From left Sweden in 1967
The terms of traffic right RHT and driving on the left refer LHT to regulations requiring all bidirectional traffic, unless otherwise specified, to keep on the right or on the left side of the road, respectively 1 This is fundamental to the traffic that is sometimes called the rule of the road 2.
About two-thirds of the world population 163 countries and territories use RHT, with 76 countries and territories using LHT 3 countries using account LHT about a sixth of the world's surface and a quarter of its routes 4 At first some 1900s countries, including Canada, Spain and Brazil have different rules in different regions of the country during the 1900s, many countries standardized within their jurisdictions, and changed LOA to RHT, mostly to comply with the regional custom in 1919, 104 of the world's territories were LHT and an equal number were RHT from 1919 to 1986, 34 of the LOA territories switched RHT 5.
Almost all countries use one side or the other through their territory Most exceptions are due to historical considerations and involve islands without road connection to the main part of a country China is RHT except special administrative region of China Hong Kong and Macau is RHT US Virgin Islands except US 6 the UK is LHT, but its overseas territories of Gibraltar and the Territory of the Indian ocean are RHT.
According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at flow of seawater is RHT for aircraft the US Federal Aviation Regulations provide go right, both in the air and on the water 7 .
Light rail vehicles generally operate on the same side as any other traffic in the country Many countries use RHT for automobiles, but LHT for trains, often because of the British influence on railway systems early part rail traffic remained LHT countries after the switched traffic to RHT, such as China, Brazil and Argentina, however, France, Belgium and Switzerland have used RHT for automobiles since their introduction, but exploitation trains using LOA.
There is no technical reason to prefer one side over the other 8 In healthy people, road safety is considered the same regardless laterality but some research has hypothesized that LHT can be more safe for aging populations 9 since humans are often right eye dominant than 10 left.
Ancient Greek, Egyptian troops and Roman kept left walking 11 In 1998, archaeologists found a double well preserved track leading to a Roman quarry near Swindon Gorge Road on the left side, saw down the track away from the quarry were much deeper than the right side, suggesting LOA, at least at this point, since the carts would leave the heavily laden career and enter empty 12.
The first reference to English law an order LOA was in 1756 regarding London Bridge 13.
Some historians, such as C Northcote Parkinson believed that ancient travelers on horseback or on foot generally kept to the left, since most people were handed If two men were traveling on horseback had to start a fight, everyone would edge left 11 in the year 1300, Pope Boniface VIII led the pilgrims to keep left 11.
In the late 1700s, traffic in the US was RHT-based Teamsters use of large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses The cars had seat driving, so a coachman sitting on the rear horse left and held his whip to the right sitting left hand, the driver preferred that other wagons pass him on the left so he could be sure to keep clear of the wheels of oncoming cars 14.
In France, traditionally the foot traffic was kept to the right, while the left kept traffic transportation After the French Revolution all traffic kept right 13 After the Napoleonic Wars the French RHT imposed on parts of Europe during the period colonial, RHT was introduced by the French in New France French West Africa to the Maghreb French Indochina in the Antilles French Guiana and Reunion among others.
Traffic moves from left to right in Stockholm, Sweden, September 3, 1967.
Influence in Europe was in 1920 Paris Convention, which advised driving on the right side of the road in order to harmonize traffic across a continent with many borders This despite the fact that driving on the left was still prevalent in 1915 for example , LHT has been introduced throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire 16 But three years later the empire was divided into several countries, and they all changed later to RHT, including including when Nazi Germany introduced RHT 17 in 1938-1939 with almost immediate effect in Czechoslovakia.
Sweden was LOA of about 1734-1967, despite the 18 land borders with RHT country, and virtually all cars on the road in Sweden being left hand drive LHD held a referendum in 1955, with a vote overwhelmingly against changing RHT Nevertheless, a few years later, the government ordered a conversion, which took place at 5 am Sunday, September 3, 1967 the accident rate fell sharply after the change, 19 but soon recovered to near its original level 20 the day was known as Dagen H H-day, H is for Högertrafik or traffic right When Iceland made the following year, he was known as H-dagurinn means new H-D21.
In the 1960s the UK Department for Transport has considered moving to RHT, but said 22 dangerous and costly road construction standards, highways, in particular, allow the asymmetrically designed intersections, where fusion and diverge from different routes of length 23.
When the Pan American Highway Planning Alaska to Cape Horn in the 1930s, it was decided that the route should use RHT entire length Many countries changed RHT Guyana and Suriname are the only two other country of continental Americas growing on the left.
China adopted in 1946 RHT Taiwan changed to driving on the right at the same time Hong Kong and Macao continue to LHT.
Samoa a former German colony, was RHT for over a century it passes LOA in 2009, the first 25 territory nearly 40 years to go 26 The movement was legislated in 2008 to allow Samoans use the left hand less drive LHD vehicles imported from Australia, New Zealand or Japan, and harmonization with other South Pacific nations a political party was formed the popular party in an attempt to protest against change, a protest group that launched a legal challenge, 27 and about 18,000 people attending demonstrations against the 28 automotive industry also objected that 14,000 18,000 Samoa vehicles are designed for RHT and the government refused to cover the conversion cost 26 After months of preparation, the transition from right to left is spent in an atmosphere of the national holiday There were no reported incidents 4-05 50, local time, the onday September 7th announcement on the radio interrupted traffic, and an announcement June 00 ordered traffic to pass LHT May 2 The change coincided with a more restrictive application of speeding and seatbelt laws 29 This day and the next day were declared public holidays, to reduce traffic 30 the change included a ban on three-day alcohol sales, while mounted police dozens of checkpoints, warning drivers to drive slowly 4.
The Philippines was mostly LHT in its Spanish colonial period of America 31 32 the latter, despite the switch of the RHT to America in the 1930s, see above; and during the Commonwealth era 33 During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines remained LOA, 34 nonwithstanding an edict LOA; 35 but at the Battle of Manila American forces liberating drove their tanks to the right to facilitate easier movement of RHT has been officially finalized by the Executive Decree No. 34 signed by President Sergio Osmeña March 10, 1945 36.
Rwanda a former Belgian colony in central Africa, but RHT is considering moving to LHT, to bring the country in line with other members of the Community of Africa EAC 37 A survey conducted in 2009, indicated that 54 Rwandans were cited for switching reasons were the lower perceived costs of RHD vehicles as opposed to the LHD versions of the same model, easier maintenance and the political advantage of harmonization of traffic rules with ' other EAC countries the same survey also indicated that RHD cars are 16 to 49 percent cheaper than their LHD 38 in 2014, an internal report of consultants in the Ministry of infrastructure has recommended a passage LOA 39 2015 ban RHD vehicles was lifted; RHD trucks from neighboring countries cost less than 1000 LHD models imported from Europe 40 41.
Driving on the right and left, right, traffic, Hong Kong, Macau, left hand drive.