Left-Hand vs Right-Hand Traffic World Map
Blue = left-hand traffic / Gray = right-hand traffic
About 54 countries drive on the left. Most inherited it from Britain, but there are interesting exceptions.
Why Drive on the Left?
Left-hand traffic was actually the ancient default. Since most people are right-handed, travelers kept left so their sword hand faced oncoming strangers.
Right-hand traffic spread after the French Revolution — aristocrats had driven on the left, so it was reversed. Napoleon then spread it across conquered Europe.
Surprising Left-Hand Traffic Countries
- Japan — Never a British colony. Samurai walked on the left during the Edo period to prevent scabbards from clashing
- Thailand — The only mainland Southeast Asian country with LHT. Never colonized
- Indonesia — Former Dutch colony, but drives on the left (the Netherlands drives on the right)
- Mozambique — Former Portuguese colony, but drives on the left (Portugal drives right). Influenced by surrounding British colonies
- Suriname — Former Dutch colony driving on the left. Influenced by neighboring Guyana (British)
- US Virgin Islands — American territory driving on the left, using American left-hand-drive cars on left-side roads
Countries That Switched
| Country | Year | Switch |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden (Dagen H) | 1967 | Left → Right |
| Myanmar | 1970 | Left → Right |
| Nigeria | 1972 | Left → Right |
| Samoa | 2009 | Right → Left (most recent) |
Sweden's switch is legendary. On September 3, 1967, all vehicles stopped at dawn, moved to the opposite side, and resumed driving. 83% voted against it in a referendum, but it was forced through because every neighboring country drove on the right.
Samoa (2009) is the only country to recently switch from right to left — to import cheaper used cars from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
Islands of Left-Hand Traffic
- Thailand: Surrounded by right-driving Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar
- Suriname & Guyana: The only 2 left-driving countries on the South American continent
- Nepal & Bhutan: Sandwiched between left-driving India and right-driving China