Why is it that we in the UK drive on the left and everywhere else drive on the right?

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uknative

About a quarter of the world drives on the left, and the countries that do are mostly old British colonies. This perplexes the rest of the world, but there is a perfectly good reason. In the past, almost everybody travelled on the left side of the road because that was the most sensible option for feudal, violent societies. Since most people are right-handed, swordsmen preferred to keep to the left in order to have their right arm nearer to an opponent and their scabbard further from him. Moreover, it reduced the chance of the scabbard (worn on the left) hitting other people. Furthermore, a right-handed person finds it easier to mount a horse from the left side, and it was safer to mount and dismount towards the side of the road, rather than in the middle of traffic. So, if one mounts on the left, then the horse should be ridden on the left side of the road. In the late 1700s, however, teamsters in France and the United States began hauling farm products in big wagons pulled by several pairs of horses. These wagons had no driver's seat; instead the driver sat on the left rear horse, so he could keep his right arm free to lash the team. Since he was sitting on the left, he naturally wanted everybody to pass on the left so he could look down and make sure he kept clear of the oncoming wagonâ€™s wheels. Therefore he kept to the right side of the road. In the 1960s, Great Britain considered changing, but the countryâ€™s conservative powers did everything they could to nip the proposal in the bud.It has to said that the fact that it would cost billions of pounds to change everything round wasnâ€™t much of an incentiveâ€¦ Eventually, Britain dropped the idea. Today, only four European countries still drive on the left: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. (Lots of other info on the subject - if you want it - on the website below!)

sarch_uk

We are not the only country which drives on the left.

It's something about older times when knights and such kept to the left so that their right hand was free to draw their sword if they met the enemy. Something about Napoleon making his prisoners keep right so that they were at a disadvantage to his troops but I don't know the full story.

Perhaps this link can help...
http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/driving%20on%20the%20left.htm

little weed

South Africa, Japan,Australia, Malta drive on left too.

Chancer G

Its to do with olden days when ox carts were driven .

It was so the driver didnt get hit/mugged by people at the side of the road hence the driver was on the right handside of the cart and passers by were on the left and couldnt reach him.

PajamaMama

Many other countries drive on the left. In fact, I think there may be even MORE countries that drive on the left than ones that drive on the right! :-)

DanRSN

because thats how we started to drive coach and horses on busybridges. And what about Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong (ok that's not really a country) and Ireland?

harry

WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE'S

The Bricklayer

We started driving on the left,then the French started the driving on the right thing-just to be awkward,and to annoy us

beingmumloveit

We like being unique or we are just the wierd ones and everyone else is normal!!

Twilight Town

I heard that it was something to do with Napoleon, and him being left handed and wanting to draw his sword if an enemy came nearby.
something like that anyway!

YORKSHIRE

We aren't the only ones that drive on the left, so do Japan, Australia, India to name but three.

Erin M

The Virgin Islands drive on the left. What I want are video games like Grand Theft Auto with an option of having everybody drive on the left!!!

John Elias

Because we are right handed and every other country is left handed.

lola

cos we're right and they're wrong!!

(right as in being correct not the opposite of left!!)

liam0_m

because we are normal everyone else is ignorant/weird or drunk

sashs.geo

Blame Napoleon.

Everyone in europe used to drive on the left ( drive meaning driving a horse and carriage) but the French drove on the right.

When Napoleon invaded other countries he forced them to drive on the right.

The fench then insisted peole in their colonies drive on the right.

Dan

Because in the US the regulation were made by a lefty =), driver sit on the left. We also drive on the left in Indonesia, and driver seats are on the right.

Gin & Tonic

If we were to drive on the right, we wouldn't be able to read the roadsigns which would be back to front! That's obvious innit?

Bob

One theory goes along the lines that a pope back in the 11th century or so declared that pilgrims should travel on the left as there was chaos on the roads. (Note that as most people are right-handed, then that would be the hand that you'd have your sword or joust in, as well. Don't know if that's relevant).

Anyhow, the story goes on that in the 1790s, Napoleon showed his defiance of Papal authority by declaring that France, and therefore French-controlled Europe, would drive on the otherside. Britain was unconquered by Napoleon, the British continued to drive on the left, as indeed other parts of 'Napoleon-free' Europe, such as Portugal and Sweden, except these changed to the other side over time.

British engineers that built Japanese railways and tram systems, so the rest Japanese traffic followed suit. Consequently, their cars are left-hand drive today.

CautiousNorm.

Japan.S.Africa.etc

starlet108

Not EVERYONE drives on the left xx

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