Why in UK Motorists Drive on the Left?
Around a quarter of the world’s motorists drive on the left, and mostly they’re in countries which are old colonies of the United Kingdom (UK). This perplexes the rest of the world. However, there’s a perfectly good reason behind this. But still many people are wondering and do not know the reason until the present. This article will give you all you need to know about the subject.
It can be recalled that up to the late 16th century, people on Earth traveled on the left side of the road because it's the more appropriate option for violent and feudal societies composed mostly by right-handed people. It’s perplexing because those right-handed are supposed to be at the right side.
But here’s an explanation: Jousting knights in the ancient violent societies with their lances under their right arm passed naturally on each other's right. Also, you walked on the left if you passed a stranger on the road to make sure that your right arm holding the protective sword was between you and that stranger.
However, it was overturned by the revolutionary France as part of its sweeping social reconsideration. Then a change was carried out across continental Europe by Napoleon. The reason behind the sweeping change was because Napoleon was left-handed, so he sensibly march on the right with his army so that he could keep his arm holding the sword between him and any enemy.
So, it’s again perplexing that today’s driving on the right can be traced to the decision made by a left-handed Napoleon. From then on, any part of the world being colonized by the French has been driving on the right, whilst the countries which were part of the British Empire currently drive on the left.
Another perplexing reality is the United States of America (USA) which was a former British colony but currently drive on the right. In the beginning the US was anxious to adopt the policy to drive on the right as it could mean casting off all its remaining links of its colonial past with the British Empire.
Then, left-side driving was doomed ultimately when the U.S. drove on the right. Plus it only manufactured right-hand-drive vehicles which are of high quality. So, if you wanted a good and reliable vehicle, you better buy the U.S. made. So, from then on many countries changed out of necessity.
Today, the European Community would like Britain to fall into line with the rest of Europe to drive on the right, however, this is not possible anymore because it will cost billions of pounds to change everything. Anyway, Britain isn't alone in this strange quirk.
The countries that drive on the left are as follows: (1.) Anguilla (2.) Antigua & Barbuda (3.) Australia (4.) Bahamas (5) Bangladesh (6.) Barbados (7.) Bermuda (8.) Bhutan (9.) Botswana (10.) British Virgin Islands (11.) Brunei (12.) Cayman Islands (13.) Channel Islands (14.) Cyprus (15.) Dominica (16.) Eire-Ireland (17.) England (18.) Falkland Islands (19.) Fiji (20.) Grenada.
(21.) Guyana (22.) Hong Kong (23.) India (24.) Indonesia (25.) Isle of Man (26.) Jamaica (27.) Japan (28.) Kenya (29.) Lesotho (30.) Macau (31.) Malawi (32.) Malaysia (33.) Malta (34.) Mauritius (35.) Montserrat (36.) Mozambique (37.) Namibia (38.) Nepal (39.) New Zealand (40.) Northern Ireland (41.) Pakistan (42.) Papua New Guinea (43.) Samoa (44.) Seychelles (45.) Scotland
(46.) Singapore. (47.) Solomon Islands (48.) South Africa (49.) Sri Lanka (50.) St Kitts & Nevis (51.) St. Helena (52.) St. Lucia (53.) Surinam (54.) Swaziland (55.) Tanzania (56.) Thailand (57.) Tonga (58.) Trinidad and Tobago (59.) Turks and Caicos Islands (60.) Uganda (61.) US Virgin Islands (62.) Zambia (63.) Zimbabwe (64.) St. Vincent & Grenadines (65.) Wales.