Which country changed driving from right to left?

Sweden initiated the driving change in part because its neighbors already drove on the right side of the road. Many members of the Swedish parliament also argued that the left-hand vehicles Swedes drove had caused too many head-on collisions.

Which was the last country in mainland Europe to switch from driving on the left?

Sweden
A few examples include Canada in the 1920s, Sweden in 1967, and Nigeria in 1972. Sweden was the last country in continental Europe to switch! They made a big deal about changing over the roads, buses, and signs on the day before the move! Despite the near-consensus to drive on the right, there are a few holdouts.

When did Europe change to left hand drive?

The practice is believed to date back to ancient Rome. Romans steered their carts and chariots with the left hand, to free up the right so they could use weapons to defend against enemy attacks. This carried over into medieval Europe and in 1773, the British government passed measures to make left-hand traffic the law.

Did Nigeria use right-hand drive?

Nigeria, a former British colony, had been driving on the left with British imported right-hand-drive cars, but when it gained independence, it wanted to throw off its colonial past and shifted to driving on the right in 1972.

When did Sweden switch to driving on right?

3 September 1967
Swedes began cautiously driving on the right-hand side of roads around the country at precisely 5am on 3 September 1967, following a radio countdown.

When did Sweden switch to driving on the right?

When was the last country that switched from right to left?

If you want to find out the history behind driving on the left or right, click here. While all countries that have swapped sides have transferred from left to right, the only three cases recorded of a transfer from right to left were in East Timor in 1975, in Okinawa on 30 July 1978 and in Samoa on 7 September 2009.

When did left-driving countries switch to driving on the right?

In Europe, the remaining left-driving countries switched one by one to driving on the right. Portugal made the switch in 1928. The change took place on the same day in the whole country, including the colonies. Territories, however, which bordered other left-driving countries were exempted.

What does it mean to drive on the left-hand side?

Conversely, driving on the left-hand side of the road usually implies that the driver’s seat is on the right-hand side of the car. It used to be different, though. All early automobiles in the USA (driving on the right-hand side of the road) were right-hand-drive, following the practice established by horse-drawn carriages.

Which countries have swapped sides from right to left?

While all countries that have swapped sides have transferred from left to right, the only three cases recorded of a transfer from right to left were in East Timor in 1975, in Okinawa on 30 July 1978 and in Samoa on 7 September 2009.