Why do we drive on the left hand side in the UK?

Question

...Most of the world drives on the right, so why do we choose the left? (Out of pure interest really!)

Answer 1

I have always wondered about that myself...I am not sure . Japan and Australia also drive on the left . Good question though

Answer 2

History and origin

About a quarter of the world drives on the left, and the countries that do are mostly old British colonies. This strange quirk perplexes the rest of the world; but there is a perfectly good reason.

In the past, almost everybody travelled on the left side of the road because that was the most sensible option for feudal, violent societies. Since most people are right-handed, swordsmen preferred to keep to the left in order to have their right arm nearer to an opponent and their scabbard further from him. Moreover, it reduced the chance of the scabbard (worn on the left) hitting other people.

Furthermore, a right-handed person finds it easier to mount a horse from the left side of the horse, and it would be very difficult to do otherwise if wearing a sword (which would be worn on the left). It is safer to mount and dismount towards the side of the road, rather than in the middle of traffic, so if one mounts on the left, then the horse should be ridden on the left side of the road.

Answer 3

Its to do with Napoleon. Long long ago, blah blah blah, but basically the soldiers on horses held the swords, jousts with their right hand, so would ride on the left. Napoleon ,however was left handed , so he made the french all ride on the right, and, the USA, which received a lot of support from the French at the birth of the nation, followed suit.
So the left is the right side of the road. (unless you are left handed)

Answer 4

In Australia we drive on the left hand side. So does most of Asia and the South Pacific. So you are wrong saying most of the wolrd drives on the right hand side.

The question should maybe be why does America and Europe drive on the right hand side?!

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Napolean forced everyone to drive on the right hand side in the places he conquered across Europe. He didn't conquer us so it was a matter of pride that we kept driving on the left hand side!
Obviously in those days it was horses and carriages and not cars being driven.

Answer 7

Because when we drove horse and carts and chariots , it was safer to drive on the left of the road most roads were of roman origine and always were camberd to deflect rainfall of the road . so when you were driving on the right of the cart your sword arm was free to defend attacks from the left as you were on the high ground , and you could defend from the highest piont when attacked from the right and it was very hard to outflank you , when cars came along we just carried on , on the continent there rainfall was much less and there roads flatter

Answer 8

Everyone used to drive on the left...!

The US went to the right, and alot of other countries followed..

Check it out, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_hand_drive thats where I was!

(great question by the way)

Answer 9

We drive on the left because if we didn't we would crash into on coming traffic

Answer 10

i really don't know, but always wondered why we did and Europe didn't! KGJ,keypointist,william s and barbara b seem to know a lot about history. check out their source info to debate the answer?