All the Countries That Drive on the Left Side of the Road
Left-side or left-hand traffic may seem backwards for most U.S. drivers, but it's nothing new; in the 17th and 18th centuries, it helped control the flow of horse-drawn carriages on London Bridge. These laws set the trend for many of the world's countries that drive on the left side of the road.
Most countries drive on the right side of the road, which makes sense since most people are right-handed. Many of the lefty-accommodating countries are former British colonies before that have since won their independence. Before renting a car abroad, it always helps to check the driving standards for your destination.
Right-hand traffic actually predates the British Empire by several centuries. Historical findings have proven that this method dates back to Roman times when wagon drivers organized their own traffic system for economic reasons.
Which Side Is the Steering Wheel on to Accommodate Left-Hand Traffic?
When driving abroad, you'll notice that most countries with left-hand vehicles will place the steering wheels on the right side. This driver's seat placement is necessary for a left-hand drive car (LHD car) because it allows drivers to react better to oncoming traffic and see important road signs and speed limits.
Travelers from right-hand-traffic (RHT) countries may find it challenging to adapt to the inverse nature of LHD cars and speed limit signs posted in km/h instead of mph in a European country. However, with some practice (and hopefully some patience from other drivers), switching sides will become easier during your road trip.
Another important difference between right-hand drive (RHD cars) and left-hand drive vehicles is that several pairs of wipers are designed to move moisture from right to left instead of left to right. This operation allows vehicles driving on the left side of the road to shed moisture away from the driver's side.
Many newer wipers use hand-free sensors to trigger movement as they detect the first few raindrops. However, if your LHD car has levers on the sides of the steering wheel, always test them before beginning your road trip as the lights and wipers may be on the opposite side (compared to your own car at home).
The following is a list of some of the left-hand traffic (LHT) countries that are also some of the most popular tourist destinations around the world.
6 European Countries That Practice Left-hand Driving
Channel Islands (including Guernsey and Jersey)
Cyprus
Ireland
Isle of Man
Malta
United Kingdom (including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
14 African Countries With Left-side Road Traffic
Botswana
Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland)
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
16 Asian Countries That Drive on the Left-hand Side of the Road:
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
East Timor
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Thailand
12 South Pacific Countries Where You'll Drive a Left-hand Car
Australia (and its territories, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands and Norfolk Island)
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
New Zealand (and its territories, including Cook Islands and Tokelau)
Niue
Pitcairn Islands
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
21 Other Countries and Territories That Practice Left-Hand Driving
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Montserrat
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos
United States Virgin Islands
Original article: All the Countries That Drive on the Left Side of the Road
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