1835.
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.
When did Brits start driving on the left?
1835
Left-hand driving was made mandatory in Britain in 1835. Countries which were part of the British Empire followed suit. This is why to this very day, India, Australasia and the former British colonies in Africa go left.
When did the US stop driving on the left?
Thus, most American cars produced before 1910 were made with right-side driver seating, although intended for right-side driving. Such vehicles remained in common use until 1915, and the 1908 Model T was the first of Fordâs cars to feature a left-side driving position.
Do all former British colonies drive on the left?
A good rule of thumb to remember is that Britain and most former British colonies â including India, Australia and South Africa â drive on the left, while continental Europe and the USA drive on the right. There are, however, a handful of exceptions to that rule that may surprise you.
Did England used to drive on the right?
Most of the British Empire adopted the British custom of driving on the left although Egypt, which had been conquered by Napoleon, kept using the right after it became a British dependency.
When did Canada stop driving on the left?
Nevertheless, with the rise of the automobile, many countries have switched to the right to fit in with their neighbors. Canada abandoned the left side of the road in the 1920s to facilitate traffic to and from the United States.
Did China drive on the left?
The Hong Kong-mainland China cross-border driving scheme allows the smooth movement of vehicles from one side to the other. However, mainland China drives on the right-hand side of the road while Hong Kong is a left-hand drive city.
Why did the UK start driving on the left?
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.
Who invented driving on the right?
England was the first nation to pass an official rule, in 1773, which made driving on the left the law. France, on the other hand, chose to drive on the right.
Why do American drivers sit on the left?
In the US, right-hand traffic goes back to the 18th century. Freight wagons were pulled by teams of horses. and the drivers rode on the left rear horse, using their right hand to more easily control the team. Traffic shifted to the right so drivers could easily avoid collisions.
Why do Americans drive on the right?
Riding on the right ensured that the whip never inadvertently hit a passing rider. In addition, following the American Revolution, the fledgling country wanted to throw off any remaining ties with England. By 1813 driving on the right was law in three states.
Did Iceland drive on the left?
H-dagurinn or HĂŚgri dagurinn (Icelandic: The right day) on 26 May 1968 was the day that Iceland changed from left hand traffic to right hand traffic. The change itself occurred formally at 6:00 am.
When did USA change to driving on the right?
The first keep-right law for driving in the United States was passed in 1792 and applied to the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. Massachusetts formalized RHT in 1821. However, the National Road was LHT until 1850, âlong after the rest of the country had settled on the keep-right conventionâ.
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.
When did France change to driving on the right?
The 1921 code was also the first time that the rule of driving on the right was officially enshrined in law in France.
Why do Japanese drive on left?
In essence, driving on the left has little to do with cars. Quite the contrary, itâs 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.
Did Spain drive on the left?
In the 1920s, the driverâs seat on the vast majority of cars was located on the side of oncoming traffic. Gradually the right-hand traffic was adopted in most countries: Belgium introduced it in 1899, Portugal in 1928, Spain in 1930, and Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Did Finland ever drive on the left?
Finland, under Swedish rule until 1809, also drove on the left, and continued to do so as a Russian Grand Duchy until 1858. This continued well into the 20th century, despite the fact that virtually all the cars on the road in Sweden were LHD.
Did Sweden ever drive on the left?
On Sunday, September 3, 1967, Sweden changed from driving on the left-hand side of the road to driving on the right. As you might imagine, this switch was anything but easy.
Did Japan ever drive on the left?
Although Japan was never part of the British Empire, its traffic also keeps to the left. This practice goes back all the way to the Edo period (1603-1867) when Samurai ruled the country (same sword and scabbard deal as before), but it wasnât until 1872 that this unwritten rule became official.
Did Denmark drive on the left?
Of these independent states, only Denmark converted to driving on the right (in 1793). This European division, between the left- and right-hand nations remained fixed for more than 100 years, until after the First World War.