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Current Statistics

Roughly 1/3 of the world's population drives on the left, with 69% of the world driving on the right. Automobile steering wheels are also on opposite sides. But why? and how did this come to be?

On the road, on horseback

Origins can be traced as far back as man riding horseback.

The largest of early paved roadbuilders were the Romans. Romans had always traditionally ridden to the left of the road. The reason?

Most of the population currently and historically, have been right-handed. This usually meant a rider would mount his steed from the left side. This also dictated that riding on the left was better since it is much safer to mount a horse from the side of the road rather from its center. Being right-hand dominant also meant keeping you right hand free to greet fellow oncoming riders, but more importantly, access to your weapon with the dominant hand to repel attackers.

The Roman way of travel stayed with Europe for centuries until Napoleon. As Napoleon invaded each successive land, he forced the inhabitants to start riding to the right. Since Napoleon and France never made it to Britan, in an act of defiance, Britan never switched and even enacted the 'Highway Act of 1835' making it law to ride to the left.

Jousting in medieval times always saw the knights with their long, blunt lances held in their right hand.

During colonial times in the future United States, the anti-British sentiment ran so high, that every person did their best to undo everything that would have anything to do with Britan. This even included riding horses on the left-hand side of the road. So, colonists went to the right starting the U.S. custom of riding, then driving, on the right side of the road.

The Conestoga Wagon and Driving Position

Change in the U.S. began with the early 1700's introduction of the large Conestoga wagon, named from their town of origin, Conestoga Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

The large Conestoga wagons were driven by a rider on the left rear horse to allow his dominant right-hand use for whipping the horses, as well as to keep an eye on the left side to oncoming wagons. There was also frequently a rider on the 'Lazy Board', a running board on the left side of the wagon from where to operate brakes installed on the large wagons.

Road improvements in the late 1800's started making drivers of these wagons to sit to the right side of the wagon to keep an eye out for new drainage ditches at the side of the road instead of oncoming traffic.

But what about Canada and Japan?

Canada originally started as a French colony, but later taken, and controlled by the British. Depending on whether your particular province was French or British founded, you drove on the side of the traditional founding. It wasn't until the 1920's, (and later in 1947 for Newfoundland) that the country became united in driving on the right to better match the U.S. and the rest of North America.

Japan found themselves wanting to modernize in the mid 1800's. They started with trains and rail and requested the help of Britan to devise their rail infrastructure. It was during this time of modernization that Japan adopted driving on the left.

Most nations today that have kept to the left side of the road are island nations that do not share any borders with any other countries where switching to the opposite side for world uniformity does not outweigh the financial cost of doing so. 

Högertrafikomläggningen- the Swedish right-hand traffic reorganization

It's rare that countries switch sides, but it has occurred a handful of times despite the extreme financial burden of doing so.

Sharing borders with right-driving countries Finland and Norway, on September 3rd, 1967, Sweden changed from left-driving to right-driving. While making sense and providing seamless travel to neighboring countries, it was not a popular plan, but went ahead anyway.

On Dagen H (H-day), today called "Högertrafikomläggningen" (say that 10x fast!) all non-essential traffic was banned from the roads from 01:00 to 06:00. Any vehicles on the roads during that time had to follow special rules. All vehicles had to come to a complete stop at 04:50, then carefully change to the right-hand side of the road and stop again (to give others time to switch sides of the road and avoid a head-on collision) before being allowed to proceed at 05:00. The process went smother than one would imagine with a minimum of accidents of issues.

This policy change forever made driving in Sweden just a bit safer, as neighboring Scandinavian visitors no longer had to switch sides when entering Sweden.

The Automobile

With the introduction of the 'new-fangled' automobile, from 1895 through about 1910, most car builders just followed what drivers in the Conestoga wagons were doing and built their cars with right-sided steering wheels. Many other manufacturers did build on the left since auto traffic was becoming heavier and more focus was necessary to oncoming traffic. Plus, there is a more commanding view of the entire road being more towards the center of it.

Henry Ford

While Henry Ford's first cars had their steering wheel on the right, it was the introduction of the Model T that saw a driver position change.

The 'everyman', affordable, left-driving T eventually saw 15 million built and became one of the most popular cars on the road all over the world.

Ultimately, we can thank Henry Ford for the standardization of cars having the wheel to the left side, and American colonists for us driving on the right.