Lefthand driving. Why do we and why do they?

Question

the english are one of the few countries that drive on the left. Why do the rest of europe drive on the right?

Answer 1

Up to the late 18th century, it was usual to walk or ride on the left so your sword arm (your right arm) was between yourself and any stranger you met on the road - just in case!

Revolutionary France under Napoleon changed all this; Napoleon was left-handed, so he wanted to walk/ride/march on the right so his sword arm was between him and any potential enemy, and what Napoleon wanted Napoleon got.

Thereafter any part of the world which the French colonised travelled on the right, such as the southern states of America (like Louisiana), and the east coast of Canada (Quebec).

The Spanish and Portuguese colonised the southern Americas, the Dutch colonised New York (or New Amsterdam) and eventually the drive-on-the right policy was adopted by the USA to break off any links with the British colony idea. Once America did this, many countries changed out of necessity.

About a quarter of the world still drives on the left, mainly old British colonies - the last I heard there were surprisingly about 65 countries still doing it.

Some would say, therefore, if Napoleon had been right-handed the whole world world still be driving on the left!

Answer 2

There is a large minority of countries who drive on the left.
I think about 90.
To name some :-
India
Japan
Irish republic
New Zealand
Australia
Hong Kong
South Africa
Falkland Islands

and a host of countries which used to come under The UK jurisdiction.
Inerestingly Sweden changed to the right hand side in 1966.

Answer 3

To the best of my knowledge, yes. I was in France, Spain and Italy a couple years ago and drove on the right side of the road. Also visited England, but did not drive. It was quite different riding in a cab! The big problem for us, though, was crossing the street. We were looking the wrong way before walking, and nearly got run over a couple times.

Answer 4

I think it's a hangover from the days of travelling on horseback. Most people were (are) right-handed so one could have sword or pistol at the ready in case the oncomer were a highwayman etc. Don't know why the rest of Europe didn't do the same though?

Answer 5

most men are right handed so this is the hand a weapon would be carried in .so you would want any stranger passing you to you right so you were able to defend yourself.this also arises in men cloths and the way a suit jacket buttons up,and the direction of the turn on spiral staircases ,a defender can retreat upstairs still using his sword an attacker could not climb the stair and swing his sword(ford castle northumberland england has bthe opposite as the owner was left handed)and when you meet someone you shake with yourt right hand to show you have no weapon and come in peace....as my dad used to say NEVER trust a man who shakes with his left .napoleon was a leftie so he changed the norm to keep his self safe.....

Answer 6

The europeans used to ride (horses) on the left as well. The lower classes had no horse and would walk on the right (so they could see the upper class coming towards them on their horses).
However, during the French revolution it was not a good idea to be upper class, so people switched to the commoners side of the road.
Napolean later took this to the rest of Europe as he invaded.

....this could be an urban myth of course

Answer 7

Most European countries drive on the right because Napolean was left handed. Traditionally, a rider on horseback rode on the left and carried his weapon in his right hand, so he could salute another rider or repel an attack. Napolean was left handed so all the regions under his control had to ride on the right. The USA just do it to be awkward!

Answer 8

the sword thing is correct, and was somehow seen as a british thing by napoleon. Any countries he conquered he reversed the trend, just to be the opposite. America drives on the left due to frances help in them gaining independence, I think they helped in the war with mexico too.

Answer 9

something's plausible. it incredibly is probable additionally much less complicated in a 30 3 hundred and sixty 5 days old land rover. yet do no longer see how which would be worth it, spending 3000-10,000 money changing a truck according to threat value you purely 2000 extra desirable spending some thousand extra paying for the motor vehicle you choose the 1st time, than paying for something it incredibly is incredibly not what you choose, and then spending extra money changing it into what you choose.

Answer 10

It is said that an Englishman and an American stood looking at a car to dcuss which side the steering wheel should be on and they agreed it should be on the right. But, the Englishman was looking at the car from the inside and the American from the outside.