WHY do we drive on the left (or right)?

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

Explore the world of driving norms with REV. Why does roughly 35% of the global population drive on the left side of the road? Discover the historical influences, from ancient customs to colonial legacies. From Napoleon to Hitler, and even camels in Pakistan, we shed light on why driving sides matter. Join us as we navigate the history of lefts, rights, and the quest for road safety.
Report: Vaishali Dinakaran
Editing: Kirsten Jungclaus
00:00 - Introduction to Driving Sides
01:11 - Samoa switches driving sides in 2009
02:26 - The Ancient Romans travelled on the left
03:20 - Influence of the Vatican
03:50 - The London Bridge Act
04:14 - America switches sides
04:54 - Conestoga Wagons
05:23 - French Revolution and switching sides
06:06 - Napoleon's influence
06:40 - Henry Ford and the Ford Model T
07:04 - Canada decides to go fully right
07:38 - Hitler's influence on keeping right
08:07 - Dagen-H in Sweden
09:54 - Camels botch Pakistan's driving side switch?
10:22 - Is driving on the left or the right side safer?
11:12 - Okinawa's 1978 driving swap
11:36 - Other countries that switched over
11:49 - Myanmar and General Ne Win
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REV - The Global Auto and Mobility Show from Deutsche Welle
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Пікірлер: 266

  • @DK-ue5ks
    @DK-ue5ksАй бұрын

    The reason Thailand is left hand drive is because of neighboring British colonies and the royal family importing cars from Britain.

  • @user-ci8gz3ch8i

    @user-ci8gz3ch8i

    18 күн бұрын

    There are various theories as to why the right side of the road became the mainstream in the world, but it is a common theory that the reason lies in France in the 1800s. However, there are various theories as to the details, such as "because of Napoleon's unique war tactics," "from an anti-Catholic standpoint (the Pope recommended driving on the left)," and "because French carriage drivers at the time sat on horses on the left side and driving on the right side was safer. However, there is no doubt that Europe was unified on the right side of the road under the influence of France, which was a powerful country at that time. On the other hand, in England, which was an island nation, the left side of the road was used because "in those days, the coachman rode in the center of the carriage and used the whip with his dominant hand (right), so it was easier to handle the carriage on the left. Later, during the colonial period, French-ruled countries and regions were driven on the right side of the road, while British-ruled areas were driven on the left side.

  • @cadifan

    @cadifan

    14 күн бұрын

    Thailand is not left hand drive, their cars are right hand drive, they drive on the left side of the road.

  • @Banom7a

    @Banom7a

    4 күн бұрын

    yup, and back then, Myanmar/burma was a LHT country as well before the dictator had a divine dream to change it to RHT

  • @ChrisBrengel
    @ChrisBrengelАй бұрын

    We can't change the side of the road we drive on because it would be too hard to retrain the camels. Lol!

  • @sanchoodell6789

    @sanchoodell6789

    15 күн бұрын

    Plus the camels would get a right hump about it! 😄

  • @sidsid9808

    @sidsid9808

    2 күн бұрын

    For your kind ignorance, camels don't use roads. You might be confused with cows roaming Indian roads.

  • @azert52b39
    @azert52b3929 күн бұрын

    Austria used to drive on the left side, but when a well known naughty austrian painter gained power in germany and invaded the country, he made a law that makes driving on the right side mandatory, a law that is still active today in austria.

  • @polyaplus
    @polyaplusАй бұрын

    Driving on the left hand side is relatively better than right hand side and the reason is, 90% of the people uses their right hand so when i am driving in South Africa, my less dominant hand (left) can operate the Gear Lever (in manual) while my more dominant hand steer the car since the Gear is located on my LHS.

  • @pb59codename81

    @pb59codename81

    Ай бұрын

    I was about to say that

  • @polyaplus

    @polyaplus

    Ай бұрын

    @@pb59codename81 just beat you to it, glad my logic is sound

  • @EpicThe112

    @EpicThe112

    Ай бұрын

    Are you quoting this traffic engineer in the 1960s J.J Lemming because he was the one that actually did the test about that drive on the left is safer than drive on the right

  • @polyaplus

    @polyaplus

    Ай бұрын

    When @pb59 says " i was about to say that." he meant he was about to say what i just said independent of any reference, meaning, it's an analytical mind thing to connect information with everything you know. And, i don't need an experiment to know my right hand is more effective and reliable than my left when it comes to hand to eye coordination. But i suppose, thanks for proving my point, you learn something new everyday. J.J Lemming, i'll be sure to look him up, thank you!!!

  • @NazriB

    @NazriB

    Ай бұрын

    Lies again? Standardised driving to avoid confusion

  • @1111EKA
    @1111EKAАй бұрын

    A lot of used cars from Japan end up in Myanmar. That's why they drive rhd cars on the right side of the road.

  • @ryanglass2778
    @ryanglass2778Ай бұрын

    I'm Australian, living in the US, and visit South Africa and Aus often while driving there too, and have driven throughout Europe, UK, and Japan. So I've constantly switched between both sides. Both have their pros and cons, but I do find driving on the left easier. Maybe it's bias, but also, I find it easier to gauge the road as my eyes naturally scan from left to right while driving. Either way, both come naturally after a day or so. The worst part is the reversed turn signal and wiper stalks on the steering column

  • @Lando-kx6so

    @Lando-kx6so

    Ай бұрын

    Driving on the left is statistically safer

  • @yuriydee

    @yuriydee

    Ай бұрын

    Shifting gears with the left is pretty weird for me when driving a RHD car (aside from the turn signals), but youre right other than that an experienced driver can get used to it in a day or even few hours.

  • @LexlutherVII

    @LexlutherVII

    26 күн бұрын

    Nope, Right is way better and plus it makes the interior of the car better looking,

  • @LexlutherVII

    @LexlutherVII

    26 күн бұрын

    @@Lando-kx6so probably the opposite,

  • @ksd9756

    @ksd9756

    24 күн бұрын

    My dad had a Ford Cortina which was actually built in Germany and not Britain. The signal stalk and the wipers were a nightmare to operate. Yes, like you I have driven both in the US and in Australia (where we drive correctly LOL). I definitely prefer the UK/Australian right-hand drive steering.

  • @itinerantislander
    @itinerantislanderАй бұрын

    The United States Virgin Islands drive on the left but import cars from the US, so have left hand drive cars driving on the left! ( the opposite of Myanmar)

  • @cadifan

    @cadifan

    14 күн бұрын

    Both US and British Virgin Islands drive on the left in LHD vehicles.

  • @pieter1102

    @pieter1102

    5 күн бұрын

    This is true for all British West Indies islands in the Caribbean.

  • @Rakso-bq1lb
    @Rakso-bq1lbАй бұрын

    Yep, I’m from Sweden and even though the switch to right-hand driving occurred almost 60 years ago, it’s still a subject that raises nostalgia and memories. My grandparents all learned to drive on the left and quite amusingly one of my grandmothers always continued to insist that left-hand driving had been much better ;) I also own an older car from 1964 and it still has that H-sticker on the dashboard.

  • @LexlutherVII

    @LexlutherVII

    26 күн бұрын

    Sweden did the right thing, big respect to them,

  • @Lando-kx6so
    @Lando-kx6soАй бұрын

    Rwanda & Burundi are likely to be the next set of countries to change the side of the road they drive on from the right to the left.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Although, that debate has been going on for a while, with no clear date being set for a change, correct?

  • @DD-gz9ut
    @DD-gz9utАй бұрын

    I’ve driven on the right side all my life. I’ve driven on the left side a couple of times. Once in Ireland and another time in Japan. You get used to the switch after a couple of days. Perhaps the most difficult thing when switching driving sides was how to measure the vehicle’s dimensions. I’m used to driving with the steering wheel on the left. This means my brain is used to measuring the car’s width from left to right. However, if the steering wheel is on the right (Japan/Australia,etc.) your brain needs to measure the car’s width from right to left. As such, any car becomes “wider” to your brain. This new sense of driving an “immense” vehicle is something that becomes truly challenging when switching driving sides from what you’re normally used to.

  • @danielkalu5923

    @danielkalu5923

    16 күн бұрын

    I can relate to this 100%. I'm a Nigerian living in Malaysia. Nigeria drives on the right side of the road while Malaysia drives on the left side. Nowadays, I only visit Nigeria few times within a year and I'm grappling with measuring the car dimensions especially in a crowded street. I usually find myself hitting pedestrians and incoming traffics with my side mirror. Now, I know why.

  • @ZadieBear
    @ZadieBearАй бұрын

    In 2007, I spent 5 weeks driving in the UK in a left hand drive car. When I came back to America, I struggled with driving on the right side of the road for the first 2 weeks back. Many accidents almost occurred.....

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    We've heard of people who now have trouble switching back to the side of the road they were once used to driving on, as a result of which, they no longer drive in their home countries!

  • @Lando-kx6so
    @Lando-kx6soАй бұрын

    12:15 Myanmar is not the only country where right hand drive cars mainly drive on the right side of the road. There's also Mongolia, Somalia, South Sudan, the Russian far east, Burundi, eastern & southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Palau, Marshall Islands, & Vanuatu. There's also US Virgin Islands where it's the opposite (drive on the left all cars are left hand drive)

  • @thomaswagner3885

    @thomaswagner3885

    23 күн бұрын

    Ukraine too and Europe too

  • @fldon2306
    @fldon230619 күн бұрын

    Great vid! In the USA, the horse-drawn Conestoga wagon had one break, on the left rear wheel, so the driver, walking with the horse and wagon had to be on the left to better see oncoming traffic; the habit stuck! In Japan, an Emperor’s decree, some time around 600 AD(?), made passing on the right, so being on the left side of the road.

  • @greall
    @greallАй бұрын

    We drive on the left side of the road here in Trinidad and Tobago though the steering wheel's on the right side in most cars. Most of our new and used cars are imported from Japan or Thailand or Indonesia. We do get some vehicles imported from countries where they drive on the right like Korea, etc.

  • @freecon144
    @freecon144Ай бұрын

    I have been driving French car in Japan. It keeps signal lever and wiper lever set opposite side to Japanese car.

  • @Kerleem
    @KerleemАй бұрын

    As an American driver now living in mainland Europe, I am of course biased to cars configured to Left Hand Drive, driving on the right side of the road. That being said, I have driven Right Hand Drive, on the left side of the road many times. And I have even driven my LHD car from Amsterdam (LHD) to the UK (RHD) swapping sides. The MOST important thing is to be comfortable as a driver and understand the challenge and differences, and learn from them. And if you do that, swapping sides is no problem. Being ignorant to the differences is the problem.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Do you have a trick to handling swapping sides? We've been told reminding oneself that the driver is always meant to be close to the median is one way of handling the change.

  • @Kerleem

    @Kerleem

    Ай бұрын

    @@DWREV yes, exactly that.

  • @chenyansong

    @chenyansong

    24 күн бұрын

    Just curious, for RHD car is the gas pedal still on the right of brake pedal or it is reversed? Do you still use right foot to drive or you use left foot? If it uses manual transmission, what is the position of crutch pedal?

  • @Kerleem

    @Kerleem

    23 күн бұрын

    @@chenyansong it’s the same

  • @sahilsalvi8672
    @sahilsalvi8672Ай бұрын

    Even though I live in India I had love to drive at right hand side of the road in America. It gave me more confidence and good road presence at same time.

  • @stkjjke
    @stkjjkeАй бұрын

    Being a German living in Kenya I found the switch quite easy. In fact not being stuck with my right foot at the center console. The only concession I'll never make: Japanese cars the insist of having the turn signal on the outer side of the steering wheel instead of European and US cars that have the turn signal on the left always. In domestic markets that's outside as well, but you don't have to adjust on RHD cars.

  • @alanmcgowan3457

    @alanmcgowan3457

    6 күн бұрын

    I drive a Mitsubishi Pajero for work. It's Japanese and has the turn signals on the left, wipers on the right, so no different than my own VW. I do get annoyed with the reverse, Mitsubishi is down and right, my VW is up and left.

  • @WiwatChang
    @WiwatChangАй бұрын

    Most comprehensive explanation on this topic ever, excellent research - well done!

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you for watching!

  • @Claro1993
    @Claro1993Ай бұрын

    The Philippines used to drive at the left side of the road until the end of World War II when Executive Order no. 34 of the year 1945 was enacted to Drive on the right side of the road to take advantage of American surplus vehicles as the nation was heavily ravaged during the war.

  • @darwinqpenaflorida3797

    @darwinqpenaflorida3797

    Ай бұрын

    Before EO 34, Right Hand Drive was used for Military Vehicles at the time when Manila was liberated

  • @avimech8546
    @avimech854613 күн бұрын

    I got pulled over for driving on the wrong side of the road once, I told the officer I was observing “opposites day” (January 25th), he was inclined to agree with me and let me go. He then took the lead and we both continued driving down the opposite side of the road together, it was beautiful.

  • @shaclo1512

    @shaclo1512

    4 күн бұрын

    beautiful ❤

  • @Chaff_flare
    @Chaff_flareАй бұрын

    As an indian living in canada. driving through left strangely gave me a sense of more control over vechicle. even though i spent equal time driving both in canada and india. maybe its because i am right handed. steering iwth right hand while shifting with left was way easier, than driving my CVT while steering with left hand. maybe its just me

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Our reporter agrees with you. As someone used to driving on the left side of the road, and someone who is right-hand-dominant, it feels easier to control the steering wheel with the right hand and shift gears with the left. Although with time, the switch does become easier. What do you think?

  • @kasuleronald3317

    @kasuleronald3317

    15 күн бұрын

    but I am confused which one is which ,let's say from Uganda inside a car steering positioned on right side ,but on road we use left side when driving ,but let's say here in Qatar steering is on right side in a car but driving on left side on the road ,now the question is which one is which left or right ,still

  • @talhaabdullah2859
    @talhaabdullah2859Ай бұрын

    Pakistan should make the switch not to get away from the colonial past but to make travel easier to the Middle East

  • @mr.commenter7953

    @mr.commenter7953

    2 күн бұрын

    Wannabe arabs lol

  • @Darkhorse0000
    @Darkhorse000015 күн бұрын

    Very well reseached and nice presentation. Thx.

  • @Normalaatsra
    @Normalaatsra24 күн бұрын

    Indonesia used to drive on the right but switched to the left under Japanese occupation. When it became independent it has kept left side driving as all immediate neighbour countries by land or sea drive on the left. Strangely this has never affected rail. But car manufacturing doesn't have to deal with expenses for changing steering sides these days, Indonesia exports their LHD vehicles to other markets like Philippines with ease.

  • @user-ci8gz3ch8i

    @user-ci8gz3ch8i

    18 күн бұрын

    Why does Indonesia drive on the left side of the road? The Dutch, the original rulers of Indonesia, initially drove on the left side of the road, and this custom was also adopted in Indonesia as a colony. However, when the ” Napoleonic Empire ” was established in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century, the countries that came under its rule followed France's example and changed their traffic from the left side to the right side. When Napoleon annexed the Netherlands, the mainland of the Netherlands replaced the right side of the road. The East Indies (Indonesia) was occupied by the British and ruled by Stamford Raffles for five years. Since Indonesia was under British rule during this period, there seems to have been no change to the left-hand traffic as in the UK.

  • @denisplouffe514
    @denisplouffe5144 күн бұрын

    I found your comments on Canada most interesting in light that we are an exemption to most countries of the Commonwealth. Canada being a federation had the issue of each province had different policies affecting their citizens. Thank you for your explanations. 🚘🚌🚦🇨🇦

  • @protograde2723
    @protograde2723Ай бұрын

    India has RHD. It's really easy to use the center console to support my left knee while releasing the clutch. Something that I can't imagine on LHD cars.

  • @wordsmith52

    @wordsmith52

    Ай бұрын

    That is very true! Left hand drive cars seem more uncomfortable for me and very irritatinting with less leg room and sometunes painful for the right knee. It is also supporting evil people like Hitler, Napolean and other ruthless wicked tyrants to drive on the right side! Lol!

  • @diablow1411

    @diablow1411

    Ай бұрын

    I think it is LHD, not RHD. Most cars in India are positioned in a way the gear stick is positioned for the left hand, and the layout you mentioned, that definitely is LHD.

  • @protograde2723

    @protograde2723

    Ай бұрын

    @@diablow1411 I meant, the steering wheel is on the right side.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    India is in fact "Right Hand Drive" but "Left Hand Traffic". So the steering is on the right side of the car, while the traffic runs on the left side of the road. Although the terms certainly are confusing!

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    You make a very valid point. We've encountered that it's also really tricky to parallel park on the side opposite of what you're used to. Since your brain isn't accustomed to measuring the dimensions from that side.

  • @abhivinayek
    @abhivinayek13 күн бұрын

    Very well researched

  • @yuriydee
    @yuriydeeАй бұрын

    Just from totally anecdotal experience (since Ive driven on both sides), using the less dominant hand to steer and more dominant hand to shift gears (or whatever else) is the more logical solution since more people are right handed. But overall its not difficult for an experienced driver to use either side.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    We've actually come across a lot of people who said the opposite. That it's easier to control the steering wheel with the dominant right hand, while shifting gears with the non-dominant left hand. Yours is an interesting take!

  • @thecomment9489

    @thecomment9489

    28 күн бұрын

    Yes but as cars become increasingly automatic and now even autopilot that may be less of an issue.

  • @gpierre90
    @gpierre90Ай бұрын

    Hi, our little island nation, I'm talking about the little gem in the Indian Ocean the Seychelles drives on the left and we never had a road switch to my knowledge, we still drive to the left and our vehicles are right hand drive.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Lovely to hear from a viewer from Seychelles! Thanks for watching our video, and do subscribe to our channel if you'd like to see more of our content.

  • @fialra1
    @fialra112 күн бұрын

    As an Eastern-European who moved to Britain, I drove cars on both sides and the adjustment is actually taking place much quicker than one could imagine. What I found was that the state of the roads, illumination, signs, etc, play a much more important role in the safety of the driving than the side of the road you need to drive on. If the roads are in good shape and the other drivers are considerate, it really doesn't matter that much where your steering wheel is located.

  • @CO84trucker
    @CO84truckerКүн бұрын

    I've been to the Bahamas which is a 🇬🇧Commonwealth member & drives on left, and while there are quite a few cars from the states imported to the islands, the biggest danger doesn't come from tourists from the rest of the world that drives on what Brits call the wrong side of road, but rather pedestrians who fail to look to the right first!

  • @Mike40M
    @Mike40M20 күн бұрын

    The switch in Sweden did result in some accidents. Hard to tell how many. The year after the change, I had a high speed encounter with a car going on the wrong side of a highway. One of the most scary things in my life.

  • @rmar127
    @rmar1275 күн бұрын

    Napoleon wasn’t a little man. He was about 5’6”, which was fairly average in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. The myth that he was short comes from the fact that a French inch was slightly longer than a British inch and therefore to total height was expressed by a smaller number. He was 5’2” in French imperial measurements.

  • @vineethg6259
    @vineethg6259Ай бұрын

    01:06 Why is Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan shaded in dark? All those countries have Left-Hand Traffic too just like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks for pointing this out to us, we appreciate the feedback.

  • @jeytheyoutubelover
    @jeytheyoutubeloverАй бұрын

    We are lucky in Australia 🇦🇺, we get good used cars from Japan.

  • @connclissmann6514
    @connclissmann65148 күн бұрын

    We drive in the left, as Ireland is the only country with a land border with the UK. I learned to drive in a left-hand-drive VW, purchased by my parents from a departing German embassy official. Never had any issues driving either side of the road or either side of the car.

  • @raymondscott8619
    @raymondscott861920 күн бұрын

    Riding a motorcycle is more difficult when changing sides because, in a car, all you have to remember is the driver should be in the middle of the road. On a motorcycle you're in the middle of the vehicle! I found when coming out of someone's drive, I blanked out as to which side to ride on. Excellent video, thanks...

  • @obelic71

    @obelic71

    19 күн бұрын

    Correct as a continental European i almost had an accident with my motorcycle in the UK. I pulled over to a petrolstation and after refueling automaticly got on the right side of the road . I just evaded a Public transport bus and had a big scare. Its easier to get used to drive on the left in a RHD car then on a motorcycle. The "odd" placing for us LHD drivers of the steeringwheel remembers you to stay on the left lane.

  • @bogdan7826

    @bogdan7826

    15 күн бұрын

    When I moved to UK and bought a car first time,I went to a petrol station thinking in my mind ,keep left, keep left, while I drove on the right side😂 a guy coming from front flashing me and beeping .and I was like wtf does he want and why is on my side of the road. Was funny when I realised 😂

  • @CrystalClearWith8BE
    @CrystalClearWith8BEАй бұрын

    I'm a Filipino and back then, we used to drive on the left during the colonial days and WW2. After WW2, it was official for Filipinos to drive on the right. In 2010, the Philippine National Railways was also switched to RHT. However, we still use LHT vehicles for motorsports which is okay in the Philippines, but not for transportation in the public.

  • @darwinqpenaflorida3797

    @darwinqpenaflorida3797

    Ай бұрын

    The Philippines is the only archipelago country in Asia still drive to the right, the other was Taiwan

  • @CrystalClearWith8BE

    @CrystalClearWith8BE

    Ай бұрын

    @@darwinqpenaflorida3797, the Philippines is one of 5 countries in South East Asia to drive on the right. Others are in Indochina which are Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Therefore, the Philippines is the only island country in South East Asia to drive on the right.

  • @CrystalClearWith8BE

    @CrystalClearWith8BE

    Ай бұрын

    For some odd reason, in Metro Manila, the EDSA Carousel uses LHD buses and those buses are meant for RHT, but for some reasons, the bus stations are on the left while LHD buses have doors on the right so passengers get on and off the bus on the right side of the carousel. It would've been better for the EDSA Carousel buses to be RHD, but unfortunately, in accordance to Republic Act 8506 of 1998, it's illegal to register and operate a RHD vehicle for ordinary use, but RHD vehicles are okay and used for motorsports only.

  • @darwinqpenaflorida3797

    @darwinqpenaflorida3797

    Ай бұрын

    @@CrystalClearWith8BE Yeah Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are Right Hand Drive borders the left hand drive Thailand where some land borders have switched lane

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing this with us. It's really interesting to know that there are exceptions to the rule, and that the exception includes machines used for motor racing. Just to clarify though - are the machines used in races specifically only LHT vehicles, or is it a mixed grid of both LHT and RHT machines?

  • @JanLion-zb1bd
    @JanLion-zb1bd14 күн бұрын

    We learned in school that Napoleon let his armies walk on the right side of the road to confuse his enemies. Walking on the left would mean his armies would come closer while walking on the right would mean they were leaving. His armies however came closer, walking on the right side of the road.

  • @Michael-yi4mc
    @Michael-yi4mc4 күн бұрын

    Since most people are right handed, it makes sense to have a left handed drive with a manual transmission. It’s easier to shift with your dominant hand. Just saying from Hawaii.

  • @desidesigning
    @desidesigningАй бұрын

    My right eye is dominant. I've driven both sides for donkeys years. However, I feel more natural when I'm driving on the left side of the road due to being Rt side dominant.

  • @jimgorycki4013
    @jimgorycki401314 күн бұрын

    I learned to drive cars with both standard shift and automatic transmission. The right hand shift gears, while the left foot pushes the clutch pedal. I drove in UK on holiday, so the left hand shift gears, and the left foot depresses the clutch pedal. That's kind of a moot point considering more and more cars have automatic transmission. I got the hang of driving on the left so I don't have a preference of one over the other.

  • @Embargoman
    @Embargoman28 күн бұрын

    It will be switching sides on one country could be interesting over territorial disputes of a country unified.

  • @Sams_Uncle
    @Sams_Uncle29 күн бұрын

    Due to our right hand dominance, left hand driving is almost 10% more safer than RHD. Collision avoidance is naturally sharp in driving left. However, for minority it may not work.

  • @shiyang2030
    @shiyang203015 күн бұрын

    I've been holding a Chinese driving license (LHD) for over 25 years and a British license (RHD) for over 22 years. I found no difficulties switching between the two sides. However, I personally feel that RHD is more comfortable and, more importantly, much easier to balance ourselves. The reason may be that as the heart of most of us resides slightly to the left side of our body, our centre of gravity (so to speak) is a bit towards the left: perhaps that is the reason why tracks such as running and cycling are always anti-clockwise. Most people (with left-sided hearts, of course) would agree that running clockwise is a bit awkward. As for driving, I find it is much easier to find the centre of the lane for a RHD vehicle than a LHD one.

  • @curtisthomas-eg4th

    @curtisthomas-eg4th

    9 күн бұрын

    China drives on the right, except Hong Kong.

  • @shiyang2030

    @shiyang2030

    9 күн бұрын

    @@curtisthomas-eg4th I assume we both agree that RHD means Right-Hand Drive, and an RHD vehicle drives on the left side, and vice versa, yeah? And Macau also drives on the left with RHD cars, FYI

  • @ceng4804

    @ceng4804

    13 сағат бұрын

    英国行人是靠右走路还是靠左走路?

  • @RohanXVII
    @RohanXVIIСағат бұрын

    TLDR: world drives on the right-side. British colonies drive on the left side (and few others).

  • @LexlutherVII
    @LexlutherVII26 күн бұрын

    The Right side is way better and plus it makes the interior of the car better looking, i hope the UK and some other few countries do the same,

  • @Alex-pj8nz

    @Alex-pj8nz

    25 күн бұрын

    For a left hander

  • @LexlutherVII

    @LexlutherVII

    24 күн бұрын

    @@Alex-pj8nz nope, but for majority of the world's population and the interior of the vehicle,

  • @Alex-pj8nz

    @Alex-pj8nz

    24 күн бұрын

    @@LexlutherVII Which is why driving on the right kills more people

  • @Yoshi-yw7tg
    @Yoshi-yw7tg14 күн бұрын

    Taiwan used to be a part of Japan and cars drove on the left until 1945, since which Taiwan has been right hand traffic

  • @cadifan

    @cadifan

    5 күн бұрын

    Taiwan used to be part of China and the Chinese government think it still is. Taiwan switched left side of the road to the right in 1946 because mainland China did. The Japanese occupation of Taiwan only lasted for 50 years.

  • @Yoshi-yw7tg

    @Yoshi-yw7tg

    5 күн бұрын

    Fifty years, so what? It’s still a fact that Taiwan used to be a part of Japan for fifty years.

  • @oneoftheordinary
    @oneoftheordinary21 күн бұрын

    12:06 most truck drivers in Jamaica have their trucks imported from the US, so they have left hand drive trucks driving on the left

  • @kexcz8276
    @kexcz82765 сағат бұрын

    I am Czech, and ofcourse, I more used to driving to the right, so I wouldnt change that, however, I can also imagine driving on the left, if there wasnt one major thing- the gear shift. Since I am right-handed, I can't imagine shifting with my left hand. I would need the stick to be in door or IDK, since I have (at leadt parents told me) the crossed hemispheres or whatever, meaning I do various tasks with a specific hand, and when asked to do it by opposite hand, I simply cant. It's the same reason why I eat with fork in my right hand- if I was holding it with the left one, I couldn't navigate it to the mouth 😂...

  • @eugp4198
    @eugp4198Ай бұрын

    With all the latest infotainment system operates through touch screen these days, seems Right Hand side is easier for our right hand to operate the touch screen..

  • @GonzoTehGreat
    @GonzoTehGreat20 күн бұрын

    2:30 People in Roman times didn't usually travel on horseback! Horses were expensive (to purchase and own) and riding was a rare and privileged skill, which took years to learn. Instead, most people traveled on foot, or by cart/wagon. According to a few historical sources, Roman soldiers did march on the left, but we don't know why. However, we do know it had nothing to do with being able to draw their swords more easily, because they carried pilla (javelins) as their main weapon, but also because their short sword (gladius) was worn on their RIGHT hip and when marching to battle, they carried a large shield (scutum) in their left hand. During the late medieval and early modern period, travel by horse gradually became more common, but horses were usually led (by the reins) and mounted/dismounted from the LEFT side. Also, swords were longer, so they had to be worn on the LEFT hip. Hence, it's possible that keeping to the left of the road became more popular, as a result.

  • @fosterb247
    @fosterb247Ай бұрын

    I always carry a sword in my right hand when on religious pilgrimage - Luckily I live in the UK where we drive on the left side 🤓

  • @EarlJohn61
    @EarlJohn617 күн бұрын

    From the 2 Ronnie's... (Out of date since Brexit) "To encourage closer ties with the common market, all cars in Britain will drive on the right from July 1st... "And if all goes well, Buses & Trucks will follow suit from August 1st."

  • @Ubique2927
    @Ubique29276 күн бұрын

    In the Philippines many people drive on the most convenient side at the time. Officially they should be on the right side.

  • @niceguy100000
    @niceguy100000Ай бұрын

    The video says we drive on the left or right for reasons.

  • @alessioartioli3323
    @alessioartioli33232 күн бұрын

    Except the former UK colonies, I think Japan is the only countriy where people drive on the left, with the steering on the right (not counting minor small states and/or small islands). This has always facinated me! For the most of the countries today driving on the left side, iot's pretty much eveident that it's just a colonial legacy from the british

  • @cadifan
    @cadifan5 күн бұрын

    In NZ we drive on the left in RHD cars, but I've owned many LHD American imports so am just as comfortable driving from either side of the car.

  • @baits9301
    @baits930117 күн бұрын

    Clock moves from left to right , you hope on a horse from the left. Most people are right-handed , holding the steering wheel with the right hand makes sense .

  • @d.e.7467
    @d.e.74675 күн бұрын

    I think it's interesting that regardless of which side of the vehicle that the steering wheel is on, the accelerator pedal is to the right of the brake pedal. But that's just me, I guess.

  • @jessiedelosreyes4261
    @jessiedelosreyes426115 күн бұрын

    Here in Micronesia as a United State treaty, we use to drive in the right side of the road even thought all cars here we use is imported from japan the steering wheel is in the right side.

  • @HomesteadAce
    @HomesteadAceАй бұрын

    0:30 that guy that got ejected in the head-on collision had me cracking in tears 😭

  • @madfly8082

    @madfly8082

    Ай бұрын

    Don’t think he got ejected from the car. There appears to have been a motorbike in the mix.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    You've got keen eyes! The entire scene is also sort of mirrored in cartoon form later on in the video. Let's see if you figure out what we are talking about.

  • @whistlingdiesel
    @whistlingdieselАй бұрын

    What is the body count on which side of the road? I know it sounds cynical but maybe we should ignore all sub-factors like speed limits or insurance damage claims or average age and car size of the fleet...

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    That's a very interesting statistic to look into.

  • @emiliorodenasgonzalez8568
    @emiliorodenasgonzalez856823 сағат бұрын

    The video has not said why the Britons prefered to use the right instead of the left when yet the romans thought the correct and why is better to the left!

  • @paulsz6194
    @paulsz6194Ай бұрын

    @DW REV , why no mention of why the Kingdom of Thailand drives to the right? Have you completely forgotten about that country?

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Sorry, we were under the impression that people drive on the left side of the road in Thailand. Have we missed something?

  • @paulsz6194

    @paulsz6194

    Ай бұрын

    @@DWREV Yes. you sure have. I guess no one from DW has been to Thailand? Not to Forget Indonesia either, which was once a Dutch colony up until after the end WW2. So it’s unique that Indonesia too would drive on the right.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    29 күн бұрын

    Well, I have spent some time in Thailand and they definitely drive on the left side of the road. The same with Indonesia. Perhaps you mean that the steering wheel is on the right side of the car in those countries? The terms can get confusing....

  • @cadifan

    @cadifan

    5 күн бұрын

    Thailand drives on the left since the Japanese occupation in WWII. A friend of mine was married to Thai man and he told me "Cars here same as Thailand" (I'm in New Zealand)

  • @ananwongpinyochit4919
    @ananwongpinyochit4919Ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing. I've observed an increase in Indian reporters on the DW channel, which indicates that the network embraces perspectives from across the globe.

  • @sherrypalmer1283
    @sherrypalmer1283Ай бұрын

    You can always tell when an American is driving in a left side country. The windshield wipers activate when the driver is signaling for a turn.😂

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Happens to the best of us!

  • @cadifan
    @cadifan14 күн бұрын

    Myanmar drive RHD on the right side of the road and Both US & British Virgin Islands drive LHD on the left side of the road.

  • @alphajed7700
    @alphajed7700Күн бұрын

    Then why Canada (a British colony) drive at the right?

  • @heronimousbrapson863
    @heronimousbrapson86312 күн бұрын

    Newfoundland didn't switch to the right until 1947, two years before it joined Canada.

  • @joshuahill6153
    @joshuahill615322 күн бұрын

    Japan imports too many old cars to New Zealand because of the right hand drive. We also import tonnes of old buses. We clock millions of kilometers on buses from the 80s-2000s from Japan because of their great reliability as school buses.

  • @cadifan

    @cadifan

    5 күн бұрын

    Japan EXports to NZ, NZ IMports from Japan. NZ also imports 500 cars a year from the USA.

  • @joshuahill6153

    @joshuahill6153

    5 күн бұрын

    Most American car related imports are surprisingly Truck, Bus, and Diesel Car cummins engines.

  • @cadifan

    @cadifan

    5 күн бұрын

    @@joshuahill6153 That's just the commercial machines. There's literally thousands and thousands of American cars in New Zealand. Has been since the start of the 1900s.

  • @auspal8287
    @auspal828723 күн бұрын

    Why didn't it make a standard for all manufacturers to keep the turn signal and wiper lever in position such as for the right steering on the right and the left steering to the left? They built expensive cars but some switches and levers are in weird positions without thinking of the correct position as the standard for all. Hoping this will be standardized soon similar to the USB-C cable for all electronic devices.

  • @solracer66

    @solracer66

    23 күн бұрын

    Pretty much every LHD car I've seen has the turn signal stalk on the left but with RHD cars I've seen it both on the left (Ford Escort) and right (Toyota). I agree that the lack of standardization is confusing.

  • @maishjunior4651
    @maishjunior465112 күн бұрын

    Right or left, accidents will always occur if there's no road discipline, road rules and vehicle maintenance!!!

  • @samad3251
    @samad325117 күн бұрын

    what's "theary"? @6:07 ?

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    17 күн бұрын

    We are a diverse group at REV with lots of different accents, backgrounds and experiences, so we can cover topics not just from one perspective. Embrace the differences

  • @jamestankiahou
    @jamestankiahou26 күн бұрын

    I am from Malaysia, and similar like UK follow left road and rhd . But i want to try lhd and follow right road. So i have two game is Froza Horizon 4 (using UK map) and Forza Horizon 5 (using Mexico map ) . And this game has different road side . And learning myself about how to driving this two side road. Is ok for me , just feeling and switch that brain like mirror.

  • @minnchitminnthuchitminnthu1749
    @minnchitminnthuchitminnthu174917 күн бұрын

    In my country, Myanmar, we drive on the right side of the road but over 90 percent of vehicles have the stirring wheel on right side because we are driving japanese used cars.😂

  • @ttjouji9459
    @ttjouji9459Ай бұрын

    i have a old volvo why dont you make a video abt volovo the old ones

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks for the idea, we'd love to make a video about old Volvos. We actually went up to North Sweden and filmed some Volvos that have been converted into "EPA Traktors" a while ago: kzread.info/dash/bejne/fo6kuNmJZ7TOl5M.html What Volvo do you drive? We'd love to hear more.

  • @ttjouji9459

    @ttjouji9459

    Ай бұрын

    @@DWREV a old volvo from sweden idk the date but on the rear there volvo 244 dl

  • @darwingraeme3310
    @darwingraeme33107 күн бұрын

    When I go to visit my wife & kids in The Philippines, (I'm an Aussie) at least once or twice during my holiday I'll go to get in the right side of our car to drive & my wife & kids laugh so hard. Then it's the walk of embarrassment around to the left side of the car. Hahahaha. 😂

  • @lesklower7281
    @lesklower72814 күн бұрын

    I live in Australia and we drive on the left but and it is now almost impossible to import a vehicle that is left hand drive its not a bad thing because there are amlot of JDM vehicles in Australia also South African cars but if you import a new car from North America it has to be converted to right hand drive which is a costly conversion l saw a 2016 Corvette and it cost the owner aud $70000 to do the conversion but we get right hand drive Ford Mustangs built like that in the factory l see JDM vehicles every day when l go out driving not the performance cars mainly people movers from Toyota and Nissan but Australia will never change to driving on tge right hand drive and we are getting lndian built vehicles infact our Suzuki Baleno was made in lndia and tge Mahindra has been sold in Australia for many years and they are very good vehicles

  • @abrarishfaqmridha4168
    @abrarishfaqmridha416828 күн бұрын

    You didn’t mention the the name of Bangladesh

  • @paulj8312
    @paulj831211 күн бұрын

    Wow good info lol🇦🇺

  • @harrypothead4575
    @harrypothead4575Ай бұрын

    Nepal 🇳🇵 too

  • @mixtlillness9825
    @mixtlillness982514 күн бұрын

    I drive in the middle of the road! Get out my way!

  • @williamjones7163
    @williamjones71635 күн бұрын

    We drive on the right. Hence we have the Right of way. I have never heard of the Left of way.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    5 күн бұрын

    Though people who drive on the left can still have the right of way. Right? 😉

  • @mrspook388
    @mrspook3883 күн бұрын

    I DRIVE LHD IN DUBAI WHERE I WORKING AND I DRIVE RHD IN MY HOME COUNTRY INDIA I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES DRIVING LEFT OR RIGHT EXCEPT INDICATOR & WIPER BLADES STICKS

  • @TJSaw
    @TJSaw27 күн бұрын

    Driving on the left is the best. Makes it easier to smoke a joint while driving.

  • @ShubhamSinghBelhari
    @ShubhamSinghBelhari17 күн бұрын

    You are using wrong map of INDIA at 1:08 sec. Kindly correct it.

  • @jackofallgamesTV
    @jackofallgamesTV3 күн бұрын

    How come when we talked about which side the steering wheel should be on which side the traffic we talked about the common good yet we let video game companies put the joystick on the left even though most people are right-handed. That move was a pure money milking move to put more quarters in machines. Ok I understand this fundamental differences like how we eat share the road but we don't each share a joystick so if that's the case why are joysticks standardised but not cars? And when making driving peripherals for video games, where do they take their cues. Actually in the peripheral industry most wheels are ambidextrous for easy home play in left-hand and right-hand Nations. So if they can make an ambidextrous driving wheel why can't they make an ambidextrous fight stick, especially since 90% of the world's population is right-handed?

  • @samg7123
    @samg712313 күн бұрын

    Right or left, #kolkata takes the cake. Some Road direction changes 2 times every day in afternoon and evening. Not sure where the common sense is in that but it happens everyday creating nightmares. And you have to see the barriers cops put to prevent speeding. It literally is killer. I don’t know if kolkata police receive any education in traffic management? #tmc #mamtabanerjee when will citizens of Kolkata get a better and safe living standard? Are there other doomsday policy like selling the footpath to hawkers in line to be implemented? Can we not get a proper traffic light and road signs? Please try and cross the esplanade crossing! You will realise how dangerous it is

  • @musicnstuff2910
    @musicnstuff291028 күн бұрын

    7:34 new year new rule lol

  • @raymasraymas
    @raymasraymas24 күн бұрын

    This is an interesting piece and covers a lot of history. Just a few tips to help you along: 3:00 W is silent in "sword" and 3:57 the river Thames is pronounced "tems".

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    24 күн бұрын

    Hi, thanks for pointing this out to us. We're aware of this, and our author was too. Alas, sometimes the pressure of the voicing booth gets to us, and we'll try to ensure our performance behind the microphone is better the next time around.

  • @raymasraymas

    @raymasraymas

    24 күн бұрын

    @@DWREV I really appreciate how you guys take such feedback so constructively! It’s refreshing

  • @johnawalker9261
    @johnawalker926112 күн бұрын

    Japan as you said drives on the left but you didn’t say why?

  • @blintorzabat5798

    @blintorzabat5798

    9 күн бұрын

    Trains. The contract to build their train network was won by the British, who drove on the left. So their road system, which came later, followed this lead.

  • @johnawalker9261

    @johnawalker9261

    9 күн бұрын

    @@blintorzabat5798 Not correct

  • @docrex1678
    @docrex167826 күн бұрын

    In India traffic rules are a guideline only (at best), hence you see people driving on the wrong side on even multi-lane highways and expressways 😂

  • @jdillon8360
    @jdillon836019 күн бұрын

    Before even watching this I will say that driving on the left is better.

  • @paparelliM
    @paparelliMАй бұрын

    The modern cars are made to be driven from the left side of the car and I can prove it.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Care to elaborate?

  • @paparelliM

    @paparelliM

    27 күн бұрын

    Sure. When driving from the right side of the car, there's no place to rest your left leg in most of the modern cars. There's an adaptation using a piece of plastic. When driving in the left side of the vehicle, the inner fender is a natural place to rest the left leg.

  • @silverback3633
    @silverback363311 күн бұрын

    You didn't explain why Japan which is not a colony of Britain drives left side. The answer is Britain helped Japan in its quest to manufacture automobiles and they were stuck with some British standards.

  • @cadifan

    @cadifan

    5 күн бұрын

    Nope. The British helped the Japanese with their rail system and later that transferred to road driving when cars came into being.

  • @ludwicknkulu2002
    @ludwicknkulu200216 күн бұрын

    I like driving on the left

  • @shashangshrestha
    @shashangshrestha12 күн бұрын

    is it just me or her voice is really hard to hear not because of the volume level (if you know what i mean) lol

  • @Maniacguy2777
    @Maniacguy277712 күн бұрын

    And why did Middle East countries too drive on right? This you didn't explain.

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