Why did the British start driving on the left side of the road?

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. This rule was incorporated into the Highway Act of 1835 and was adopted throughout the British Empire.

When did the British start driving on the left side of the road?

1835
Left-hand driving was made mandatory in Britain in 1835. Countries which were part of the British Empire followed suit. This is why to this very day, India, Australasia and the former British colonies in Africa go left.

Is China left-hand drive?

In mainland China, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Various neighbors — Hong Kong, Macau, India, Nepal and Pakistan — drive on the left.

What side do they drive on in China?

In mainland China, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Various neighbors — Hong Kong, Macau, India, Nepal and Pakistan — drive on the left. The official driving code in the People’s Republic of China is the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国道路交通安全法)[1].

Why do we drive on the left side of the road?

The British custom of driving on the left side of the road isn’t a sign of eccentricity—there’s actually a very sensible reason for it. One of the things you probably always wondered about is why we drive on a different side of the road than our British cousins.

Which side of the road do British drivers drive on?

As recently as 1967 (and thanks to around $120 million from their government’s pocket) Swedish drivers began driving on the right. However British drivers remain on the left, and this is highly unlikely to change.

When did driving on the left become the law?

This rule was incorporated into the Highway Act of 1835 and was adopted throughout the British Empire. There was a movement in the 20th century towards the harmonisation of road laws in Europe and a gradual shift began from driving on the left to the right.

Why is the driver’s seat on the left in a car?

When Henry Ford unveiled his Model T in 1908, the driver’s seat was on the left, meaning that cars would have to drive on the right-hand side of the road to allow front and back passengers to exit the car onto the curb.