same side of the road?
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.
Why did medieval people travel on the left side of the road?
Originally, almost everybody traveled on the left side of the road, according to BBC America. However, their mode of transport was quite different from today: Think four legs instead of four wheels. For Medieval swordsmen on horseback, it made sense to keep to the left to have their right arms closer to their opponents.
What countries drive on the right side?
The vast majority of countries around the world drive on the right side of the road, with a few holdouts including Japan, Great Britain, Australia, and India in which traffic drives on the left.
Why do the English Drive on the left?
The real reason for the British driving on the left is that the French drive on the right! Of course the other reason is that in 1939/1940 Britain was not invaded, Czechoslovakia and Holland drove on the left but were forced to change, they never bothered to change back in 1945. It is interesting to note that in Indonesia, an ex Dutch colony ,…
Why do we drive on the right side of the road?
America has been driving on the right side of the road since colonial times, according to the Federal Highway Administration’s research, likely both as a rejection of British customs and because it made it easier to control a wagon.