Is the traffic in Singapore right-hand or left-hand? Left-hand traffic

I’m sitting in Cyprus now and thinking that I don’t know history well if I can’t remember how Cyprus ended up driving on the left. In general, this division in the world into right-hand and left-hand is very strange. Why not come to a general agreement despite some historical prerequisites. It's both simpler and safer. YES, and in any case, is it more convenient in one version or is it absolutely the same, does it all depend on habit? I didn’t dare rent a car here - I was afraid that I would get confused along the way!

By the way, let me find out, and you will remember how the division into two types of traffic arose in the first place and how left-hand traffic turned out to be in Cyprus.

It is not known for certain which side they traveled on in ancient Greece, Assyria, etc. (as stated above, the rules for traveling soldiers are not a decisive argument). There is only evidence that the Romans drove on the left. Around 1998, a Roman quarry was found in the Swindon area (Great Britain), in which the left (from the quarry) track was much more broken. Also on one of the issues of the Roman denarius, dated 50 BC. e. - 50 AD e., two horsemen are depicted riding along the left side.

Cyprus

After they stopped driving on the roads with weapons and suspecting everyone was an enemy, right-hand traffic spontaneously began to take shape on the roads, which was mainly due to human physiology, a significant difference in the strength and dexterity of different hands in the techniques of driving heavy horse-drawn carriages drawn by several horses. The peculiarity of man affected that most people are right-handed. When traveling on a narrow road, it was easier to direct the carriage to the right to the side of the road or the edge of the road, pulling the reins with the right, that is, stronger hand, holding the horses. It is probably for this simple reason that the tradition and then the norm of passing on the roads arose first. This norm eventually became established as the norm for driving on the right.

In Russia, back in the Middle Ages, the rule of right-hand traffic developed spontaneously and was observed as natural human behavior. The Danish envoy to Peter I, Just Yul, wrote in 1709 that “in Russia everywhere it is customary for carts and sleighs, when meeting each other, to pass each other, keeping to the right side.” 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.

In the West, the first law regulating left- or right-hand traffic was the English Bill of 1756, according to which traffic on London Bridge had to be on the left side. Violation of this rule was subject to an impressive fine - a pound of silver. And 20 years later, the historical “Road Act” was published in England, which introduced left-hand traffic on all roads in the country. The same left-hand traffic was adopted on the railway. In 1830, traffic on the first Manchester-Liverpool railway line was on the left.

There is another theory about the appearance of initially left-hand traffic. Some historians suggest that it was more convenient to ride on the left side in the days when horse-drawn teams appeared, where the coachmen sat on top. So, when they were driving the horses, the whip of the right-handed coachman could accidentally hit passers-by who were walking along the sidewalk. That is why horse-drawn carriages often drove on the left.

Great Britain is considered the main “culprit” of “leftism,” which then influenced some countries of the world (its colonies and dependent territories). There is a version that she introduced such order on her roads from maritime rules, that is, at sea, an oncoming ship allowed another one to pass, which was approaching from the right. But this version is erroneous, since to miss a ship approaching from the right means passing on the left sides, that is, according to the rules of right-hand traffic. It is right-hand traffic that is adopted for the divergence of ships following oncoming courses in the line of sight at sea, which is recorded in international rules.

The influence of Great Britain affected the order of traffic in its colonies, therefore, in particular, in countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, left-hand traffic was adopted. In 1859, Queen Victoria's ambassador, Sir R. Alcock, persuaded the Tokyo authorities to also adopt left-hand traffic.

Driving on the right is often associated with France, with its influence on many other countries. During the French Revolution of 1789, a decree issued in Paris ordered that people move along the “common” right side. A little later, Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated this position by ordering the military to keep to the right, so that anyone who met the French army would give way to it. Further, this order of movement, oddly enough, was associated with big politics at the beginning of the 19th century. Those who supported Napoleon - Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain - drove on the right in those countries. On the other hand, those who opposed Napoleonic army: Britain, Austria-Hungary, Portugal - turned out to be “leftists”. The influence of France was so great that it influenced many countries in Europe, and they switched to driving on the right. However, in England, Portugal, Sweden and some other countries, traffic remains on the left. In Austria, a curious situation has developed. In some provinces, traffic was on the left, while in others it was on the right. It was only after the Anschluss in the 1930s by Germany that the entire country switched to right-hand drive.

At first, there was left-hand traffic in the USA. But by the end of the 18th century there was a gradual transition to right-hand traffic. It is believed that the Americans were “convinced” to switch to driving on the right by the French general Marie-Joseph Lafayette, who made a significant contribution to the fight for independence from the British crown. At the same time, in a number of Canadian provinces, left-hand traffic remained until the 1920s.

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. In Czechoslovakia (formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), left-hand traffic was maintained until 1938.

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.

After the advent of automobiles in Europe, different countries had different driving regulations. Most countries drove on the right side - this custom has been adopted since the time of Napoleon. However, in England, Sweden and even part of Austria-Hungary, driving on the left reigned. And in Italy, different cities had different rules.

It turns out that there are cats in Cyprus too:

And now a few words about the English history of Cyprus.

In 1878, the Cyprus Convention of 1878 was concluded between the British Empire and Turkey, a secret Anglo-Turkish treaty on a “defensive alliance” directed against Russia. The treaty was signed on June 4, 1878 in Istanbul before the opening of the 1878 Berlin Congress. Great Britain pledged to help the Ottoman Empire “by force of arms” if Russia, having retained Batum, Ardahan and Kars, tried to acquire new territories in Asia Minor. In exchange, Türkiye agreed to the British occupation of the island of Cyprus. The convention was annulled by the British on November 5, 1914 due to Turkey's entry into World War I on the side of Germany and the annexation of Cyprus by Great Britain.

The island was finally annexed in 1914 during the First World War. Real power in Cyprus passed into the hands of the British governor, and a self-government body was formed - the Legislative Council.

In 1925, Great Britain officially declared Cyprus its crown colony. Already in 1931, riots broke out among the Greek population demanding enosis (unification with Greece), resulting in the death of 6 people and the arson of the British administration building in Nicosia. During the suppression of the unrest, 2 thousand people were arrested.

The colonial authorities, resorting to divide and conquer tactics, maneuver between the two main communities of the island; To suppress the October Uprising of 1931, which engulfed the Greek Cypriots, “reserve police” recruited from Turkish Cypriots were used.

During World War II, Greek Cypriots took part in the British war effort, fighting alongside the British. This raised widespread expectations that Britain would recognize the island's independence at the end of the war, but these hopes were dashed.

After World War II, there was a growing movement among the Greek population to unite the historical Greek territories, including Cyprus, with Greece (enosis, Greek for “reunification”). In January 1950, a referendum was held in which the Greek majority voted for enosis. Britain refused to recognize the results of the referendum.

The position of the Communist Party of Cyprus (AKEL) is strengthening. However, the communists are accused by many Greek Cypriots of abandoning enosis.

During British rule, a railway was built in Cyprus (en: Cyprus Government Railway), which operated from 1905 to 1951 and had 39 stations. On December 31, 1951, the railway was closed for financial reasons.

In 1955, the first armed conflict between the Greeks and the British led to the founding of EOKA (Greek Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston, a union of fighters for the liberation of the nation). During the first series of attacks on British soldiers and officials, up to 100 Britons were killed, as well as a number of Greek Cypriots suspected of collaboration. The EOKA attacks did not affect the Turkish Cypriot reserve police, but caused increasing tensions between the two communities.

In September 1955, Greek pogroms took place in Turkey, and the paramilitary group Volkan was formed, leading the fight against EOKA. In 1956, Britain increased the number of its troops in Cyprus to 30 thousand and carried out massive repressions.

In 1957, with direct help from Turkey, Turkish Cypriots formed the TMT military organization. Britain supports the emergence of TMT as a counterweight to the Greek EOKA.

By 1959, the EOKA movement managed to get rid of the British, but the main goal - joining Greece - was not achieved.

British heritage in Cyprus includes driving on the left and two remaining military bases that are under British sovereignty.

The island's electrical networks are built according to British standards. They have British style sockets (see BS 1363) and the voltage is 250 volts. I had to buy this adapter:

Even before the invention of the automobile, man noticed that following the general agreement to drive on one side of the road helps reduce vehicle collisions and traffic jams. After driving became common, most governments adopted an agreement that drivers drive on the right side of the road. However, some states, due to various characteristics, preferred driving on the left. More details about how many countries have made this decision and why can be found in our review material.

What influences the choice of destination in different countries

Today, a third of the world's population drives on the left, and almost as many of the world's highways are left-hand drive. Thus, driving on the right is used much more often. This is explained by historical traditions and the fact that most people on the planet are right-handed. Thus, when traveling in a horse-drawn carriage, the rider could quickly maneuver to the right (to, for example, avoid a collision with another carriage or a traveler on a narrow road) than to the left, since it is the right hand that is stronger and better developed.
Later, when horseless carriages operated by levers appeared, drivers also had to make considerable efforts to control them. It was better to control with my right hand. Most likely, it was this physiological feature that served as the reason for the fact that right-hand driving became traditional, and later standardized.

Important! Despite the assurances of right-hand drive supporters that driving on the left is safer, experts argue that the direction of movement in no way affects the number of accidents. Safety on highways can only be ensured by proper transport and strict adherence to traffic rules.

However, there are other versions that claim that moving along the left edge of the road appeared earlier (in particular, this is how people moved in the Roman Empire). And the first documented law that ordered citizens of the country to stick to the left was the bill passed in England in 1756. It talked about the norm of moving this way across London Bridge. The law also established a fine for violation - a pound of silver.
A quarter of a century later in Britain, it was legally required to drive on the left side of all roads in the country. Later, since Great Britain became a colonial power, all its colonies also had to obey this law and switch to driving on the left. Thus, the tradition of such riding came to India, Pakistan and Australia, where the influence of England was very high.

If we talk about the factors that influenced the choice of direction of movement in Europe and the USA, then historians argue that France and its authority among the world community during the Napoleonic era played a huge role here. Thus, countries that supported the policy of the French emperor (in particular, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain) followed the French and legalized right-hand driving.

Those who did not share it and were in opposition to the head of France preferred to move to the left. We are talking about countries such as the UK already mentioned above, as well as Austria-Hungary and Portugal.
Historical traditions to influence the choice of direction of movement did not stop at the above countries. Next in line was Japan - the land of the rising sun. According to historians, samurai fastened their sword on their left side. And so as not to touch each other when racing on horses, they separated, turning to the right. The national rule of driving on the left was formed in the 18th century. And the Japanese finally approved it at the legislative level in 1927.

An interesting fact is that America was at first a supporter of “leftism,” but under the influence of the French general Marie-Joseph Lafayette in the 18th century, it preferred right-hand driving.

There are also a number of countries that, over time and probably under the influence of neighboring powers in the 20th century, replaced driving on the left with driving on the right. These include, in particular, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Korea, Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone.
The reverse transition - from left-hand drive to right-hand drive - was made by only 2 countries: Samoa and Mozambique. The first is because a significant number of used cars intended for right-hand driving were brought into the state. The second is under the influence of neighboring powers.

Did you know? The Swedes have been preparing to switch to driving on the right for 4 years. On September 3, 1967, at 4:50 a.m., traffic stopped, and from 5 a.m. all drivers moved to the other side of the highway. In Swedish history, this date is called “N-Day”: from Swedish.« högertrafik» - « right-hand traffic» .

How the direction influenced vehicle design

At the dawn of the automobile industry, there was no clear placement of the steering wheel on the left or right - cars were produced with different placements. However, over time, the tradition of placing the steering wheel on the left became entrenched - it was more convenient to disembark taxi passengers when driving on the right and more comfortable to see when overtaking. In addition to the actual placement of the steering wheel and driver's seat, there are other structural differences in cars that are influenced by this fact. Thus, the design of the wipers responsible for cleaning the windshield is different. In left-hand drive cars, at rest they are folded to the right, in right-hand drive cars - to the left. The wiper switch on left-hand drive vehicles is located on the right side of the steering column.

As for the turn switches, today they are located the same in all cars (although until recently there were models where they were on the left).

It should be noted that manufacturers of modern cars for the mass consumer do not follow the lead of drivers who are accustomed to driving on the left, and to save car costs they produce models with only one difference - the location of the driver's seat.
The remaining parameters for left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars are usually the same (with the exception of certain brands).

Did you know? The sports car manufacturer McLaren in 1992-1998 produced a model called the McLaren F1, in which the steering wheel and driver's seat were located in the center of the cabin. From 1993 to 2005 it was the fastest car in the world.

List of countries with left-hand traffic, current for 2018

Below is a current list of countries where only left-hand traffic is legal.
Countries marked in green on the map - with right-hand traffic, yellow - with left-hand traffic

Europe

Among European states there are only 4 ardent representatives left with legalized left-hand driving:

• United Kingdom;
• Malta;
• Ireland;
• Cyprus.

Asia

There are quite a few countries in Asia where people drive on the left side of roads. These include:

• Bangladesh;
• Brunei;
• India;
• Indonesia
• Japan;
• Malaysia;
• Maldives;
• Nepal;
• Pakistan;
• Singapore;
• Thailand;
• Sri Lanka;
• East Timor.

Africa

On the African continent, as well as in Asia, there are 13 powers and island states that adhere to the “leftism” when traveling by car.
Among them are:

• Botswana;
• Kenya;
• Lesotho;
• Mauritius;
• Mozambique;
• Namibia;
• Seychelles;
• Republic of South Africa;
• Swaziland;
• Tanzania;
• Uganda;
• Zambia;
• Zimbabwe.

South America

On the South American continent, the vast majority of countries have rules requiring people to stay on the right side when driving cars.
And only 2 countries prefer to drive on the left side of the road:

• Suriname.

Important! If a person going on a trip plans to travel to other countries in his own car or rent a car, then he needs to first become familiar with the direction of travel in the areas he is going to visit.

Oceania

Among the states and islands of Oceania, the left side is followed when driving on highways:

• Australia;
• Fiji;
• Republic of Kiribati;
• Republic of Nauru;
• New Zealand;
• Papua New Guinea;
• Samoa;
• Solomon Islands;
• Kingdom of Tonga;
• Tuvalu.

In addition, people drive on the left edge of the road in the Bahamas, the Lesser Antilles: Antigua, Dominica, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent, as well as in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia and Jamaica.
Thus, various historical reasons influenced which half of the road people travel along in a particular country in the world. Residents of 53 countries stick to the left side of traffic on roads. Driving on the right is considered traditional. Accordingly, much more left-hand drive cars are produced. If a person plans to travel to another state by car, then he definitely needs to familiarize himself with the traffic rules in force on his territory. Switching to the “opposite” steering wheel is not easy - you also need to change the road signs.

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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 the road 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 drive on the right. 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-hand side, and not on the usual right-hand side? Another feature of our country is

The existence of right- and left-hand traffic for decades has been adding work to automakers and headaches for drivers who are forced to drive on the “wrong” side while on vacation or on a business trip. And it turns out that horses are to blame for this duality that still exists.

As you might guess, right-hand traffic is no worse or better than left-hand traffic - as long as both cars and road infrastructure are fully adapted to it. Beginner English or Australian drivers get used to the road no slower or faster than German and Russian "dummies". Maybe that’s why all the countries of the world can’t come to a single option for so long - and for example, the small state of Samoa in Oceania switched from a right-hand option to a left-hand one just over five years ago. The fact is that a hundred years ago Samoa was a German colony and when roads were laid, right-hand traffic, which was familiar to the Germans, was introduced - however, it is more convenient to transport cars to the islands from Australia and New Zealand, where the vast majority of them are “right-handed”. Therefore, in the fall of 2009, the local prime minister gave the country the command to drive on the other side of the road.
But if two movement patterns are equally good (or equally bad) - how then was the choice made? Did our ancestors at some point simply flip a coin up? Not at all.
At the end of the last century, archaeologists carried out excavations on the territory of a quarry from ancient Roman times and discovered, among other things, the road to it. Based on the fact that on one side the track was noticeably deeper than on the other (the reason for which was the difference in weight between an empty and loaded cart), experts concluded that left-hand traffic was accepted on the territory of this ancient “enterprise”. A number of other finds confirm this conclusion: in ancient times, people clearly preferred to move on the left side.

The jockeys driving the most luxurious carriage at the disposal of the British royal family do not have to squeeze anywhere: no other vehicle will simply be allowed on the streets along which the carriage must pass.

The fact is that for a motorist there is no fundamental difference which way to pass. But thousands of years ago, the most popular means of transportation on land was the horse, but for the rider or the coachman driving the cart, there is already a difference. Most people are right-handed, and prefer to mount the horse on the left side, and hold a weapon or, for example, a whip in the right hand. It was because of this that the riders, for example, preferred to disperse with their right sides - in order to be in a more convenient position in case of an attack. And it was more convenient for the coachmen to drive on the left, so that the whip had less chance of catching on bushes or a hedge at the edge of the road - or catching someone walking along the side of the road.
Thus, driving on the left looks more familiar and natural - but who then came up with the idea of ​​​​taking the other side of the road? A number of historians believe that multi-horse teams, where the driver sat not on a carriage or cart, but directly on one of the horses, are to blame for everything. The coachman was most comfortable on the left rear horse - however, in this case, he did not “feel the dimensions” of the carriage particularly well when passing oncoming carts. Therefore, both the luxurious carriages of the nobility (the “six hundredth Mercedes” of their time) and the heavy cargo carts (which were more expensive to collide with) began to stick to the right side. Over time, those who drove less cumbersome and prestigious carriages also acquired the habit of driving on the right. As a result, in the 18th century, the right-hand traffic pattern was officially established in many European countries: for example, in France this was done in 1794, and in Russia even earlier, in 1752, by decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

If there were no England, there would be no right-hand drive. The legitimacy of this statement has been debated in automotive circles for decades.

Let's try to figure out why the left-hand traffic pattern took root in Great Britain and how this affected other countries of the world.

The rule of driving on the left side of the road was legislated by the English authorities in 1756. For violation of the bill there was an impressive fine - a pound of silver.
There are two main versions that explain why in the middle of the 18th century England chose to drive on the left.

Roman version

In Ancient Rome, people drove on the left. This approach was explained by the fact that the legionnaires held weapons in their right hands. And therefore, in the event of an unexpected meeting with the enemy, it was more profitable for them to be on the left side of the road. The enemy thus fell directly into the chopping hand. After the Romans conquered the British Isles in 45 AD, "leftism" may have spread to England. This version is supported by the results of archaeological expeditions. In 1998, a Roman quarry was excavated in Wiltshire in southwest England, near which the left track was broken more than the right.

Marine version

Previously, the British could only get to Europe by water. Therefore, maritime traditions have become firmly entrenched in the culture of this people. In the old days, English ships had to pass on the left side of an oncoming ship. Subsequently, this custom could spread to roads.

Modern international shipping rules stipulate right-hand traffic.

How did English “leftism” spread throughout the world?

Most left-hand drive countries have chosen this particular traffic pattern due to the following circumstances:

Colonial factor

Even in the middle of the last century, Great Britain was an empire on which the sun never set. Most of the former colonies scattered around the world decided to continue driving on the left after gaining independence.

Political factor

During the Great French Revolution, a decree was issued which ordered all residents of the republic to move on the “common” right side of the road. When Napoleon Bonaparte came to power, the movement pattern turned into a political argument. In those states that supported Napoleon - Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain - right-hand traffic was established. On the other hand, those who opposed France: Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, Portugal turned out to be “leftists”. Subsequently, left-hand traffic in these three countries was preserved only in the United Kingdom.

Political friendship with Great Britain contributed to the introduction of “leftism” on the roads in Japan: in 1859, Queen Victoria's ambassador, Sir Rutherford Alcock, convinced the authorities of the island state to accept driving on the left.

When did right-hand traffic become established in Russia?

In Russia, the norms for right-hand traffic developed back in the Middle Ages. The Danish envoy to Peter I, Just Yul, wrote in 1709 that “in the Russian Empire, everywhere in the Russian Empire, it is customary for carts and sleighs, when meeting each other, to pass each other, keeping to the right side.” In 1752, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna enshrined this norm into law by issuing a decree introducing right-hand traffic for carriages and cab drivers on the streets of the empire's cities.

Left-hand traffic in Vladivostok

The East is a delicate matter. And the Far East is not at all understandable):

As you've probably heard, two streets with left-hand traffic have appeared in the center of Vladivostok.

Due to the opening of the bridge across the Golden Horn Bay, the organization of traffic in the city center was changed, “in order to optimize traffic flow and eliminate the intersection of traffic flows.” Including on two streets it is very unusual - in fact, left-hand traffic was introduced there. But now right-hand drive cars look very harmonious on them.

Countries that changed traffic

History knows many examples when countries switched from one traffic pattern to another. States did this for the following reasons:

“To spite yesterday’s occupiers”

The US switched to driving on the right side of the road after declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776.

Korea switched to driving on the right after the end of the Japanese occupation in 1946.

Geographic feasibility

Many former British colonies in Africa switched to driving on the right in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. Sierra Leone, Gambia, Nigeria and Ghana did this for convenience: they were surrounded by “right-riding” former French colonies.

Sweden is the last country in Europe to change direction. In 1967, the so-called H-Day* took place there, when all the cars in the kingdom changed lanes. The reason for the transition to “law” lay not only in geography, but also in economics. Most of the countries where Swedish-made cars were sold used left-hand drive.

In 2009, Samoa switched to driving on the left. This was due to the large number of used right-hand drive cars being imported into the country from Australia and New Zealand.

"Left" exceptions

In right-leaning countries there is room for left-wing exceptions. So, on the small street of General Lemonnier (350 meters long) in Paris, people move on the left side. There are small areas with left-hand traffic in Odessa (Vysoky Lane), in Moscow (passage on Leskova Street), in St. Petersburg (embankment of the Fontanka River) and in Vladivostok (Semyonovskaya Street in the section from Aleutskaya Street to the intersection with Okeansky Prospekt, as well as on Mordovtseva street).

Which movement is safer?

According to experts, which side you drive on does not affect the degree of traffic safety - it is just a matter of habit.

Countries with left-hand traffic

The global ratio of right-hand to left-hand roads is 72% and 28%, with 66% of the world's drivers driving on the right side and 34% driving on the left.

In North America

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Jamaica

In South America

Guyana
Suriname
Europe

United Kingdom
Ireland
Malta
Asia

Bangladesh
Brunei
Butane
East Timor
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Cyprus
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Singapore
Thailand
Sri Lanka
Japan
Africa

Botswana
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Kenya
Lesotho
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Seychelles
Swaziland
Tanzania
Uganda
South Africa
Oceania

Australia
Kiribati
Nauru
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Tonga
Fiji

To understand where the division of automobile traffic on the roads of the world into left-hand and right-hand came from, you should plunge into history. In ancient times, traffic was mainly driven on the left. This can be explained by the fact that most people are right-handed. If the rider encountered dangerous strangers on the road, it was easier to grab the weapon with his right hand and immediately be ready for a skirmish. This is what they believed in Ancient Rome. Probably, this rule for the movement of Roman troops began to be observed by ordinary citizens of the empire. Many ancient states followed the Roman example.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, human physiological characteristics came to the fore. Again, the question concerned the convenience for right-handers. When driving a cart on narrow roads, it was more convenient for the driver to ride on the right side in order to confidently control the horses with a strong hand, directing them to the side when meeting another cart. Over the centuries, this style of travel has become the norm in many countries.

In 1776, the first traffic regulations were issued in Europe. The first to adopt it was Great Britain, which established left-hand traffic on its territory. What prompted this decision is still unknown. Probably the country wanted to stand out from the rest of the mainland. The introduction of left-hand traffic throughout the vast territories of the colonies of the British Empire, as well as allied countries. Today these include what is now India, Australia and Pakistan. And on the mainland at that time there was magnificent France with allies who began to use right-hand traffic. Here, too, the colonies of the European state followed their center. As a result, the world was divided into two camps. We see the consequences of such a “division” to this day.

Today, driving on the right is more comfortable and most countries adhere to it, exceptions are: Great Britain, Ireland, Malta, Brunei, Barbados, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, India, Australia.

By the way, the history of adopting the left side for driving in Japan is strange. Its roots go back to the heyday of the samurai. The valiant warriors at that time rode on horses with swords on their left sides. The famous katana was tucked into the belt, so the sword simply stuck out in the left side, protruding half a meter! Apparently, fearing that their swords would get caught and thus provoke a fight, the samurai began to use the principle of left-hand movement. In the years 1603-1867, a tradition was established instructing everyone who was heading towards the capital to keep to the left. It is possible that this system of transportation has since become a habit among the Japanese and has become a general rule over time. And in the mid-19th century, Japan was forced to open up to the world. The Japanese, of course, began to borrow everything from the West. It all started with the first steam locomotives, which the Asians borrowed from the British, who drove on the left. The first horse-drawn trams also ran on the left side of the road.

How is left-hand traffic different from right-hand traffic and what are the advantages of each side? Both types of movement require different vehicle designs. For right-hand drive vehicles, the driver's seat and steering wheel are located on the left; for left-hand drive vehicles, the driver's seat and steering wheel are located on the right. The location of the windshield wipers varies. But the arrangement of the pedals in the order of clutch, brake, gas has today become the standard for right-hand drive cars, although it was originally intended for left-hand drive cars. It is worth noting that driving on the left is safer for right-hand drive cars. In a collision, the impact falls on the left side and the driver is less likely to be injured. Right-hand drive cars are stolen much less often. The right-hand drive allows the driver to get out of the car not onto the roadway, but onto the sidewalk, which is much safer. But overtaking on the road in a right-hand drive car is inconvenient.