Why did some countries decide to drive on the right?
Why did some countries decide to drive on the right?
Traffic shifted to the right so drivers could easily avoid collisions. Eventually, with the rise of the automobile and increase in global traffic, many countries switched to the right to fit in with neighbors — including Samoa, which just switched from the left in 2009.
Why some countries have left hand drive and some right-hand drive?
The reasons for this are not entirely certain, but some believe it arose as a matter of safety. The majority of people are right handed, one theory goes, so driving or riding on the left would have allowed them to wield a weapon with their dominant hand if they crossed paths with an enemy.
Why do they drive on the left in Britain and on the right in other countries?
As most people are right-handed, the driver would sit to the right of the seat so his whip hand was free. Traffic congestion in 18th century London led to a law being passed to make all traffic on London Bridge keep to the left in order to reduce collisions. Today, only 35\% of countries drive on the left.
Why do we drive on the right Napoleon?
Napoleon ordered his armies to use the right-hand side of the road in order to avoid congestion during military manoeuvres. The nations that resisted invasion – Britain, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russia and Portugal – generally kept to the left. Denmark had not been invaded by the French but changed in 1793.
Which is better left-hand or right-hand drive?
Most people would say that steering needs more control, which means that it’s better to keep your dominant hands on the wheel. In this case, right-handers are probably at an advantage, as left-handers have to adapt to steering with their weaker hands. In the case of manual driving, then, being right-handed wins!
Which side of the road is better to drive on?
Neither side is intrinsically better or worse. Despite handedness, accident rates in countries that drive on the left or right are comparable. There is no ‘logical’ answer to this question that is separate from the facts of the matter.