In the latest edition of the Heritage Portal, Peter Ball presents a concise, lucid and fascinating account of the history of why and how the various countries in the world elected to drive on which side of the road. 

With the majority of the countries driving on the right – 161 – versus 75 on the left, would or should there be standardisation to driving on the right. 

Main picture: Map of the world indicating which side every country drives on

History of LH versus RH side Driving

The question is easy to answer; South Africa was formerly part of the British Empire, which decreed that the rule of the road was to keep left in order to avoid collision, end of story.

NO, that is not the end of the story. The real question to be asked is why does Britain (and her former colonies) drive on the left, when 65% of the countries of the world drive on the right?

If one goes back 2000 years, it is highly probable that the Romans travelled on the left as proven by wheel ruts discovered by archaeologists at a Roman quarry near Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The ruts on the left were much deeper than those on the right, suggesting that the carts, heavily laden with rock, were leaving the quarry on the left.

There are sometimes exceptions to the general rule of only RHT or LHT. Traffic driving on the right in Savoy Court in London

Although the Western Roman Empire collapsed in the fifth century AD, the Roman Catholic Church arose to become the authority controlling Western Europe. It is highly likely that as the Romans had built the major roads of Europe (all roads lead to Rome), the status quo remained during the Dark Ages and when, in 1300 AD, Pope Boniface VIII issued a Papal Edict informing all pilgrims travelling to Rome to keep left, he was only reinforcing the general custom.

Warning sign on the border between Sweden and Norway in 1934

The upheaval wrought by the French Revolution brought about, in 1794, a rule to keep right instead of the traditional left (France being a Catholic country it is reasonable to presume that prior to “Le Revolution” they abided by the Papal Edict). It is said that the anti-Catholic Robespierre and his Jacobins resented the Papal “Keep Left” directive and prevailed upon the Parisians to drive on the right. During his conquests, Napoleon ordered his military traffic, with its large supply wagons, to keep to the right and civilians followed suit. In all countries conquered by Napoleon, “Keep Right” became and remained the rule after his defeat.

Britain was Napoleon’s enemy. As such, he drafted plans (1803-1805) to invade the south coast of England. A real threat of invasion prevailed until Nelson won the Battle of Trafalgar on 21^st October 1805. Thus Britain never succumbed to the French and was therefore not forced to convert to their laws. Hence, the “Keep Left” rule prevailed.

The change of traffic directions at the Laos–Thai border takes place on Lao territory just off the Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the fledgling United States of America, which comprised 13 former British colonies, had enacted the first “keep right” law for the Lancaster to Philadelphia turnpike in 1792. This was due to the use of large freight wagons drawn by six to eight horses hitched in pairs; the so called “Conestoga” wagons (8 tons payload), which were the forerunners of the “prairie schooners” of the American west. These wagons had no driver’s seat and the teamster (postillion), holding a whip in his right hand, controlled the team whilst riding on the left rear horse. When two wagons, going in opposite directions, had to pass on a typical narrow unpaved road the natural tendency of both teamsters was to edge their vehicles to the right. By doing this, the drivers could see down their left and avoid banging axle hubs. The “Keep Right” law gained popularity and in time was embraced by all 13 states. It is also postulated that it was an assertion by the Americans of their break away from the mother country.

Napoleon enforced the RHT rule on conquered territories

Until the 20th Century, Canada’s provinces, were split, with the original French regions (Quebec & Ontario) keeping to the right and the English regions keeping left. As Canada bordered the USA it was determined that it would fall into line with its neighbour to the south and the last province to do so was Newfoundland in 1947, prior to joining Canada in 1949.

Vehicles entering and leaving Macau cross over each other at the Lotus Bridge.

The year 1919, after the ending of the First World War, is considered to be pivotal, as at that time it is said there was parity between those who drove on the left and those who drove on the right (roughly 104 each). However since then, with the increased use of the motor vehicle, many countries have opted to change over, predominantly from the left to the right side of the road.

Los Angeles Freeway System

What has materialised, in the mid to latter part of the 20th Century, is the consolidation of blocks of countries driving on one side of the road or the other. An example is continental Europe, where all Nations drive on the right. The last country to switch over was Sweden in 1967. Conversely, in Southern and Eastern Africa, extending from South Africa to Kenya, people drive on the left (Commonwealth countries).

Logic for switching over

There is an extremely strong case for switching – the most cogent of the lot – in the case of Kong and Macau. As Mainland China drives on the right hand side – RHT rule applies – it makes sense that that both of these territories ultimately switch to driving on the right.

A traffic nightmare: At 17h00 on 3rd September 1967 Sweden changed from driving on the left side to driving on the right

Also with a strong case are Guyana and Surinam which both are LHT countries whereas in the rest of South America the RHT rule applies.

At the other extreme, the weakest case for switching are the island nations of the world, including Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, & Indonesia which have seen fit to remain driving on the left. The major factor in their consideration was that they have no land borders with other countries to consider.

Driving on the left in South Africa

That finally brings us to South Africa. Being the largest economy in Africa sways the argument in South Africa’s direction. Further bolstering South Africa’s position to retain the LHT rule is the fact that most of the African countries south of the equator especially those contiguous to South Africa, also drive on the left.

In the absence of any other overarching motive, there appears to be no rational argument for the switch given the enormous cost and dislocation involved.

I can only envisage two circumstances when this switch could arise but neither is plausible. Firstly the subjugation of South Africa by a world power such as Russia or America. Much like what Napoleon did, South Africa could be instructed to convert from LHT to RHT rule. The other miniscule possibility is if the world is governed by a supra-national body such as the United Nations and standardisation is enforced

Freeway in the USA

Therefore one does not have to budget for a new LHD vehicle just yet

Legend:

RHT = Right Hand Traffic

RHD = Right hand drive

Source:

Article in the Heritage Portal by Peter Ball entitled “Why does South Africa drive on the left hand side?”