Ever felt that tiny jolt of panic when you’re abroad, step off a curb, and look the "wrong" way? Yeah, you’re not alone. Most of the world—about 65% to 70% of us—lives in countries that drive on the right side of the road. It feels like the natural order of things for most, but the history behind why your tires are hugging the right-hand shoulder is actually a messy mix of swords, wagons, and a very angry French guy.
Honestly, we take it for granted. You hop in a car in New York, Berlin, or Cairo, and the rules are basically the same. But have you ever stopped to wonder why the United States and most of Europe chose the right, while the UK and Japan stayed firmly on the left? It wasn’t just a coin flip.
The Sword-Fighting Origins of the Left
Before we talk about the right, we have to talk about the left. Back in the day, like way back in ancient Rome and medieval Europe, almost everyone traveled on the left. Why? Because most people are right-handed.
If you were riding a horse and bumped into a stranger who looked a bit stabby, you wanted your right hand (the one holding the sword) to be between you and the potential threat. Passing on the left kept your "weapon hand" ready to defend. It was a survival tactic.
Why Countries That Drive on the Right Side of the Road Switched
So, how did we go from knights with swords to the modern standard? You can thank (or blame) the French.
In the late 1700s, big freight wagons pulled by teams of horses became the "18-wheelers" of the era. The driver didn’t sit on the wagon; he sat on the left rear horse so he could keep his right hand free to whip the other horses. Because he was sitting on the left, he wanted oncoming traffic to pass on his left side so he could look down and make sure his wheels weren't going to collide. To do that, he had to keep his wagon on the right side of the road.
Then came Napoleon.
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The guy was a bit of a disruptor. Since he was left-handed, he supposedly preferred his troops to stay on the right, and as he conquered Europe, he forced everyone from Germany to Spain to switch. The countries he couldn't conquer—like Great Britain—stubbornly stayed on the left just to spite him.
The American Influence and the Model T
Over in the U.S., the right-hand rule was already gaining traction because of those massive Conestoga wagons in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania actually made the right-hand side official in 1792.
But the real nail in the coffin for left-side driving in the Americas was Henry Ford. When the Model T came out in 1908, Ford put the steering wheel on the left. His logic? He wanted the front-seat passenger to be able to step out directly onto the curb rather than into the middle of the street. Since the Model T became the most popular car on the planet, the "left-hand drive, right-side road" setup became the global gold standard.
A Quick Tour of Right-Side Drivers
If you’re planning a road trip, you’ll find that the vast majority of your destinations are countries that drive on the right side of the road.
Europe: The Right-Hand Stronghold
Aside from the UK, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus, the rest of Europe is a right-side paradise. It wasn't always this way, though. Sweden was the last big holdout on the mainland.
They had a famous event called Dagen H (H-Day) on September 3, 1967. At 4:50 AM, every car in Sweden had to stop, carefully crawl over to the other side of the road, and wait ten minutes before starting again. It was chaos, but surprisingly, there were fewer accidents that day because everyone was driving so nervously and carefully.
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The Americas: Almost Unanimous
From the top of Canada to the tip of Argentina, the right side is king. Canada had a weird history with this—provinces like British Columbia and New Brunswick actually drove on the left until the 1920s to match the British tradition, but they eventually switched to align with the U.S. and make border crossings less of a nightmare.
Africa and Asia: A Mixed Bag
Africa is mostly a right-side continent now, but it’s a patchwork of colonial history. Former French and Portuguese colonies (like Senegal or Angola) always drove on the right. Many former British colonies (like Nigeria and Ghana) actually switched from left to right in the 1970s to better match their neighbors.
Asia is where it gets really tricky.
- China: Right side.
- South Korea: Right side.
- Vietnam: Right side.
- Japan: Left side (thanks to some 19th-century British engineers who helped build their railways).
The Weirdness of Myanmar
Myanmar (Burma) is probably the strangest case. They used to drive on the left because they were a British colony. Then, in 1970, the ruler General Ne Win allegedly had a dream (or consulted an astrologer, depending on who you ask) and decided the country should drive on the right.
The problem? Most of the cars in the country are still right-hand drive imports from Japan. This means if you’re driving in Myanmar today, you’re on the right side of the road, but your steering wheel is also on the right. Overtaking a truck is basically a leap of faith.
Practical Tips for the "Wrong Side" Traveler
Switching sides isn't just about the steering wheel. Your brain has to rewire itself.
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- The "Pedal Drift": If you're used to the right side, your brain uses the center line as a reference. When you switch, you’ll find yourself hugging the curb or even drifting into the shoulder.
- The Wiper/Blinker Struggle: In many right-hand drive cars, the stalks are flipped. You’ll try to signal a turn and end up cleaning your windshield. It’s a rite of passage.
- Roundabouts are the Boss: In countries that drive on the right side of the road, you enter roundabouts to the right (counter-clockwise). If you’re used to the UK or Australia, this feels like driving into a whirlpool.
Is the Right Side Actually Better?
There’s no real "scientific" proof that one side is safer. However, some argue that since most people are right-eye dominant, having the steering wheel on the right (and driving on the left) gives you better peripheral vision for oncoming traffic.
But honestly? It doesn't matter. The "best" side is whichever side everyone else is on.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Trip
If you're heading to a country with a different driving side:
- Rent an Automatic: You don’t want to be learning to shift gears with your non-dominant hand while also trying to remember which way to look at a junction.
- Follow the Leader: In the first few hours, don't be the first car at a red light if you can help it. Following the car in front of you is the easiest way to ensure you don't accidentally turn into the wrong lane.
- Check the Mirrors: Your mirror placement will feel "off." Spend five minutes in the parking lot just looking at your blind spots before hitting the highway.
Understanding the layout of countries that drive on the right side of the road makes international travel a lot less stressful. Just remember: when in doubt, the driver should always be closest to the center of the road. If you find yourself next to the sidewalk, you’re probably in trouble.
Before you book that rental car in a new country, double-check the local "Rules of the Road" handbook, as small details like "Right Turn on Red" vary wildly even among right-side driving nations.