Most countries in the world drive on the right. Which countries drive on the left? What does it have to do with horseback riding?

Left-hand traffic in the world - history

Below are some facts from the history of the development of road traffic.

Riding, saber and driving on the left

Where did left-hand traffic come from? It must be borne in mind that hundreds of years ago, horses and carts were the main means of transportation. The main equipment of the rider included a saber or sword, which was held on its side. It was often used while riding a horse and maneuvered with the right hand. Therefore, a skirmish with an enemy standing on the left was extremely inconvenient.

In addition, the position of the sword from the side influenced the movement of the left hand. For movement, the left side of the road was chosen so as not to accidentally hit someone when passing each other. The gun was still on the left side. It was also easier to mount a horse from the side of the road than from the street where there were a lot of cars. Most of the riders were right-handed and mounted on the left.

Is driving on the left also allowed on public roads? 

modern regulations for left-hand traffic operated on public roads. Outside the cities, the roads were quite narrow and there were fewer cars, so you could drive the full width of the road. A certain side of the road was not required, so when two cars met, one of them simply drove into the bay. In some places, this unwritten rule still applies today due to the very narrow roadways that can often fit one small vehicle.

Military skirmishes and left-hand traffic

In more modern times, there have been slow changes in the movement. The popular left-hand drive has ceased to be practical due to the large dimensions of the carriages carrying the fruits of the earth. Such teams were supposed to be pulled by 4 horses, and the driver, driving them with a whip, could injure people coming from the opposite direction. He used his right hand.

Driving on the left in England

In 1756, the British decided to officially reserve the right to drive on the left-hand side of London Bridge. Since then, it has been widely used in cities in this way of transportation. And so it was with all the British colonies. Until now, in many countries that were once under British jurisdiction, they drive on the left side. These include:

• Ireland;
• Cyprus;
• Malta;
• southern part of Africa;
• Australia;
• Indie.

To spite the British, Napoleon wanted to do it. Since he himself was left-handed and preferred to drive on the right, left-hand traffic gradually faded into oblivion. Rumor has it that he wanted to confuse his enemies, who were accustomed to left-hand traffic, and to distinguish himself from the British, who already preferred left-hand traffic. Over time, in most of Europe, conquered by Napoleon and then by Hitler, right-hand traffic rules began to prevail.

Where is the left hand traffic now? 

Although the vast majority of countries have switched (forced or voluntarily) to driving on the right, driving on the left distinguishes countries on almost every continent. Of course, the most popular place in Europe where this mode of transportation operates is Great Britain. It is with this style of driving that it is associated with almost everyone. In addition, in several places of the old continent you can find such a method of transportation. 

Countries with left-hand traffic

Countries with left-hand traffic include:

• Ireland;
• Malta;
• Cyprus;
• Isle of Man (known for crazy motorcycle racing).

Traveling east, the most popular left-hand drive countries include:

• Japan;
• indie;
• Pakistan;
• Sri Lanka;
• Australia;
• Thailand;
• Malaysia;
• Singapore.

The law on left-hand traffic is also in force in African countries. These are countries such as:

• Botswana;
• Kenya;
• Malawi;
• Zambia;
• Zimbabwe.

As for the countries of North and South America, the left-hand traffic applies to countries such as:

• Barbados;
• Dominican Republic;
• Grenada;
• Jamaica,
• Trinidad and Tobago;
• Falkland;
• Guyana;
• Suriname.

The rule of left-hand traffic, taking into account the rules

In the UK, the right hand rule can be safely forgotten. No one has priority at railroad crossings. When entering a roundabout, remember to drive around it in a clockwise direction. When driving, keep to the left side of the road and always overtake on the driver's right. 

It may also take some time to get used to a right-hand drive vehicle. In manual transmission cars, you put one in the same way as five in left-hand drive cars. It may be uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to it. The dipped beam is also asymmetrical, but illuminates the left side of the road more.

As you can see, driving on the left has a very strong tradition in world history. Although it has been superseded by the opposite mode of transportation, it is still used in many countries. Going on a trip, do not forget to make sure which way to go there. You will adapt faster and have no difficulty applying the rules.