Key Highlights
- About one third of people in the world drive on the left side of the road, while the other two thirds are used to the right side.
- The choice between right hand drive (RHD) and left hand drive (LHD) goes back to old habits and history, including the rule of former British colonies.
- In countries where people drive on the left side of the road, the driver’s seat is placed on the right side of the vehicle to help the driver handle left-side traffic.
- Places such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan still drive on the left side and keep this long-time tradition.
- Most former British colonies drive on the left side too, unless the rules changed for the area.
- This guide shares a global list of countries using RHD and includes where their road rules and left side or right side of the road driving began.
Driving habits in the countries of the world fall into two main groups: right hand drive and left hand drive. These two ways decide if cars go on the left side or right side of the road. It also affects where you sit in the car and how the flow of traffic moves. The reason for using one side over the other comes from old times and who ruled the country in the past. This has made each place have its own way of driving.
When people travel or rent cars in other countries, they have to learn how to drive on different sides of the road. It is important for the safety and comfort of who is driving. Let’s take a look at how right hand drive and left hand drive are spread across the world.
Complete Global List of Right Hand Drive Countries
Knowing which countries drive on the left is very helpful for travelers. This way, people can avoid getting confused about which side of the road to use. Many countries that do this are former British colonies. In these places, people follow right hand drive rules. This means that the cars drive on the left side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle. Major areas where people drive like this are South Asia, Oceania, some parts of Africa, and more.
Here is a quick table to show where people follow right hand drive systems:
| Region | Countries Driving on the Left |
|---|---|
| Asia | India, Pakistan, Japan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji |
| Africa | Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique |
| Europe | United Kingdom, Malta, Ireland, Cyprus |
| South America | Guyana, Suriname |
These countries keep using the left side because of old traditions, ties to the united kingdom, or what their people in those places like.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is known around the world as one of the main right hand drive countries. Here, people drive on the left side of the road. This rule goes all the way back to old times, when travelers stayed on the left so they could keep their sword arm free to deal with anyone passing by. In the 18th century, this way of driving was made official, and right hand drive, or RHD, became a core part of life in the UK.
As a big power in history, the United Kingdom spread its left side driving style to other places it controlled, like India, Australia, and the Caribbean. Many of these places, including South Africa and New Zealand, still drive on the left side of the road.
Driving in the United Kingdom means you have to follow special rules. There are lots of roundabouts, winding roads, and polite people who follow the rules strictly. Tourists who rent cars might need some time to get used to driving on the left side, but many say that RHD helps drivers pay more attention on their main side and makes the roads safer.
Australia
Australia follows the right hand drive rule. Here, cars have the steering wheel on the right side, and people drive on the left side of the road. This way of driving comes from British rule. You will see traffic moving in a clockwise direction around roundabouts. Even today, this is a known part of how roads work in Australia.
Most Australian cities are built for left side driving. The roads, pedestrian crossings, and traffic signs are all planned to make this easy. States, like Tasmania and Queensland, that are surrounded by water, also help people travel with ease. At the same time, these regions keep using long-standing practices, and follow left side driving too.
If you have not driven in Australia before, you may notice some things are different. There are long, straight roads with not many turns. If you rent a car, you will get one with the steering wheel on the right side, and will need to drive on the left side of the road. There are clear traffic signs to help. There are rules that everyone follows, and the roads are kept in good condition. This helps keep travel smooth for both the people who live here and those who come to visit.
Japan
Japan has always used right hand drive cars, with the steering wheel on the right side. People keep to the left on the road. This way of driving comes from old traditions, going back to when samurai were on horseback. Since the late 1800s, this is the way people drive in Japan, and it helps the flow of traffic, especially in busy cities.
Cars in Japan have the steering wheel on the right side. This helps drivers stay in control when driving through small streets, at intersections, and when going around roundabouts. Japan uses many road signs and has good roads. This makes driving easy for both local people and visitors.
Japan was not a British colony, but it still chose right hand drive and driving on the left to keep the same rules across the country. Some places, like Okinawa, switched to this system later. If you rent a car or take public transportation in Japan, you will see how good people are at following road rules. Japan is known for its organized roads and the way the flow of traffic moves so well..
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some countries have right-hand drive?
Countries where people sit on the right side to drive usually keep to the left side of the road. This way of driving comes from old traditions and their ties to former British colonies. Having the steering wheel on the right side helps drivers handle the car better and follows these long-standing rules. The side of the road people use is not the same everywhere. It can depend on what people in each place need, and how easy it is to drive to or from other countries.