India drives on the left or right. Driving on the left in different countries

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the steering wheel on the first cars was installed in the center of the cabin. With the increase in the number of vehicles, the driver’s attention became increasingly focused on oncoming cars, and it is more convenient to do this when the driver sits closer to the side of oncoming traffic. This was the main reason for placing the steering wheel on the right or left side. In addition, when using the car as a taxi, the steering wheel on one side makes boarding and disembarking passengers more convenient and safe.


Why do most roads drive on the right?
There is no clear answer. This may be due to the fact that most people are right-handed. Ordinary residents walked on the right side of the road to protect their property, which, as a rule, was carried on their right shoulder, from oncoming people.

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Why do people drive on the right in America?
At first, the United States drove on the left, but by the end of the 18th century there was a gradual transition to driving on the right. It is believed that this is the merit of the French politician Marie-Joseph Lafayette. After the Ford T became the first mass-produced left-hand drive car, other automakers were forced to choose a similar steering wheel arrangement.

Why do people drive on the left in Japan?
In 1945, the American occupiers organized right-hand traffic in the country. In 1977, the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, by decision of the Japanese government, switched from right-hand to left-hand traffic. The traffic shift was dictated by the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which requires member countries to have only one transport system.

Why do people drive on the left in England?
The left side of traffic was defined by law in 1756. It stated that traffic on London Bridge was to be on the left. 20 years later, the “Road Act” was published, which introduced left-hand traffic on all roads in the country.

Why do countries change car traffic from one side to the other?
Most often, a change in movement occurs due to inconvenience. When the country is surrounded by neighbors who drive on the right, it is logical to also become a right-hand driver. For example, Sweden did this when on September 3, 1967, the country switched from driving on the left to driving on the right (H-Day).


Another example, Samoa switched to left-hand drive in 2009 due to the large number of used right-hand drive cars (in this country, 99% of cars were brought from “left-hand drive” Australia).


By the way, do you know that during the Victory Parade on May 9, cars drive on the left side of the road, and not on the usual right-hand side? Another feature of our country is

Which countries in the world drive on the left side of the road?

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bermuda
Butane
Botswana
Brunei
Cocos Islands
Cook Islands
Cyprus
Dominica
East Timor (right-hand traffic 1928-1976)
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Grenada
Guyana
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Macau
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Montserrat
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Zealand
Norfolk
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Swaziland
Tanzania
Thailand
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uganda
Great Britain
British Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands
Zambia
Zimbabwe

P.S. We can be grateful to Great Britain for the fact that we drive on the left. England is located on islands, and the sea route was once the only way for its inhabitants to communicate with residents of other countries. There was always a huge concentration of ships in the ports, and they often collided. To restore order, the maritime department issued a decree, the essence of which boiled down to the rule “keep to the left.”

That is, the ships had to let oncoming ships pass on the right. Gradually, this principle began to be followed in the overland movement of carts and carriages.
And with the advent of the automobile, the well-known conservatism of the British played a role - they did not change anything in relation to automobile traffic.
Subsequently, the rule extended to all countries under British influence, including India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Japan, Thailand, Great Britain, Kenya, Nepal, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Jamaica, Maldives, Bahamas, Cyprus.

Countries that changed the movement:
At various times, many countries adopted left-hand traffic, but due to the inconvenience associated with the fact that the neighbors of these countries had right-hand traffic, they switched to right-hand traffic. The most famous day in history was H-Day in Sweden, when the country switched from driving on the left to driving on the right.

The former British colonies in Africa Sierra Leone, Gambia, Nigeria and Ghana also changed from right-hand drive to left-hand drive due to their proximity to countries of former French colonies that drive on the right. Conversely, the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique changed from left-hand drive to right-hand drive due to its proximity to former British colonies. North Korea and South Korea switched from driving on the left to driving on the right in 1946, after the end of the Japanese occupation.

Currently, in Russia and many other countries, driving on the roads is on the right. There are also countries that drive on the left. In the modern world, these are Ireland, Great Britain, Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and a number of African countries. Let's try to figure out why this particular situation has arisen.
The traditions of driving on the left and on the right began long before the invention of the automobile.

According to one version, right-hand traffic arose in Europe during the Middle Ages, when not cars, but riders on horses rode along narrow roads between settlements. They were all armed. The riders held a shield in their left hand to protect themselves in case of a surprise attack, which is why they stayed on the right side. There is another version of the emergence of right-hand traffic: when horse-drawn carts passed each other, it was easier to direct the crew to the side of the road to the right, pulling the reins with the right hand, which is more developed in most people. Years have passed, the means of transportation have changed, but the tradition remains...

Driving on the left is believed to have originated in England. This island state was connected with the outside world only by sea routes, and shipping was actively developing. To streamline the movement of ships, the maritime department issued a decree according to which ships were required to keep to the left. Later, this rule extended to highways and also to all countries under British influence. Some still adhere to it. Another version connects the tradition of driving on the left with the fact that when horse-drawn carriages moved along the streets, the coachman held a whip in his right hand and, while driving the horses, could hit pedestrians. Therefore, the crews had to drive on the left side.

As for our country, in 1752, the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna issued a decree introducing right-hand traffic for carriages and cab drivers on the streets of Russian cities.

At various times, many countries adopted driving on the left, but they switched to new rules. For example, due to the proximity to countries that were former French colonies and drive on the right, the rules were changed by the former British colonies in Africa. North Korea and South Korea switched from driving on the left to driving on the right in 1946, after the end of the Japanese occupation.

One of the last countries to switch from driving on the left to driving on the right was Sweden. This happened in 1967. Preparations for the reform began back in 1963, when the Swedish parliament formed the State Commission for the Transition to Right-Hand Driving, which was supposed to develop and implement a set of measures to ensure such a transition. On September 3, 1967, at 4:50 a.m., all vehicles were required to stop, change sides of the road, and continue driving at 5:00 a.m. For the first time after the transition, a special speed limit mode was installed.

Tourists who come to a country where traffic is unusual for them are advised not to drive a car themselves for safety reasons, but to use the services of a driver.

History of left-hand traffic The preferences and choices for countries are determined by established habits, mentality of the population and historical characteristics. Even in ancient times, when there were carriages and horsemen, the road was divided into right and left sides. It was better for the carts to stay on the left side of the road, as well as for the horsemen. When swinging the whip with his right hand, there was no need to be afraid of hitting any of the passers-by walking along the road. In modern times, driving on the right is more acceptable for most countries. But there are also a number of countries that prefer driving on the left. These are Ireland, Great Britain, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Malta, Barbados, Brunei, India. If you look at percentages, up to 35% of all road routes on the planet give preference to left-hand traffic. More than 66% of the world's population drives on the right side. More than 72% of all roads are based on right-hand traffic. As you can see, most people on the Planet prefer left-hand drive. There are countries that, for their own reasons and greater comfort, have changed the left side to the right, these are Nigeria and Sweden. But Samoa changed direction in the opposite direction. Ukraine, as well as the CIS countries, also adhere to right-hand traffic. Why do some countries prefer the left side? Let's take the UK for example. It is known from history that in 1776 a law was passed according to which it was allowed to move across London Bridge only on the left side. This was the reason for the order of left-hand traffic, which still exists today. Great Britain was the first country in Western Europe to officially adopt driving on the left and influenced several other countries. History of the location of the steering wheel As a rule, in all cars, the driver’s seat is located on the side of the oncoming traffic. In countries with right-hand traffic, it is on the left. In places where left-hand traffic is used, the driver's seat is on the right. Right-hand drive and right-hand traffic existed in European countries until the end of World War II. For example, in Russia and the countries of the USSR until 1932, all cars were produced with right-hand drive. Why did everything change later? Everyone knows the name of the designer Henry Ford, after whom a popular car brand is named. It was the Ford car that was the first to be produced with left-hand drive. This model was in production from 1907 to 1927. Now it can be seen in the museum. Before this, all cars in America were produced with right-hand drive. The reason for the location of the steering wheel on the left side was very simple - Henry Ford designed this car with frequent passengers in mind. This was much more convenient, and he placed the gearbox not on the outside of the car, but on the steering column. So gradually, with the advent of American cars in Europe, the traffic system began to change, and many countries gave preference to left-hand drive, due to convenience and rationality. The situation in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia Most European countries prefer to drive on the right. Ireland and the UK drive on the left. This also applies to some countries - British colonies, for example Australia, India. In Africa, the former British colonies, Hanna, Gambia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone changed from right-hand drive to left-hand drive. But Mozambique gave preference to left-hand drive, due to its proximity to countries - British colonies. Korea (South and North) changed from right-hand drive to left-hand drive after the end of Japanese rule in 1946. In the USA they drive on the right. Previously, until the end of the 18th century in the United States of America, traffic was on the left, but then it changed to right-hand drive. In North America, some countries use left-hand drive - the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda. As for Asian countries, the list is significant: Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Cyprus, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, Brunei, Bhutan, East Timor. Australia inherited left-hand traffic from the time of the English colonies. Currently in Australia they drive on the left and drive on the right. The main differences between right- and left-hand traffic The difference between left- and right-hand traffic lies in the location of the steering wheel and the driving principle. Drivers who, for example, are used to driving in a country with left-hand traffic, will find it a little difficult to adapt to some of the nuances of right-hand traffic. If, for example, a traveler rents a car in a country with excellent traffic, then he needs to adapt a little and get used to this principle. In general, there is no significant difference. But there are nuances. An interesting fact is that not only the car movement system developed in this direction. Railroad traffic also has the same rules. Rail traffic throughout Europe is characterized by driving on the left, but cars in most European countries drive on the right. Actually, the difference between left and right movement is that the whole process occurs in reverse. (in one case - from left to right, and from right to left) This applies to driving, transitions, driving rules. Everything is exactly the same only in reverse order. Like a mirror image. Disadvantages and advantages of driving on the left The opinions of most people agree that driving on the right is more convenient for people, even for purely physiological reasons. After all, many people are right-handed. Why do some countries still prefer driving on the left? It is difficult to answer this question with precision. Perhaps this is how it happened historically, as in the UK, for example. Driving on the left has one important advantage: the right-hand obstruction rule. In England, where people prefer to drive on the left, roundabouts occur clockwise, completely different from ours. This means that all entrances to the roundabout allow access to all those who are already on the roundabout. Therefore, most intersections in the UK look like small squares where there is no need to install traffic lights. This saves time. It is very convenient and comfortable. The movement is clear and logical. Most maneuvers on the road do not occur through oncoming traffic. This is much safer and more convenient for the driver. Some motorists believe that the principle of driving on the left is much more logical and absolutely consistent with correct common sense. However, due to mentality and historical characteristics, this is not suitable for all people. Therefore, it is impossible to talk about any specific disadvantages and advantages. After all, everything is relative and can be used depending on personal preferences.

If we paint countries with left-hand and right-hand traffic on a world map with different colors, we will see that there are much more of the latter. Statistics speak about this: 66% of the population travels on the right side of the road, while the remaining 34% travel on the left.

It is interesting that in ancient times the situation was the opposite: left-hand traffic was mainly observed. It is known that throughout the Roman Empire, left-hand traffic was used, for which a lot of evidence has been found, ranging from ancient Roman images to studies of the ruts of ancient Roman roads. This can be explained by the fact that most people are right-handed, which means that, having caught up with a stranger on the road, in case of danger it was more convenient to grab a weapon with your right hand and immediately be ready for a skirmish. Probably, this rule, adopted for the movement of Roman troops, was soon taken up by other citizens of the empire. Imitating the Romans, driving on the left was used in most ancient states.

The modern division of the world into left-hand traffic (blue) and right-hand traffic

After the fall of the Roman Empire, some general norms that had previously regulated movement over a vast territory ceased to exist, so the physiological characteristics of a person came to the fore: for charioteers, most of whom were right-handed, it was more convenient to drive on the right side, so that on narrow roads When passing oncoming traffic, you can more confidently control horses with a strong hand, directing them to the side. Over the centuries, this habit has become established as a norm of social movement in many countries.

In 1776, the first traffic regulations were issued in Europe. The country that accepted it was Britain, which established on its territory... left-hand traffic. Historians are still arguing about what exactly caused this decision. Perhaps this was done in order to “separate” from the rest of the right-wing Europe, with the leading countries of which Britain was in confrontation. Or, perhaps, officials simply adopted the law from the army naval admiralty, which ordered oncoming ships of the English crown to diverge to starboard.

The introduction of left-hand traffic in a geographically small metropolis affected vast areas of the colonies of the British Empire, as well as allied countries. First of all, these are the territories of what is now India, Australia and Pakistan, where, by analogy with Britain, left-hand traffic is still used to this day.

On the other side was France with its allies, who began to use right-hand traffic. Legislatively in many European countries it was established during the time of Napoleon. As usual, the colonies of European states followed their center, which divided the world into two camps, the echoes of which we see to this day.

In Russia and neighboring countries, the rule of right-hand traffic developed spontaneously, and, interestingly, the country adopted the law on right-hand traffic earlier than European states - in 1756 during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

Illustration: depositphotos | lunamarina

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