Why do we drive on the left hand side in Britain and in America they drive on the right?

MrHippo

This goes back to medieval Britain. All countries used to travel on the left hand side as this left your right hand free to carry a sword. As everyone passed on your right side, this meant that you could easily defend yourself. This changed due to Napoleon. As he was left handed, he changed the system. This meant that any country that was under French rule also changed to the right hand side. The US was partly colonised by the French, and after independance from the British, they wanted to get rid of all things British so switched to the right hand side. Aug 01 04, 8:51 AM

Arpeggionist

Also, in America a lot of the fighting was done with bows and arrows. A right-handed horseman would generally prefer to aim his bow to his left, thus if he was riding on the right side of the road he would easily be able to identify and shoot down an enemy. Aug 01 04, 10:11 AM

RogerW1nz

There are some "non-British" countries that drive on the left, notably Japan. Sweden used to but changed in 1967. http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Transportation_in_Sweden Aug 01 04, 4:21 PM

Stormalong

If you were traveling down the Appian Way in Roman times and you encountered a Roman Legion coming in the opposite direction you were required, by Roman law, to move to the right side of the road so that the Legion could pass on the left. When, in the early 20th century, Europeans and Americans were developing their Rules of the Road for automobiles they adopted the old Roman rules of the road. The reason Britain, Japan and, at one time, Sweden drive on the left is because they are maritime nations; their economy was based on the sea. When these maritime nations were developing their Rules of the Road for automobiles in the early 20th century, they turned to Rules of Road that were already in place; Maritime Rules of the Road. In maritime law, when two ships pass each other on the open sea, they are required to pass starboard to starboard (or right side to right side). Since, at the same time many nations, such as India, South Africa, Australia and even Hong Kong, were colonies of Great Britain; they also adapted the British driving laws based on Maritime law. Aug 11 08, 2:24 PM

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