Why Do We Drive on The Right Side of The Road?

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No one knows for sure why some countries drive on the right side of the road, while others drive on the left. But there are theories. And here are two of the most plausible theories.
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[@Vanguardkl]

Wow the Model T would beat most modern crossovers off road.. look at that ground clearance

[@arnecarlsson9740]

Relating to Sweden's change from left hand traffic to right handed. Norway had right hand traffic and at the border was a lane changing crossing! 😂😂😂 As a teenager I passed my driver licensee exam with left handed driving. Also most cars had the steering wheel on the left side, which caused many accidents while trying to pass a car in front. In order to see if the opposite lane was clear, you had to rely on a passenger to see if it was ok to pass and if you were alone you had to dip in to the oncoming lane to look!

[@RestorationWatch]

Which side of road is safer? "It has been noticed that countries that drive on the left side of the road have considerably fewer traffic accidents and fatalities than those that drive on the right side of the road." This study was conducted in 1969. This obviously can be attributed to having your dominant hand on the steering wheel while using your left to change gears. In an age of automatics and paddle shifters it would be interesting to see if this still applies? Interestingly, a research paper appearing in academic publisher Elsevier in 2020 titled “(Side) effects of the rule of the road and neurophysiology on traffic safety: A hypothesis”, conjectured that the safety of driving on the left-hand side or right-hand side of the road can be associated with neurophysiology. The paper predicted that driving on the left-hand side of the road (with the driver sitting on the right-hand side of the vehicle) was safer.

[@w-cchen2925]

Japanese samurais had the sword on the left side of the body. When face passing each other, they needed to walk on the left hand side to avoid hitting the other’s sword. It’s their left hand side traffic tradition from the feudal time.

[@chucktaylor9190]

Facts: For centuries You had to sit on the right side of the horse drawn covered wagon so you could whip the horses with your right hand. Impossible to do with your left hand without hitting the roof of the wagon with your whip.

[@markrowland1366]

There's a reason we have foot peddles as they are now. Ford had a hand accelerator on the steering column. The foot peddles were for the brakes and two for changing gear. Calelac with our current setup and at least in England, the cheapest cat copied that for class.

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

Makes me wonder in the UK or Japan for example, do people tend to walk on the left side of a walkway? I notice in North America people tend to walk in public spaces on the right side (ex: through malls, down grocery store aisles, on walking paths, etc). Our foot traffic usually matches the side we drive on.

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

@Retired Bore I don't mean walking along side of the road, but if you go to a shopping centre or walk through a market for instance, do you walk on the left or right? In North America generally people keep to the right, which is the same side we drive on.

[@rp9674]

Great question I thought it was odd that Brits politely stayed a one side of an escalator (or whatever weird name they have for it) so people in a hurry could pass, don't remember which side tho

[@cadifan]

New Zealand considered switching from driving on the left to the right but deemed the switch too expensive.

[@victorcenac1247]

Napoleon had something to do with imposing Right hand driving. You should make a video answering the question: Which side of the road SHOULD we be driving, given that we are mostly right handed.

[@charles_benoit]

Yes can't believe Napoleon didn't get a nod in this video

[@Pro1er]

The question isn't why do we drive on the right side of the road, the question is why do some countries drive on the wrong side of the road? 😁

[@peromalmstrom7668]

Being British, I was taught at School, the explanation for UK being on the left was as given in this video, regarding carrying and drawing swords in defence while riding horses, as well as coming to eminence in medieval jousting tournaments. The same History lesson, pointed to the New World being on the right, as a rejection of British or Colonial heritage, that as America gained economic power in the 1900's with the Model T, it ingrained itself to the right tradition, as did the export market that pushed many other countries to adopt the right. Yet strange the Americans still use old Heritage or Colonial British units of measure and weight, as that was far more complicated to change! The early 1900's saw American Military turn the rank chevrons the opposite way to the British, again a break from its past. History is littered with examples and even today, can be seen with Apple products charging ports differences compared to the rest of the world, though the EU is regulating this forcing Apple to adopt a universal charging port within the EU market. BEV's charging, but just another example. It's a shame we can't all agree world wide on a universal way to do something, but where is the money to be made in that (!!!) along with political gain of stoking the flames of Nationalism and my Country first views!

[@Paul-cj1wb]

Being American, let me ask you: when are you guys going to move out of the middles ages and join the rest of the modern world? How many accidents do you guys have when driving in continental Europe? Come on, if Sweden can do it, so can you. :)

[@LlyleHunter]

British people walk down the left side of a hallway and to their left when passing each other when passing each other on the street. In the US and in many other countries we walk down a hallway we walk to the right and walk to the right when passing each other on a sidewalk.

[@rp9674]

No wonder they think Americans are rude, either that or everything else. Brits don't say excuse me, they bump into you and say sorry, much more practical.

[@briannewman6216]

The lack of standardisation regarding the side of the road that people drive on is crazy. Both aircraft and ships pass each other on the right side. This greatly simplifies things. This approach should be extended to cars.

[@philoso377]

1) most of us are right handed. 2) we operate weapon by right hand. 3) we swing sward or gun over right shoulder. 4) we continue so riding or driving a car. 5) if unsure who’s in front, we arm with our right hand. 6) to steer w/left hand and shoot w/right 7) the legend country also tarted the industrial rev. export cars to all parts of British common wealth regions, with right side steering wheel.

[@rp9674]

All the coffee cup without right hand, tea with the left

[@JDelta87]

This is something that I’ve wondered about since I was a kid and even more so when I started driving. Thanks for the explanation.

[@mrjim1973]

Great Show! Cheers Mate!

[@jsponson]

Fast forward to present day, I'd say it worked out for most of the world. Most drivers can operate the climate/infotainment with their dominant hand. It doesn't work out for the passenger but when you're not driving, it's not as critical to use your non-dominant hand.

[@viktorirle]

Thank you, John!

[@FamilyFirstJ]

Wow... cool...I love tidbits of history like this

[@ericeverson5956]

Love this video. Remember John, History is always HIS STORY:)

[@joepopplewell680]

It makes more sense to have people be on the left side of the road and the right side of the car, since most people are right handed and right eye dominant it seems logical to want the hand to be on the wheel at all times and to have the dominant eye be slightly closer to the centre of the road.

[@Taquitos-burritos]

I love having my right hand free for extra curricular activities while driving

[@rp9674]

That explains why Brits wear dark colors and are a little skinnier

[@enoughofthis]

What kind if extra activities?

[@lilredcummins]

I have been asking this question all of my life and I am glad that John has finally given me some clarity on why we are on the right and England is on the left. Seems silly that there is such a division amongst countries. Everybody, please change to driving on the right which is why it is called the "right side".

[@zdme4864]

Correct! It’s right!

[@joepopplewell680]

Or go the the right side of the car, where you can have your right hand (most people are right handed) on the steering wheel and leave the left for the gears/infotainment and dominant right eye (most people have a dominant right eye too) closer to the middle of the road, so you can see around corners slightly better.

[@dmitchellhomes]

Interesting History...

[@ah244895]

If I could go back in time, I would open up my chain of Swedish fender repair shops in 1967.

[@marsspacex6065]

It’s easy for us to drive on the left in New Zealand because we have no land borders so it’s no problem

[@rp9674]

Might as well, it's probably too late to fix it

[@camgere]

Standards are wonderful! That's why there are so many of them.

[@rp9674]

People are smart, that's why things are logical

[@A.Deveneaux]

I was in Jamaica 2 weeks ago and driving on the left side was weird since I’m right handed. Granted it was automatic, it will take getting used to for a manual vehicle. When I came back from Jamaica, I now appreciate driving on the right side and find myself touching the gear stick more even though it’s automatic.

[@Bikerbug2020]

John the reason for driving on the Right side is obvious… the Motorcycle Wave. 👋🏼

[@cesartrujillo4190]

BRB. Need to look up turn pike. I’ve heard it before, always confused

[@dansanger5340]

Canada was mixed, and didn't complete the transition to driving on the right until the 1920s. If you look at old pictures of Vancouver, cars are driving on the left. Newfoundland, which wasn't yet part of Canada, didn't switch until 1947.

[@rp9674]

Smart country made the right, correct decision

[@davidjacobs8558]

It has more to do with Knights Jousting direction than them meeting on roads.

[@shaun2072]

Shame the world didn't agree on the one side, would have made it much easier for manufacturers, and much safer for tourists.

[@foreverinteriors]

Dig it the most

[@JohnPMiller]

A very timely video. The U.K. is planning to switch to driving on the right. Next year, trucks will switch to driving on the right. The following year, automobiles will make the switch. Finally, the year after, motorcycles and scooters will make the switch. At least, that’s what my French friends told me!😉

[@cadifan]

Ha ha, yeah, do it stages, that'll work!

[@autophyte]

That's the way the Irish would do it.

[@2cartalkers]

Sweden's switch; so why did the government choose 4:40 AM, why not 4:30 or 4:45 AM or any other early time?

[@deonjansenvanrensburg8778]

Its crazy to drive on the right hand side.

[@rp9674]

...of the vehicle, yes, illogical !

[@rp9674]

Coffee/caffeine addiction promotes clear thinking, tea is a sleepy time drink. To alert minds it's obvious in American English, right means correct. USA founding fathers realized (with a Z not an S) this, dumped the tea in the harbor switched the roads to correct side driving/riding.

[@peteregan3862]

Henry Ford put the controls on the left. it appears before that, they were all on the right, and the UK empire stuck with that. the division between LHD and RHD will take on far greater relevance this decade with most EV development done with RHD vehicles. That China is aggressive towards its Asian neighbours, particularly India, Japan, Australia, QUAD countries, will cause division in the auto industry. The division between China and Western countries over 5G

[@laurentfoisy4573]

You didn't mention The U.S. Post Office, I'm not Positive, [They Might Of Changed, But I don't think so], They Drove their (LEFT-HANDED) Jeeps, (That What They Used To Drive-Jeeps), [I'm not Positive] when they changed to SUV's, If They Still Have There Cars Set Up like the ({UK}LEFT HANDED), Steering Wheel on the Left Side of The Car. I think they Do, Because when they Drove Up the Street the (Mail-Boxes) where on the Side of the rode, So all they had to do was open their window and Drop The Mail into the (Mail-Box) and Drive to the Next (House-or-Mail-Box). My Father Used to be An Mail-Delivery Person, a (Mail-Man) or a Mail-Person, {What Ever Year Your Talking About}. He Retired, Now, Playing Golf, (Ha,Ha) ! ! !

[@zdme4864]

Now I know

[@just4therecord]

I always thought the Americans wanted to do everything different from the British that’s why they are driving on the opposite side. Even their light switches are upside down 😅. The weird thing is both countries uses “miles” instead of km which confused the heck out of me.

[@steffenfrkjr1424]

A good reason to drive on the right.. is easy to find, just jump on some one carring a tray. and yeal BOO... the brain will send all on the tray to the right.. This action in a car, will send the car in to the ditch.. Not in to the more danger option of oncomming trafic.

[@rp9674]

Science

[@ColinPopoviciu]

Imagine having to control your navigation, music and dash functions with your left hand all thanks to some peasant from the past century 😂

[@jamielombardo5292]

I heard that British people drive left because of naval history.

[@alexmckenna1171]

It seems the Romans drove on the left, and we just copied them in Britain, as did Europe, before Napoleon anyway.

[@vitovitale9867]

Coming up on Autoline. Why do we say automobile and they motorcar? Gasoline and they petrol? Also we say R+L fender, hood, trunk, tire, while they nearside+offside wing, bonnet, boot, tyre, Why will Americans happily give you the middle finger while the British prefer 2 fingers as in up yours? Ask John not Sean (too young) for the answers!

[@marcycami]

I always enjoy ur vids. Thx. I also would like to add to this info with this link kzbin.info/www/bejne/h57QqKmmrLSXpq8 , that set the origin of the left hand since at least the Roman empire, and the right hand since the French revolution Unfortunately is of Spaniard origin but u can still set the utube translator up, thanks again 😀

[@deancade9682]

Boats are driven on the left side of the waterways. Why do Americans worry over who is behind them when driving?

[@bob808]

Japan is interesting though, as they can have LHD cars there too. In fact, it's been said that LHD is preferred for luxury/high end cars, as it's more exclusive (compared to 'regular' RHD cars in Japan). Sadly, Australia doesn't allow new/current LHD cars on the road, at least not in my state. Further to that, RHD countries don't buy as many cars as LHD countries, so we miss out on A LOT of American vehicles, and limited/high end European vehicles.

[@shavaughndavidson2257]

Know body knows why they drive on the left its just correct

[@rp9674]

Coffee/tea, that's why

[@PrincessTS01]

im left-handed to hell with them

[@LeesChannel]

Because you don't want to drive on the wrong side.

[@heinuchung8680]

I have always wondered this, I am from a left sided country.

[@venti4268]

Another why story...why 12V battery...?

[@rp9674]

Twice as good as a 6 volt, smaller cables.

[@grindupBaker]

Because we'd hit the cars going the other way if we didn't. I found this out experimentally so's the rest of you don't have to.

[@Vanguardkl]

Most countries drive on the left side of the road. The USA are one of the weird ones, also using weird units like pounds and feet and miles and inches and quarts and ounces.

[@ladnitnnyldivad]

All in all, 163 countries and territories have right-hand drive traffic while vehicles use the left-side in 76 countries. The bulk of countries that drive on the left are former British colonies.

[@RobTeeJr]

Wrong with regard to driving. The majority of the countries in the world drive on the right side. The majority of the left side of the road countries are former British colonies.

[@rp9674]

Brits use stone and pounds, or pounds and ounces for babies, pounds is currency too, USA is the weird one?

[@mikel4879]

R P / 😂✌️