Why Do 86 Countries Drive on the Left While 183 Drive on the Right Side?

Key Takeaways

• According to National Geographic, 75% of the countries drive on the right side, while about 25% drive on the left side.

• The idea of driving on different sides of the road started hundreds of years ago, before cars were invented around the 1700s.

• Around 76 countries and territories drive on the left side, and 165 countries and territories drive on the right side.

Why Do Countries Drive on Different Sides?

If you travel from India to other countries like the United States, France, China, Germany, and many other countries, you will notice that vehicles are driving on the right side instead of the left side like in India.

This looks a little strange, but behind the driving on the left side and right has a very long history before cars were invented.

Let’s explore this article in detail and explore when it started.

How did it start?

Earlier, most people preferred to travel on horses, and most of the people were right-handed. They usually prefer to ride on the left side of the road because they use their right hand to make balance on the right side and to protect themselves.

Later in the 1700s, the farmers of France and the USA started using the big wagons pulled by many horses, and the farmers usually sat on the left side to handle the cart and guide the team.

Sitting on the left side makes it easier to check their wagons. So they kept driving on the right side of the road.

Why Does India Drive on the Left Side?

During British rule, Britain was using driving the vehicles on the left side of the road. As India was part of the British Empire, India also adopted left-side driving.

Even after India's independence, India continued to use the same system of driving because changing from left-side to right-side driving for driving a car would have been confusing and costly to adopt a new style of driving.

How Many Countries Drive on the Left and Right?

Today, the world follows two different driving systems.

Countries That Drive on the Left

Some well-known countries that drive on the left are:

• India

• United Kingdom

• Japan

• Australia

• New Zealand

• South Africa

• Singapore

• Sri Lanka

Countries That Drive on the Right

Some well-known countries that drive on the left are:

• United States

• Canada

• France

• Germany

• China

• Italy

• Spain

• Brazil

Test Your Knowledge

Q. Which is the largest country in the world that drives on the left side?

A. Japan

B. China

C. India

D. Australia

Answer: D) Australia

Explanation: In terms of area, Australia is the largest country in the world that drives on the left side, but in terms of population, India is the largest country in the world that drives on the left side.