Why Do the British Drive on the Left and US and Most of the World on the Right?

[porwolf]

Why is that? What is the history?

[SteamWolf]

Napoleon.
Essentially.

From what I recall when this has come up, most of the early world under British rule would pass on the left when pulling wagons. Napoleon's hatred of anything English saw him decree that the French would do the opposite. Then when the French expanded colonisation this continued. Generally anywhere with French heritage drives on the right, British on the left.

Considering the USA was originally Fench, English and Spanish colonies depending on which area, it was always going to be a close thing as to which side they would end up driving on. As it turns out the right hand (wrong :P ) side due to large teamser wagons and the way they managed them (according to wiki).

[SteamWolf]

Right- and left-hand traffic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by SteamWolf

Napoleon.
Essentially.

From what I recall when this has come up, most of the early world under British rule would pass on the left when pulling wagons. Napoleon's hatred of anything English saw him decree that the French would do the opposite. Then when the French expanded colonisation this continued. Generally anywhere with French heritage drives on the right, British on the left.

Why then does The United States drive on the right. Was it their hate of the British also?

[cashflyer]

[SteamWolf]

Originally Posted by porwolf

Why then does The United States drive on the right. Was it their hate of the British also?

Possibly. Didn't the French support the war against the British during the battle for independence?

"In the Americas, all the formerly British, Spanish and Portuguese colonies in the Americas originally kept to the left. The first keep-right law in the United States was passed in 1792 and applied to the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. New York formalised right-hand traffic in 1804 and New Jersey in 1813. By the time the United States annexed French, Spanish, Russian and Hawaiian territories, the keep-right rule already applied there. " - Wikipedia

[porwolf]

Interesting! Also worthwhile to note is that only in the late 1950's was it that Scandinavian countries in Europe changed overnight from left hand traffic to the right hand side. As far as I know it was Sweden and Denmark, I don't know whether Norway also originally had left hand traffic.

[SteamWolf]

Yep. Mostly to allow ease of trade with neighbouring countries. Quite a few countries changed over in the 60's.
Australia has no land based neighbours so will probably never change.

[GWN7]

Originally Posted by porwolf

Why then does The United States drive on the right. Was it their hate of the British also?

Actually without the French supplying arms and money the revolution more than likely wouldn't have been a success. The money came from one Frenchman who really hated the British.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by GWN7

Frenchman who really hated the British.

They still do.




.

[A930Rocket]

I thought it might have had something to do with maritime sailing rules?

[andyt11]

I thought it was something to do with being able to swing your sword at a potential ambusher.

[Joe Bob]

Oz makes left hand drive cars have a sign warning others.......

[victatwin]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Oz makes left hand drive cars have a sign warning others.......

Hi Joe Bob , I have a LHD 911 in Queensland Oz, the law requiring my car to be labelled LHD on the rear of the car was vanquished over 20 years ago in my state and I believe in all other states(some states might be lesser in years for the deregulation),it was quite embarrassing having to display in 4 inch white bold lettering across the rear of your car that you are driving a LHD machine. I have had my 911 over 3 years now and people (Australians) still ask if the car should be labelled LHD, old habits die hard.
Cheers from Oz Brett L

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by andyt11

I thought it was something to do with being able to swing your sword at a potential ambusher.

Yes. See post #5.

Left handed knights were banned from jousting matches and eventually phased out of service completely because they caused so many head-on collisions of horses when they would swerve to the right at the last moment so their opponent would be on their left.

The above, I just made up.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by GWN7

Actually without the French supplying arms and money the revolution more than likely wouldn't have been a success. The money came from one Frenchman who really hated the British.

When the brave 3% of the men in what became the United States of America fought the red coats over an unreal tax of around 10% not only did we have some help on our land by the French but what REALLY tipped the war in our favor was love that the British had for Gibraltar. It seems that France and Spain decided to attack England's steadfast hold on Gibraltar. 13 pesky colonies or the wealth of trade from India and other colonies?

There was a vast fleet that was destined to crush the 3% of the men fighting here to for a free land. England had a choice, Gibraltar or the colonies. They made their choice.

Gibraltar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution
Great Siege of Gibraltar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But for the brits driving on the right side of the road? It gives your strong side to your enemy.