Why do motorists in Britain and the USA drive on opposite sides of the road?

Answer 1

In Britain it dates back to knights on horseback with swords. Who first decided to drive on the right and why, I have no idea.

They also drive on the left in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.

Answer 2

There is no simple answer to this one. Some US cities did have drive on the left laws 100 or more years ago. However in the late 1890s most of the cars in the world were made in France, where the technology was then most advanced. For some reason, at some time in the 19th century the French decided to drive on the right. This seems to have been when they decided to extend their road system, which was before there were many or even any motor cars.

It appears that when US carmakers started off in the early 1900s they partially copied French designs, making it more convenient to drive on the right as well in the USA.

The Chinese used to drive on the left. When General Chiang Kai Shek was the nominal boss of China in the 1930s he also had the Chevrolet franchise. All the Chevs were directly imported from the US and were for driving on the right. So to make more money selling Chevrolets, he changed the Chinese law to driving on the right. Nothing like lining your pockets when you are the boss.

Answer 3

The same reason Britain and the rest of Europe drive on different sides of the road. They always did.

I have to drive in France and the UK a lot. The biggest problem is getting in to a car buit for the UK and banging your hand on the door when I make to change gear.

General driving is ok but rounabouts can seem a bit wierd because you have to drive 'the wrong way around'. I dont of course but the first few times it can feel like it.

There was a joke that Britain was going to conform with the others but make a gradual changeover. On monday the lorries and coaches would drive on the right hand side. Then on Tuesday the cars remaining would follow suit.

Answer 4

because the biritish are full of themselves and when they found out that the human race didnt really start in england... they decided to make their cars drive on the opposit side of the road so they still feel special in their own british way..

Answer 5

in the previous, surprisingly much genuinely all of us travelled on the left ingredient of the line considering the undeniable fact that exchange into the main rational selection for feudal, violent societies. on condition that maximum all of us is marvelous-handed, swordsmen favored to maintain to the left with a view to have their marvelous arm closer to an opponent and their scabbard greater suitable from him. besides, it decreased the possibility of the scabbard (worn on the left) hitting people. besides, a marvelous-handed guy or woman reveals it greater handy to mount a horse from the left ingredient of the pony, and it would be very perplexing to do in any different case if wearing a sword (which may be worn on the left). it is safer to mount and dismount in direction of the ingredient of the line, extremely than in the midst of site visitors, so if one mounts on the left, then the pony could be ridden on the left ingredient of the line. --> in the early years of English colonisation of North united states of america, English utilising customs have been accompanied and the colonies drove on the left. After gaining independence from England, even with the undeniable fact that, they have been annoying to solid off all final links with their British colonial previous and progressively replaced to marvelous-hand utilising.

Answer 6

It's to do with waay back in time. One theory is that we (The English) jousted on horses, on a certain side....

Answer 7

Because the roads are arranged that way, and if they didn't there would be a lot of collisions.

Answer 8

how do you know that everyone else is not right and they drive on the wrong side

Answer 9

thats just the way it is