If you've ever stepped off a plane in London or landed in Tokyo and felt that sudden, dizzying panic while crossing the street, you aren't alone. It's that "look right, no, look left" moment. Most of us are used to the right side. But honestly, a huge chunk of the planet thinks we're the weird ones.
About 35% of the global population is currently navigating roads on the left-hand side. It's not just a British quirk. We're talking about massive economies like India, tech giants like Japan, and almost the entirety of Southern Africa.
The List Countries That Drive on the Left
It's actually a pretty long list. Most people think it's just the UK and maybe Australia. Nope. There are roughly 75 countries and territories where the "wrong" side is the only side.
Europe
Europe is mostly a right-side stronghold now, but there are a few holdouts.
- United Kingdom: The OG of left-hand traffic.
- Ireland: They kept the tradition after independence.
- Malta: Tiny island, left-side driving.
- Cyprus: Another Mediterranean spot where you'll stay on the left.
- Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: Basically follows the UK's lead.
Asia
Asia is where the numbers get really big.
- India: This is the big one. With over a billion people driving on the left, it's the most populous LHT (Left-Hand Traffic) nation.
- Japan: Never a British colony, but they chose the left because of their samurai history and British engineers who built their first railroads.
- Pakistan and Bangladesh: Both inherited the system from the colonial era.
- Indonesia and Thailand: Neither were British colonies, yet they've stuck with the left for decades.
- Malaysia and Singapore: Deeply rooted in the left-hand tradition.
Africa
Southern and Eastern Africa are almost entirely left-sided.
- South Africa: The powerhouse of the region.
- Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania: A massive block of left-side driving in East Africa.
- Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana: Keeps the flow consistent across the southern borders.
- Mauritius and Seychelles: Perfect for a left-sided tropical road trip.
Oceania
This part of the world is basically "Left-Side Central."
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- Australia: Every state, every territory.
- New Zealand: Same deal.
- Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga: Samoa is actually famous for being the most recent country to switch to the left in 2009.
The Americas and Caribbean
You won't find much on the mainland, but the islands are a different story.
- Guyana and Suriname: The only two in South America.
- Jamaica, Bahamas, and Barbados: Most of the English-speaking Caribbean.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: This is a weird one. It’s a U.S. territory, but they drive on the left. Why? Historical habit and the local cars often being imported from nearby left-driving islands.
Why did we even start driving on different sides?
It's about swords. Seriously.
Back in the day, most people were right-handed. If you’re riding a horse on a narrow path and you run into a stranger, you want your right hand (your sword hand) to be between you and them. If they turn out to be a jerk, you can draw your weapon easily. Keeping to the left was just basic survival.
The shift to the right mostly happened because of big freight wagons in France and the U.S. These wagons didn't have seats. The driver sat on the "near" horse (the left one) so he could use his right hand to whip the whole team. To avoid clipping wheels with oncoming wagons, he’d want to pass on the right so he could see exactly how close he was to the other guy's wheels.
Napoleon later enforced the right-side rule across Europe to mess with the British. It was basically a 19th-century middle finger.
The weird case of Japan
Japan is an outlier. They were never part of the British Empire. So why the left?
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During the Edo period, samurai wore their swords on the left side. If two samurai passed each other on the right, their scabbards might clank together. That was considered a massive insult and usually ended in a duel. To keep the peace, everyone just walked on the left.
When Japan started building its first real railway in the 1870s, they asked the British for help. The British brought their left-side train designs, and the rest of the country's road infrastructure eventually followed suit.
Is one side actually safer?
There’s some nerdy debate about this. Some researchers argue that driving on the left is actually safer for the majority of the population who are right-eye dominant.
When you drive on the left, your right eye—the "strong" one—is the one monitoring oncoming traffic and your side-view mirror. It sounds like a reach, but some studies suggest it helps with reaction times.
That said, the most dangerous thing isn't the side of the road; it's the switch. When you move from a right-side country to a left-side one, your brain’s autopilot is still set to the old ways. That’s when accidents happen, usually at roundabouts or when turning into an empty street.
Thinking of driving in a left-hand country?
If you're planning a trip to a place on the list countries that drive on the left, don't panic. You'll get it.
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The pedals are in the same order. Gas is on the right, brake is in the middle. That's a universal win. But your gear shifter (if it's a manual) will be on your left. You'll probably hit the door panel a few times trying to find it.
The biggest "gotcha" is the turn signal. In many Japanese and Australian cars, the blinker stalk is on the right of the steering wheel. You will turn on your windshield wipers at every single intersection for the first two days. It’s a rite of passage.
Recent shifts and the future
Are more countries going to switch? Probably not.
Samoa switched from right to left in 2009, which was a huge deal. They did it because they wanted to import cheaper used cars from Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. It was an economic move, not a traditional one.
For most countries, the cost of switching is just too high. You have to flip every road sign, redesign every highway off-ramp, and retrain every bus driver. Sweden did it in 1967 (Dagen H), and it was a logistical nightmare that took years of planning.
Actionable Tips for Your First Left-Side Drive
If you're heading to London, Sydney, or Bangkok soon, keep these three things in mind:
- The "Driver in the Middle" Rule: Whether you're in a right-hand or left-hand drive country, the driver should always be closest to the center line of the road. If you're near the curb, you're on the wrong side.
- Follow the Leader: Don't try to be the first person on the road in the morning. Follow another car until your brain clicks into gear.
- Roundabouts go Clockwise: This is the one that trips everyone up. Give way to the right and keep it moving.
The world is a patchwork of history and old habits. Whether you're on the left or the right, just stay focused on the car in front of you.
Before you pick up those rental keys in a new country, take ten minutes to sit in the parked car and map out the controls. Practice the "left-side" turn in your head. Most importantly, check your mirrors twice. Your brain is going to try to lie to you for the first fifty miles. Trust the road markings, not your gut.