Why brits drive on the left

These huge wagons were best suited to the wide open spaces and large distances of Canada and the US, and the first keep-to-the-right law was passed in Pennsylvania in , with many Canadian and US states following suit later. As most people are right-handed, the driver would sit to the right of the seat so his whip hand was free.

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 and was adopted throughout the British Empire. There was a movement in the 20th century towards the harmonisation of road laws in Europe and a gradual shift began from driving on the left to the right. The last Europeans to change from left to right were the Swedes who bravely made the change overnight on Dagen H H Day , September 3rd Most of these countries are islands but where land borders require a change from left to right, this is usually accomplished using traffic lights, cross-over bridges, one-way systems or similar.

In fact an interesting further question would be what proportion of the world's population live in countries where driving is on the left. Tim Waterfield, Cambridge UK Because we have to drive on one side of the road, anyway, there are far more important things to be pondered over John Ness, Glasgow Scotland In olden days strangers passed each other on the left so their sword hand usually the right was nearest the potential enemy.

Passing on the right would leave your left hand side unprotected. This became the normal etiquette when using roads or paths. The question is why are all other countries seemingly more trusting? In the days when people wore swords they wore them on the left hand side of the body, the easier to draw them in case of emergency, the majority of people being right-handed. Hence they travelled on the left and only the hedgerows suffered. This may of course be a complete myth.

Tim Green, Bradford Yorkshire, UK In an extension to the above answer, the Romans drove on the left so that, when approaching an unknown rider on the road, a horseman would have his sword arm nearest the stranger. Of course, this worked both ways! Simon Blake, Shrewsbury England Because they can.

David Vickery, Croydon UK Because the Romans marched on the left side of the road, it being to draw a sword tethered to your left side, safely, to attack an oncoming army. Walk on the right side of the road and your body would be vulnerable while you drew the sword Jonathan Gardner, Fulham UK In days of old, when gallant knights fought dragons and saved maidens, they also used to fight each other, usually on horseback.

In order that they could use a sword effectively against their opponent, they would have to pass right to right all good knights were of course right handed!

The custom therefore originated as an essential part of self defence and simply carried over into our present convention for traffic flow. This was so their right hand was free for battle.

It was the left-handed Napolean who changed the way France rode, and the rest they say is history. Matt Barton, Napoleon changed to be different from the British. The rest of Europe changed because Napoleon conquered them and told them to do so. Brian Robinson, Brentwood Essex The real reason for the British driving on the left is that the French drive on the right!

It is interesting to note that in Indonesia, an ex Dutch colony, they still drive on the left. Baker, S. Ockendon U. K Napoleon started using the right hand side of the road to make it look like his armies were marching in the wrong direction.

Gareth Williams, Hilversum Netherlands Seth from Edinburgh asks why does everyone else drive on the right. They don't of course. Europeans and Americans are the odd ones. Jeremy Reynolds, London I always thought Napoleon changed to the right-hand side, not only to do the opposite of the enemy the British , but because he was left-handed himself.

For a comprehensive analysis of who drives which side and why, see www. Martin Fone, author of 'Fifty Curious Questions' , investigates. Here in Britain we like to think we are a cut above the rest, and we revel in those differences that mark out the way we do things from those of our continental brethren. Take driving. Why do we in Britain drive on the left when so many other countries favour the right?

If you were a knight and were on horseback and right-handed you would want to ensure that your sword hand was unencumbered to enable you to defend yourself against attackers.

Dismounting was also easier on the left, particularly if you had a sword in the way. This meant that horse riders naturally preferred to ride on the left hand side of the pathway, a practice that had been enshrined in legislation by by Pope Boniface VIII. Things became a bit more complicated around the eighteenth century when wagons drawn by teams of horses were used to convey heavy loads. Because he was sitting on the left, the driver was happier if everyone passed him on the left.

In other words, they adopted a preference for driving on the right-hand side.