Why do people in the UK drive on the left, while people in the US drive on the right?

Answer 1

A long time ago, knights were of great importance to English society. Since knights were generally right-handed and therefore carried their lance on their right side when jousting, they became used to riding on the left side when encountering people. Also, it was easier to defend against possible attackers on the road, since their sword-wielding hand was their right. And since knights were far more important than peasantfolk, the lower classes would defer to knights that were riding on the same road as them. It has been this way since. By the time the American colonies were formed, this need was gone and the Americans had to start infrastructure from scratch, and just chose the right side of the road.

And, no, most countries drive on the right. Only between one quarter and one third of countries stick to the left.

Answer 2

This is surely the classic example of the obduracy of human beings . Once a group of people has arbitrarily decided on something, they refuse to change; the other guy, he says, has to adjust.

Erratic spelling systems in some languages is the even more serious instance of this phenomenon.

In both, the longer the stand off continues the more difficult it is to resolve.

In driving, if you drive on the left it is best to have the steering wheel on the right - you can judge oncoming traffic much better. So Great Britain, Japan, India - and the rest of the "British Commonwealth" now have a heap of right-hand-drive vehicles. Also all drivers in those countries (and road users in general) have reflexes conditioned to "their" way of doing things.

There are lots of "left-hand-drive" vehicles in the U.S.A., the European Continent, the Arab states, much of Africa etc. In the case of many countries, I don't know which side they drive on - but the numbers could well be roughly equal.

If one category is far greater than the other, even now we ought to force the other to change - and give the changees some assistance.

How much more difficult to rationalise spelling! All new books will compulsorily be printed in the new system. Obviously old books cannot be destroyed - and only those with wide topical interest can be revised and reprinted. After the change is made, your grandchildren will have to read this the way I read Beowulf!

Much better to start with vehicles and learn our lessons!!

Answer 3

I think it was part of the Revolutionary War and just an act of defiance to drive (well, ride) on the right (which I believe the French also did at this time).
Before that, riding on the left was standard to leave your sword arm (usually the right) free to face oncoming attackers.

The Japanese drive on the left and they make most of the cars....!

PS Overall around the world it's now about 65% of countries who drive on the right (French-style) and 35% like the British.

Answer 4

The idea that only a few countries drive on the left is incorrect, most of the commonwealth (less the american countries) drive on the left. Japan does too.

Answer 5

US has been a rebel; got the Independence from the British more than 200 years ago and decided to implement systems that are just the opposite of those in the UK.

Answer 6

It started with knights wanting to pass with their sword arm closest to the possible enemy - i.e. usually passing on the left. I can't remember how it got changed in the US, but now only a few countries still drive on the left.

Answer 7

Noticed that Commonwealth countries drive on the left.

Guess it could have been an act of defiance on part of America. Who knows

Answer 8

We drive on the left in Australia.. And in New Zealand.. Americans must just want to be different maybe???

Answer 9

Weird how that is - most countries drive on the left, I believe-but americans gotta be different, ya know?

Answer 10

Weather related