It might seem bizarre that U.K. drivers stay on the left, but they’re not the only ones. Around 35 percent of the world population does the same, including people in Ireland, Japan, and some Caribbean islands.
Why do people drive on the left in London?
Traffic congestion in 18th century London led to a law being passed to make all traffic on London Bridge keep to the left in order to reduce collisions. This rule was incorporated into the Highway Act of 1835 and was adopted throughout the British Empire.
Do British cars drive on the left?
Left-hand driving became mandatory in Britain in 1835 and was adopted throughout the British Empire.
Are London cars right hand drive?
Fun facts about traffic regulations around the world
The United Kingdom and its former colonies have kept the left-hand drive. This way, in addition to Great Britain, Ireland, India, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malta or Maldives drive on the left side of the road.
Why you shouldn’t stay in the left lane?
That’s because even if you’re driving fast, there’s always someone going faster. If you promptly get back over after passing, that car will be able to pass you, allowing everyone on the road to get to their destinations as quickly as possible.
Why do American drivers sit on the left?
The heavy Conestoga wagons introduced about 1750, in the vicinity of Lancaster, Pa., gave an added impetus to right-hand travel. The drivers rode the left wheel horse, postilion fashion, or rode the “lazy board” at the left side of the wagon, or walked along the road at the left side of the horses.
Why do Japanese drive on left?
In essence, driving on the left has little to do with cars. Quite the contrary, it’s all for the convenience of the samurai and Japanese road usage logic. You see, at the time of the samurai, city streets and footpaths were quite narrow. In addition, most samurai were right-handed and wore their katana on the left.
What countries still drive on the left?
List of Territories and Countries That Follow Left-Hand Traffic Laws
- Australia.
- Christmas Island.
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
- Cook Islands.
- Fiji.
- Kiribati.
- Nauru.
- New Zealand.
Which countries drive on the left like UK?
Only four countries in Europe still drive on the left and they are all islands. They consist of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. This chart shows countries by left and right-hand traffic in 2020.
What side does Dubai drive on?
right-hand
Which side of the road do you drive on in Dubai? You drive on the right-hand side of the road in Dubai and the UAE. Vehicles in Dubai have the steering wheel on the left and they drive on the right-hand side of the road.
Is driving right hand illegal in US?
Experts have given many objective reasons, such as lower traffic accidents or helping drivers control their vision well. However, can you drive a right-hand drive car in the USA? The answer is Yes, and it’s perfectly legal. Of course, when you use these cars, obeying the traffic laws is the same as other vehicles.
Is it hard to drive in the UK?
If you can safely drive in America, you should be fine with most roads in the UK, but do watch out for when driving in rural areas. A lot of roads in rural areas are wide enough for only one vehicle at a time, meaning that you may have to stop or reverse a bit to let someone through.
Why do people drive so slow on the left lane?
First, speed limits apply equally in all lanes, so left-lane drivers aren’t allowed to speed just because they’re in the left lane. Second, the primary role of the left lane is to provide a space for you to pass cars traveling more slowly than you. That helps manage traffic, avoid delays, and keep everyone safer.
Why do people hog the left lane?
These “left-lane hogs” have all sorts of excuses for their inappropriate and unsafe behavior. They say the left lane is smoother or that it’s easier to see from. Some even claim they are doing faster drivers a favor because faster cars can stay in the right lane and don’t have to pull out to pass them.
What is the safest lane to be in?
left lane
While Roadtrip America recommends driving in the center lane for safety, the statistics don’t back-up middle lane safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Crashworthiness Data System, the safest lane seems to be the left lane with the fewest crashes.
Why did Sweden change to driving on the right?
Sweden initiated the driving change in part because its neighbors already drove on the right side of the road. Many members of the Swedish parliament also argued that the left-hand vehicles Swedes drove had caused too many head-on collisions.
Does Japan drive on the left?
In Japan, vehicles usually drive on the left-hand side of the road. Be sure to obey any signs that indicate a speed limit. The legal speed limit is 60 km per hour on general roads and 100 km per hour on expressways.
Why do the French drive on the right?
As the story goes, the aristocracy in France used to drive on the left side, forcing the peasants over to the right, but after the French Revolution, aristocrats moved to the right to blend in.
Does Korea drive on the left?
South Korea drives on the right side of the road.
Is Korea left hand drive?
Is Korea a left or right-hand drive? Korea drives on the right hand, the same as the USA and most European countries.
Do China drive on the left?
Laws. In mainland China, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Various neighbours such as Hong Kong, Macau, India, Nepal and Pakistan drive on the left.