Why do British drive on the opposite side of the road?

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HECTOR G

I found this article while surfing the web:

"Why we drive on the Left in the UK

The 'rule of the road' in mainland Europe and the majority of countries in the world, including the United States is `to drive on the right'

In the United Kingdom and some of her former dominions; Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe; some Caribbean Islands including Barbados and St. Lucia; India and Pakistan; the Mediterranean island of Malta, where they are very happy to tell you that they drive in the shade , the rule of the road remains to drive on the left. This also applies in Japan and Thailand.

The origin of the rule of the road dates back to how people travelled in violent feudal societies. As most people are right handed it made sense to carry any protective weapon in this hand. When passing a stranger on the road, it would be safer to walk on the left, so ensuring that your weapon was between yourself and a possible opponent. Jousting knights would hold their lances in their right hand, therefore passing on each others' left.

Revolutionary France was to overturn this historic practice, as part of its social rethink. Their military general and self proclaimed Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte was left handed, therefore his armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and the advancing enemy. From this time any part of the world that was colonised by the French would travel on the right, the rest would remain travelling on the left.

Although America was originally a British colony, the French colonised the southern states such as Louisiana and the Canadian East coast including Quebec. The Dutch colonised New York (New Amsterdam), the Spanish and Portuguese colonised the Southern Americans and much of the south west parts of North America.

The British were in the minority when it came to shaping the traffic system. The new independent American republic adopted the drive on the right system, being anxious to cast away any remaining links with its British colonial past.

American motorcars were designed to be driven on the right by locating the drivers' controls on the vehicle's left side. With the mass production of reliable and economical motorcars from the United States, initial exports used the same design, so out of necessity other countries changed their rule of the road.

The last European country to convert to driving on the right was Sweden in 1967. While everyone was getting used to the new system, they paid more attention and took more care, resulting in a reduction of the number of road accident casualties."

Hope it is helpful.

Agnostic Canadian

Actually, since they came first, North America drives on the opposite side =)

tara4willow

It is usual for old societies to travel on the left-hand side of the road, because in the past someone passing in the opposite direction in a deserted area could be a threat, planning to attack as they passed and rob you, and since most people have always been right-handed and use weapons with their right hands, they would want to keep their right sides to the strangers. This was the case in all Europe until Napoleon's regimes, when, as well as making extensive cultural changes in all the countries he conquered, he marked the break from the old order by telling everyone to travel on the other side of the road. Later, when America won independence, they decided to mark the break with British rule and their solidarity with the new Republic of France, many of whose ideals they borrowed, by also changing the side of the road people travelled on.

Patrick E

because we wanted to be different and not copy anyone else

shurley

Tara and Hector got it. From the days of horses and swords, most people are right handed so would want to keep any potential threat on thier right at maximum distance.

Arbee

Ther answer I found some years ago (and here I am in Florida) is that in horse-drawn carriage days, the carriageman? (driver) sat on the right, and the automobile just followed this. It seems remotely possible that WE are oppisite.

arual

its not just british its australia, new zealand and millions more countries as a matter of fact more people drive on the left than the right

epbr123

because americans are obstinate and like doing things their own way

Ace Of Spades 117

its a classic European tradition.

sarch_uk

This has been asked many times on this site....
check out the link which Doorman has provided...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArJpR5g3ZcF.ICmnKslUj_Psy6IX?qid=20061209072402AA5FA8B&show=7#profile-info-1d6eaed7b3f9ceb2c2a1ab14acff9c7faa

va8326

i have no idea but that is a darn good question and i would like to know the answer too

maggielynn

why not? They just do....

Dylan M

im not sure

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