why do countries drive on different sides Page 7

Ever wonder why some countries drive on the left while others insist on the right? Blame history, empire, and a bit of stubborn tradition. In ye olde times, riders kept to the left so the sword stayed on the right—handy if someone fancied a duel—so Britain (and Australia, Japan, etc.) stuck with left-hand traffic. Continental Europe shifted right under Napoleon, and the US doubled down when wagon drivers sat on the left, making right-hand travel safer to see oncoming traffic. Sweden even flipped sides in 1967 in a famously tidy, slightly chaotic day called “Dagen H.” Today, countries mostly match their neighbours to keep borders sane, and changing sides costs a fortune and several headaches. So yes, we drive on the left because history said so—and we’ve been politely ignoring right-laners ever since.