Stay In Your Lane
Have you ever wondered why some countries drive on the "wrong" side of the road? Well, 90% of the population is right-handed and, in the Middle Ages, you needed to keep your sword hand free while traveling on horseback! Even though you don't need to carry a sword today, it's always good to double check driving rules before going on a trip.
1. The UK
The UK is probably the best-known country using left-hand traffic. However, this doesn't stop many a vacationer from being confused as to why people are going in the wrong direction before swerving over. As a result, most countries colonized by the British also use LHT.
2. Japan
While Japan was never colonized by the British, they nonetheless adopted certain British customs. LHT became official with the construction of Japan's first railway (aided by the British) which ran on the left. Confusingly, imported vehicles meant for right-hand traffic are seen as status symbols.
3. Australia
As a member of the commonwealth, it should come as no surprise that Australians drive on the left. In fact, all of Oceania uses LHT! You have to keep that right arm free in case emus or kangaroos get frisky, we assume.
Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia on Wikimedia
4. Mozambique
This is where things get confusing. Mozambique was colonized by Portugal, which uses RHT; yet people in Mozambique drive on the left. This is because all of Mozambique's neighbors drive on the right, and they want to reduce accidents.
A Verdade from Maputo, Moçambique on Wikimedia
5. Jamaica
Jamaica was—say it together—a British colony, along with a large chunk of the Caribbean. However, similar to Japan, not all vehicles are designed for LHT. While most cars have the steering wheel on the right, many tractor trailers are imported from America, seating the driver on the left.
6. Indonesia
When Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch, they brought left-hand traffic with them. The Dutch switched things to the right to align with their neighbors, while Indonesia stuck to the left. Indonesia is also the only country which uses LHT for roads and RHT for railways.
7. Namibia
Namibia driving on the left should be a no-brainer, as it shares most of its borders with fellow LHT countries. However, Namibia was occupied by Germany during WWI and, even though Germany drives on the right, they made Namibians drive on the left. Your guess is as good as ours.
8. Zambia
Luckily, Zambia is a no-brainer. As part of Rhodesia, along with Zimbabwe, Zambia was subject to British traffic laws. Even after Rhodesia was broken up, both countries maintained LHT—probably to avoid confusion.
Francis ackson soko on Wikimedia
9. Suriname
Suriname, and its neighbor, Guyana, are the only countries in South America that drive on the left. In fact, they're the only countries in the continental Americas to do so. Like Indonesia, Suriname was colonized by the Dutch but did not follow suit when Dutch traffic switched sides.
Santiago Fernandez on Wikimedia
10. Thailand
Thailand was famously never conquered by European powers, however it did borrow inspiration and cars from the British. However, 3/4 of Thailand's borders drive on the right, so the borders come equipped with traffic lights for the switch. The First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting the two countries, uses LHT.
Jim Holmes/AusAID on Wikimedia
Now that we've covered some countries that drive on the left, let's look at a few that drive on the right.
1. France
A common myth is that French people drive on the right because Napoleon was left-handed. While he was left-handed, France switched to right-hand traffic during the French Revolution. Prior to the Revolution, the aristocracy drove on the left, while the peasants drove on the right; everyone driving on the right was a show of equality.
2. Canada
Being colonized by both the British and the French, there was a bit of healthy competition concerning which side of the road Canadians should drive on. While the two biggest—Ontario and Quebec—have always driven on the left, the other provinces switched in stages. This was to allow ease of traffic coming to or from the south.
3. USA
Speaking of America, we'd forgive you for thinking that US traffic drives on the right as a middle finger to Britain. While we don't doubt that spite was a major factor, there was another reason. Conestoga wagons, which were used to haul freight across the country, had a "lazy board" on the left side which allowed the driver to manage his animals.
4. Myanmar
Myanmar's reason for driving on the right is a bit of a doozy. Formerly colonized by the British, Myanmar's traffic was officially changed under the dictatorship of Ne Win. Reasons for doing so range from advice from an astrologer to the hope of connecting Myanmar's roads with other countries'.
5. Libya
We're done with the more complicated reasons and are back on smooth terrain. Libya was an Italian colony from 1911-1947 and Italy, like the rest of Europe—excluding the UK and friends—drives on the right. Easy peasy.
6. Sweden
Sweden officially switched from the left to the right in 1967, an event known as Högertrafikomläggningen. It was a big deal, and an unpopular one! However, the change was for the best, as not only did Sweden's neighbors drive on the right, but almost all Swedes drove left-handed vehicles, leading to many accidents.
7. Brazil
A Portuguese colony, Brazil switched to RHT when Portugal did. However, some sections of Brazil switched sooner than others, leading to some areas driving on the left while others drove on the right! Brazil's border with Guyana is the only one in America where traffic switches sides.
8. China
We've seen a few reasons for why China uses RHT. One states that they wanted to distance themselves from Japan; another that it was confusing having pockets with British influence, such as Shanghai and Canton driving on the left. Either way, right-hand traffic was officially standardized in 1946.
9. Rwanda
Rwanda, a former Belgian colony, currently drives on the right, but that may change in the future. Both Rwanda and its neighbor, Burundi, are considering switching to LHT. Their reasoning is almost entirely economic, as right-handed vehicles cost significantly less than left-handed ones.
10. Mongolia
Thanks to influences from America and China, traffic in Mongolia drives on the right. However, many cars in Mongolia are secondhand, meaning not all are designed for RHT. This is a problem in the congested capital of Ulaanbaatar, but not so much in rural areas.
