How many countries drive on the left and are any changing to the right (or vice versa)?

Answer 1

While I used to believe just England and the former English colony of Australia drove on the left, there are about 10 South African countries, plus Ireland, Scotland, Guyana, and Suriname.

Changing the rule

The most common reason for countries to switch to driving on the right is for conformity with neighbours, as it increases the safety of cross-border traffic. For example, former British colonies in Africa, such as Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Ghana, have all changed from left- to right-hand traffic, as they all share borders with former French colonies, which drive on the right. The former Portuguese colony of Mozambique has always driven on the left, as all its neighbours are former British colonies. Decisions by countries to drive on the right typically concern conformity and uniformity rather than practical reasons. There are historical exceptions, such as postilion riders in France, but such historical advantages do not apply to modern road vehicles.

In the former British Crown colony of Hong Kong and the former Portuguese enclave of Macau, traffic continues to drive on the left, unlike in mainland China, despite the fact that they are now its Special Administrative Regions. However, Taiwan, formerly under Japanese rule, changed to driving on the right in 1946 after the government of the Republic of China assumed administration; the same happened in Korea (both North and South), a former Japanese colony under U.S. and Soviet occupation.

Answer 2

The last country to switch sides (left to right) was Sweden, back in 1967. About 74 countries drive on the left side of the road.

Trivia: Think that all vehicles in the US drive on the right? Nope! The US Virgin Islands drive on the left. Although not a state, the USVI is a US posession.

Answer 3

Imagine how many miles of paint would need to be put onto the roads to accomplish this. Every single intersection would need to be done. As well as road signs, lights, etc. That is a hell of a lot of man hours, and materials.