Why does America drive on the right side of the road?
Things changed in the late 1700s when large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses were used to transport farm products in France and the United States. Since he was sitting on the left, he wanted other wagons to pass on his left, so he kept to the right side of the road.
Do North American countries drive on the right side of the road?
All in all, 163 countries and territories have right-hand drive traffic while vehicles use the left-side in 76 countries. The bulk of countries that drive on the left are former British colonies including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Why must you drive on the right side of the road in some countries?
Traffic shifted to the right so drivers could easily avoid collisions. Eventually, with the rise of the automobile and increase in global traffic, many countries switched to the right to fit in with neighbors — including Samoa, which just switched from the left in 2009.
Why do most people drive on the left side of the road?
The fact that most people are right-handed has a lot to do with it; that’s why, for much of history, travelers have stuck to the left.
Why do most countries drive on the right?
Why do most countries drive on the right? The standard explanation for what changed is that it’s all Napoleon’s fault. He was left-handed, it’s said, and so was more comfortable on the right hand side of the road. And one of the things you get to do when you conquer most of Europe is make people drive how you want them to.
Which is the right side of the road for men?
The Book of Rites stated: “The right side of the road is for men, the left side for women and the center for carriages.”. This Western Zhou dynasty rule applied only to the dynasty’s wide official roads and was “more concerned with protocol than avoiding head-on collisions.”.
Why did ancient Romans drive on the left side?
Archeologists have found evidence that ancient Romans drove their carts and chariots on the left, because it was easier for drivers to steer with their dominant right hand ( always the majority) and whip the horse with the left.
Why do Americans drive on the right side of the road?
Americans switched to driving on the right because on covered wagons, the brakes were built on the left, forcing the driver to sit on that same side and, consequently, to drive on the right so they could have a clear view of the road.
Why do some countries drive on the left and some on the right?
The reasons for this are not entirely certain, but some believe it arose as a matter of safety. The majority of people are right handed, one theory goes, so driving or riding on the left would have allowed them to wield a weapon with their dominant hand if they crossed paths with an enemy.
Why do we drive on the right?
Driving on the right may be the result of the introduction of postillion driving, in which a teamster sat on the back of the left-hand horse in a team to control the team, because there was no driver’s seat.