Post right-hand and left-hand traffic. How Finland became right-handed

This question is, of course, a burning one. It becomes especially relevant when, after a short stay in Japan, you suddenly catch yourself thinking that you just can’t break up with the Japanese out of the blue - you constantly clash. Moving through Japanese streets on a bicycle, you feel an internal need to “take the right”. Over time, this sad habit goes away, but sometimes at the most inopportune moment it makes itself felt. Sometimes it comes to sad consequences; Personally, I was almost hit by a car once in Kyoto.

I began to dig into the issue of Japanese leftism gradually, without fanaticism; word by word - we gradually managed to piece together something. Asking the Japanese themselves is a bad idea. Firstly, it does not occur to most of their nation that in other countries they can drive on the right side of the road. You tell them, they open their eyes and nod their heads with a zero expression on their faces.

A friend of mine, once arriving in Japan on business, was sitting in a bar with a Japanese friend. Out of curiosity, he asks: where did you come to Japan from? Ours answers him, they say, from the country closest to you (this happens in Sapporo - main city the northernmost island - Hokkaido). The Japanese thought for a long time, looked at the Russian for a long time, then said: “From Korea?” This is the kind of good knowledge about the outside world that most Japanese people are famous for. Let's return to our sheep.

The history of accepting the left side of the road as the main one is a strange story. Its roots go back to Japanese antiquity, when samurai rode across the mountainous Japanese terrain on fast horses with swords on their left sides. No one wore a katana (Japanese sword) in a sling; it was tucked into the belt, so that it stuck out from the left side, protruding about half a meter. Apparently, fearing that their swords would get caught and thus provoke a fight, the samurai began to use the principle of left-hand movement. They were generally nervous people who didn’t understand jokes.

It is rational to assume that in addition to the samurai warriors, whose heroic images are pathetically glorified in modern Japanese cinema by director Takeshi Kitano, there was also ordinary people: peasants, artisans, traders. How should they walk? These people did not carry swords and quite calmly used any side of the road. The main joy was to move away from the approaching samurai in time. The latter could easily kill a tradesman for a sidelong glance or for some other “disrespectful” act.

At the beginning of the Edo period (1603-1867), a tradition had already been established instructing anyone heading towards the capital (Tokyo was called Edo at that time) to keep to the left. It seems that this system has become ingrained with the Japanese and gradually began to spread throughout the country. It is safe to say that by the end of the 18th century the custom of driving on the left side of the road had already formed as general rule to travel around Japan.

In the mid-19th century, Japan was almost forced to open up to the world by storm. Then the Japanese realized the power of Western technology and decided to borrow everything completely. Many Japanese teenagers were sent to study their wits at Western universities; most of them went to England. By the way, they also drive on the left side there.

Probably, the Japanese would still start driving on the right side if the Americans or the French had won the tenders for the construction of the first railways on the islands Japanese archipelago. But the British were ahead of them. The first train was launched in 1872, and, sadly, the locomotives stuck to left-hand traffic.

Further - more. The first horse-drawn trams also ran on the left side of the road. How can we explain such an organization? Probably, the sight of steam locomotives made such an indelible impression on the Japanese that they simply could not imagine any other way of road traffic. At the beginning of the twentieth century, horses were replaced with an electric drive, and the movement schedule was not changed - traditionalists, after all!

The most interesting thing is that in fifty years no one has bothered to legislate which side of the road one should stay on. The most that the police department in Tokyo did was to issue an order that horses and cars should stick to the left, and when meeting with military detachments, to the right. Japanese army - special case– walked on the right side of the road until 1924.

The authorities of the city of Osaka, without thinking twice, obliged all horse and car vehicles to move on the right side of the road. Osaka is the second largest city in Japan, whose authorities showed enviable independence in resolving their issues. Ordinary Japanese probably “liked” this state of affairs even more. In Tokyo - on the left side of the road, in Osaka - on the right, you won’t get bored.

In 1907, a pedestrian was crushed to death by a car for the first time in Japan. It took the authorities almost 20 more years to legislative form drive on the left and put an end to the confusion. Although in Japan no one ever gets confused about anything, the culture and its customs very strictly regulate every point of social activity and behavior of a person in a group.

It is clear that any foreigner does not care much about the cultural realities of Japan, unless he is a professional researcher. But for us Russians, it is extremely important to quickly figure out which side of the road we should drive on. Funny stories driving on the left is enough. There are many tales about how Russians drove onto a highway without cars, drove on the right side, and then began honking at cars driving towards them, cursing loudly when they did not immediately figure out which nation was driving. Basically, these tales are in the style of “Peculiarities of the National Hunt.”

However, here's some real-life practice for you. When there is an accident without casualties, the Japanese prefer to sort it out themselves and not interfere with the traffic police. They usually quickly exchange business cards and go about their business. It’s difficult to say why they do this - anyone who speaks the language and has lived in Japan for quite a long time, I think, can explain it. The Japanese very much trust what is written on paper and only after an exchange business cards begin to perceive the interlocutor and behave with him according to his rank.

Japan is a mysterious land, and amazingly beautiful, and the cars they make there are simply amazing!

Currently in Russia and many other countries it is accepted right-hand traffic on the roads. There are also countries that drive on the left. IN modern world these are Ireland, Great Britain, Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and a number of African countries. Let's try to figure out why this particular situation has arisen.
The traditions of driving on the left and on the right began long before the invention of the automobile.

According to one version, right-hand traffic arose in Europe during the Middle Ages, when not cars, but riders on horses drove along narrow roads between settlements. They were all armed. The riders held a shield in their left hand to protect themselves in case of a sudden attack, which is why they held right side. There is another version of the emergence of right-hand traffic: when horse-drawn carts passed each other, it was easier to direct the crew to the side of the road to the right, pulling the reins with the right hand, which is more developed in most people. Years have passed, the means of transportation have changed, but the tradition remains...

Driving on the left is believed to have originated in England. This island state was connected with the outside world only by sea routes, and shipping was actively developing. To streamline the movement of ships, the maritime department issued a decree according to which ships were required to keep to the left. Later this rule extended to highways, and also passed to all countries under British influence. Some still adhere to it. Another version connects the tradition of driving on the left with the fact that when horse-drawn carriages moved through the streets, the coachman held the whip right hand and, while driving horses, could hit pedestrians. Therefore, the crews had to drive on the left side.

As for our country, in 1752, the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna issued a decree introducing right-hand traffic for carriages and cab drivers on the streets of Russian cities.

IN different times In many countries, driving on the left was adopted, but they switched to new rules. For example, due to the proximity to countries that were former French colonies and drive on the right, the rules were changed by the former British colonies in Africa. North Korea and South Korea switched from driving on the left to driving on the right in 1946, after the end of the Japanese occupation.

One of last countries who switched from driving on the left to driving on the right was Sweden. This happened in 1967. Preparations for the reform began back in 1963, when the Swedish parliament formed the State Commission for the Transition to Right-Hand Driving, which was supposed to develop and implement a set of measures to ensure such a transition. On September 3, 1967, at 4:50 a.m., all vehicles were required to stop, change sides of the road, and continue driving at 5:00 a.m. For the first time after the transition, a special speed limit mode was installed.

Tourists who come to a country with unusual traffic conditions are advised not to drive on their own for safety reasons, but to use the services of a driver.

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Why does England drive on the left and which movement is considered more “correct”?

In Russia, as in the vast majority of countries, right-hand traffic is accepted on the roads. However, there are countries where traffic on the streets is organized in reverse. In addition to the UK, left-hand traffic is used in Japan, Ireland, South Africa, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and some other countries. Interestingly, Hong Kong is an autonomous region within China, and in China itself, traffic is on the right.

The traditions of driving on the left or right side of the road themselves originated in the Middle Ages, when cars were not yet in the thoughts of the most brilliant futurists. There is a version according to which right-hand traffic in Europe arose in the Middle Ages: mainly riders on horses traveled along the streets and narrow roads. Since most of them were armed, and in their left hands they held a shield for protection, it was more convenient for them to stick to the right side of the road. According to another version, right-hand traffic arose in Europe by itself: horse-drawn carriages passed on the left sides, since it was easier for the coachman to direct the cart to the side of the road to the right - this required pulling the reins with the right hand, and in people it is usually more developed. True, the opposite version is also associated with horse-drawn carriages: the coachman usually held a whip in his right hand and, waving it while driving the horses, could accidentally hit pedestrians. Therefore, it was safer to stick to the left side of the road. Since those distant times, these traditions have come down to us.

There is another version of the development of events, according to which Napoleon legalized right-hand traffic in Europe - in spite of the “left-hand drive” British. And while in France itself traffic was actually on the right, Napoleon forced Austria and Hungary to move on the right side of the road. And in Russia by this time there was no clear procedure for oncoming travel, and during Napoleon’s invasion its rules were simply adopted by the Russians.

It is believed that England was the founder of left-hand traffic in Europe. Already in the Middle Ages, England was a powerful maritime power; both military and commercial shipping were actively developing. In order to streamline traffic at sea, the English Maritime Department issued a decree according to which ships were to diverge on opposite courses with their starboard sides. Later, this rule was transferred from the sea to land and was established in all countries where it dominated British Empire. With the loss of England's colonies, many of them remained faithful to the traditions of driving on the left, while some countries that adopted the “English” version of the movement switched to new, more common rules. This is what many people did, for example. African countries, neighboring former French colonies.

And in Northern and South Korea Driving "in English" was approved by the Japanese during the occupation, and in 1946, after the end of the occupation, they switched to right-hand traffic.

Much later than others, Sweden was one of the last to switch from driving on the left to driving on the right. This was in 1967. Preparations for such a significant innovation, with an already large fleet of cars, began 4 years in advance. A special state commission was formed, which developed and implemented a set of measures to ensure a safe transition, and on September 3, 1967 at 4:50 am, all vehicles on the roads had to stop, and within 10 minutes change the side of the road and continue movement. There were even special speed limits in effect throughout the country.

In Russia, right-hand traffic was approved in 1752 by Empress Elizabeth, who issued a corresponding decree for cab drivers and carriages.

For safety reasons, tourists who are not accustomed to driving on the left are advised not to rent a car, but to hire local drivers. And in England for many pedestrian crossings there are signs “look right”, and in the middle of the road - “look left”, so that foreign pedestrians do not forget about this English peculiarity and God forbid, we didn’t get hit by a car.

The existence of right- and left-hand traffic has been adding work to automakers for decades and headaches for drivers who are forced to drive on the “wrong” side while on vacation or on a business trip. And it turns out that horses are to blame for this duality that still exists.

As you might guess, right-hand traffic is no worse or better than left-hand traffic - as long as both cars and road infrastructure are fully adapted to it. Beginner English or Australian drivers get used to the road no slower or faster than German and Russian "dummies". Maybe that’s why all the countries of the world can’t come to a single option for so long - and for example, the small state of Samoa in Oceania switched from a right-handed option to a left-handed one just over five years ago. The fact is that a hundred years ago Samoa was a German colony and when roads were laid, right-hand traffic, which was familiar to the Germans, was introduced - however, it is more convenient to transport cars to the islands from Australia and New Zealand, where the vast majority of them are “right-handed”. Therefore, in the fall of 2009, the local prime minister gave the country the command to drive on the other side of the road.
But if two movement patterns are equally good (or equally bad) - how then was the choice made? Did our ancestors at some point simply flip a coin up? Not at all.
At the end of the last century, archaeologists carried out excavations on the territory of a quarry from ancient Roman times and discovered, among other things, the road to it. Based on the fact that on one side the track was noticeably deeper than on the other (the reason for which was the difference in weight between an empty and loaded cart), experts concluded that left-hand traffic was accepted on the territory of this ancient “enterprise”. A number of other finds confirm this conclusion: in ancient times, people clearly preferred to move on the left side.

The jockeys driving the most luxurious carriage at the disposal of the British royal family do not have to squeeze anywhere: no other vehicle will simply be allowed on the streets along which the carriage must pass.

The fact is that for a motorist there is no fundamental difference which way to pass. But thousands of years ago, the most popular means of transportation on land was the horse, but for the rider or the coachman driving the cart, there is already a difference. Most people are right-handed, and prefer to mount the horse on the left side, and hold a weapon or, for example, a whip in the right hand. It was because of this that riders, for example, preferred to disperse with their right sides - in order to be in a more convenient position in case of an attack. And it was more convenient for the coachmen to drive on the left, so that the whip had less chance of catching on bushes or a hedge at the edge of the road - or catching someone walking along the side of the road.
Thus, driving on the left looks more familiar and natural - but who then came up with the idea of ​​​​taking the other side of the road? A number of historians believe that multi-horse teams, where the driver sat not on a carriage or cart, but directly on one of the horses, are to blame for everything. It was most comfortable for the coachman to ride on the left rear horse - however, in this case, he did not “feel the dimensions” of the carriage particularly well when passing oncoming carts. Therefore, both the luxurious carriages of the nobility (the “six hundredth Mercedes” of their time) and the heavy cargo carts (which were more expensive to collide with) began to stick to the right side. Over time, those who drove less cumbersome and prestigious carriages also acquired the habit of driving on the right. As a result, in the 18th century, the right-hand traffic pattern was officially enshrined in many European countries: for example, in France this was done in 1794, and in Russia even earlier, in 1752, by decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

If there were no England, there would be no right-hand drive. The legitimacy of this statement has been debated in automotive circles for decades.

Let's try to figure out why the left-hand traffic pattern took root in Great Britain and how this affected other countries of the world.

The rule of driving on the left side of the road was legislated by the English authorities in 1756. For violation of the bill there was an impressive fine - a pound of silver.
There are two main versions that explain why in the middle of the 18th century England chose to drive on the left.

Roman version

IN Ancient Rome Stick to driving on the left. This approach was explained by the fact that the legionnaires held weapons in their right hands. And therefore, in the event of an unexpected meeting with the enemy, it was more profitable for them to be on the left side of the road. The enemy thus fell directly into the chopping hand. After the Romans conquered the british isles, “leftism” could spread to England. This version is supported by the results of archaeological expeditions. In 1998, a Roman quarry was excavated in Wiltshire in southwest England, near which the left track was broken more than the right.

Marine version

Previously, the British could only get to Europe by water. Therefore, maritime traditions have become firmly entrenched in the culture of this people. In the old days English ships had to go around the oncoming ship on the left side. Subsequently, this custom could spread to roads.

In modern international rules For shipping traffic, right-hand traffic is fixed.

How did English “leftism” spread throughout the world?

Most left-hand drive countries have chosen this particular driving pattern due to the following circumstances:

Colonial factor

Even in the middle of the last century, Great Britain was an empire on which the sun never set. Majority former colonies scattered all over the world, after gaining independence, they decided to maintain their usual left-hand traffic.

Political factor

During the Great French Revolution, a decree was issued which ordered all residents of the republic to move on the “common” right side of the road. When Napoleon Bonaparte came to power, the movement pattern turned into a political argument. In those states that supported Napoleon - Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain - right-hand traffic was established. On the other hand, those who opposed France: Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, Portugal turned out to be “leftists”. Subsequently, left-hand traffic in these three countries was preserved only in the United Kingdom.

Political friendship with Great Britain contributed to the introduction of “leftism” on the roads in Japan: in 1859, Queen Victoria's ambassador, Sir Rutherford Alcock, convinced the authorities of the island state to accept driving on the left.

When did right-hand traffic become established in Russia?

In Russia, the rules for right-hand traffic developed back in the Middle Ages. The Danish envoy to Peter I, Just Yul, wrote in 1709 that “in Russian Empire Everywhere it is customary for carts and sleighs, when meeting each other, to pass each other, keeping to the right side.” In 1752, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna enshrined this norm into law by issuing a decree introducing right-hand traffic for carriages and cab drivers on the streets of the empire's cities.

Left-hand traffic in Vladivostok

The East is a delicate matter. And the Far East is not at all understandable):

As you've probably heard, two streets with left-hand traffic have appeared in the center of Vladivostok.

Due to the opening of the bridge across the Golden Horn Bay, the organization of traffic in the city center was changed, “in order to optimize traffic flow and eliminate the intersection of traffic flows.” Including on two streets it is very unusual - in fact, left-hand traffic was introduced there. But now right-hand drive cars look very harmonious on them.

Countries that changed traffic

History knows many examples when countries switched from one traffic pattern to another. States did this for the following reasons:

“To spite yesterday’s occupiers”

The US switched to driving on the right side of the road after declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776.

Korea switched to driving on the right after the end of the Japanese occupation in 1946.

Geographical feasibility

Many former British colonies in Africa switched to driving on the right in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. Sierra Leone, Gambia, Nigeria and Ghana did this for convenience: they were surrounded by “right-riding” former French colonies.

Sweden was the last country in Europe to change direction. In 1967, the so-called H-Day* took place there, when all the cars in the kingdom changed lanes. The reason for the transition to “law” lay not only in geography, but also in economics. Most of the countries where Swedish-made cars were sold used left-hand drive.

In 2009, Samoa switched to driving on the left. This was due to a large number used right-hand drive cars that were supplied to the country from Australia and New Zealand.

"Left" exceptions

In right-leaning countries there is room for left-wing exceptions. So, on the small street of General Lemonnier (350 meters long) in Paris, people move on the left side. There are small areas with left-hand traffic in Odessa (Vysoky Lane), in Moscow (passage on Leskova Street), in St. Petersburg (embankment of the Fontanka River) and in Vladivostok (Semyonovskaya Street in the section from Aleutskaya Street to the intersection with Okeansky Prospekt, as well as on Mordovtseva street).

Which movement is safer?

According to experts, which side you drive on does not affect the degree of traffic safety - it is just a matter of habit.

Countries with left-hand traffic

The global ratio of right-hand to left-hand roads is 72% and 28%, with 66% of the world's drivers driving on the right side and 34% driving on the left.

In North America

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Jamaica

In South America

Guyana
Suriname
Europe

United Kingdom
Ireland
Malta
Asia

Bangladesh
Brunei
Butane
East Timor
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Cyprus
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Singapore
Thailand
Sri Lanka
Japan
Africa

Botswana
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Kenya
Lesotho
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Seychelles
Swaziland
Tanzania
Uganda
South Africa
Oceania

Australia
Kiribati
Nauru
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Tonga
Fiji

Even in ancient times, it was discovered that agreement on which side of the road to drive on - left or right - greatly reduces the number of head-on collisions and congestion.

In cars, the driver's seat should be on the side of oncoming traffic - on the left in countries with right-hand traffic and on the right in countries with left-hand traffic.

On at the moment 66% of the world's population drive on the right side and 34% on the left, primarily due to the population of India, Indonesia, and Pakistan. 72% of all roads are right-hand and 28% are left-hand.

Prerequisites

• Pedestrian with a load - right-hand drive. The bag is usually thrown over right shoulder, a cart or a pack animal is more convenient to hold with your right hand closer to the side of the road: it is easier to disperse, and you can stop and talk with the person you meet.

• Knight's tournament - right-handed. The shield is on the left side, the spear is placed across the horse's back. However, a knight's tournament is a game that is far from real transport tasks.

• Riding in a single-seat carriage or a carriage with the coachman's seat moved forward - right-handed. To move apart, you need to pull the reins with your stronger right hand.

• Driving with a postilion is on the right. The postilion (the coachman who drives the team while sitting on one of the horses) always sits on the left horse - this makes it easier to get on and off and allows you to control with your right hand.

• Riding on horseback is left-handed. The “fighting” right hand is in a striking position in relation to the oncoming rider. In addition, it is more convenient to mount a horse on the left side, since in this case the sword gets in the way less.

• Driving in a multi-seat carriage is on the left. Being on the right side, the coachman will not hit the passenger with the whip. For an emergency ride, you can hit the horses on the right side.

Most historians consider only the methods of traveling soldiers, which is not entirely legitimate - in no country were warriors the majority. Therefore, soldiers could disperse, for example, on the left side, while the people, when leaving, stuck to the right side (which was more convenient if, say, the people were supposed to give way to the soldiers, because in this case they would be noticeable earlier). On Red Square on May 9, two open car ZILs drive in left-hand traffic.

Sometimes some crossings are made to the left, for example on Leskova Street in Moscow, as well as streets - for example, the embankment of the Fontanka River in St. Petersburg (in the latter case the sides of the movement are separated by the river).

Story

After we stopped driving on the roads with weapons and suspecting everyone as an enemy, right-hand traffic spontaneously began to take shape on the roads, which was mainly due to human physiology, significant difference by the strength and dexterity of different hands in the techniques of controlling heavy horse-drawn carriages drawn by several horses. The peculiarity of man affected that most people are right-handed. When driving on a narrow road, it was easier to direct the crew to the right to the side of the road or the edge of the road, pulling with the right, that is, more strong hand, reins, holding horses. It is probably for this simple reason that the tradition and then the norm of passing on the roads arose first. This norm eventually became established as the norm for driving on the right.

In Russia, back in the Middle Ages, the rule of right-hand traffic developed spontaneously and was observed as natural human behavior. The Danish envoy to Peter I, Just Yul, wrote in 1709 that “in Russia everywhere it is customary for carts and sleighs, when meeting each other, to pass each other, keeping to the right side.” In 1752, the Russian Empress Elizabeth Petrovna issued a decree introducing right-hand traffic for carriages and cab drivers on the streets of Russian cities.

In the West, the first law regulating left- or right-hand traffic was the English Bill of 1756, according to which traffic on London Bridge had to be on the left side. Violation of this rule was subject to an impressive fine - a pound of silver. And 20 years later, the historical “Road Act” was published in England, which introduced left-hand traffic on all roads in the country. The same left-hand traffic was adopted on the railway. In 1830, traffic on the first Manchester-Liverpool railway line was on the left.

There is another theory about the appearance of initially left-hand traffic. Some historians suggest that it was more convenient to ride on the left side in the days when horse-drawn teams appeared, where the coachmen sat on top. So, when they were driving the horses, the whip of the right-handed coachman could accidentally hit passers-by who were walking along the sidewalk. That is why horse-drawn carriages often drove on the left.

Great Britain is considered the main “culprit” of “leftism,” which then influenced some countries of the world (its colonies and dependent territories). There is a version that she brought such order on her roads from maritime rules, that is, at sea, an oncoming ship allowed another one to pass, which was approaching from the right. But this version is wrong [ ], since to miss a vessel approaching from the right means to pass on the left sides, that is, according to the rules of right-hand traffic. It is right-hand traffic that is adopted for the divergence of ships following oncoming courses in the line of sight at sea, which is recorded in international rules.

The influence of Great Britain affected the order of traffic in its colonies, therefore, in particular, in countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, left-hand traffic was adopted vehicles. In 1859, Queen Victoria's ambassador, Sir R. Alcock, persuaded the Tokyo authorities to also adopt left-hand traffic [ ] .

Driving on the right is often associated with France, with its influence on many other countries. During the Great French Revolution of 1789, a decree issued in Paris ordered people to move along the “common” right side. A little later, Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated this position by ordering the military to keep to the right, so that anyone who met French army, made way for her. Further, this order of movement, oddly enough, was associated with big politics in early XIX centuries. Those who supported Napoleon - Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain - right-hand traffic was established in those countries. On the other hand, those who opposed Napoleonic army: Britain, Austria-Hungary, Portugal - turned out to be “leftists”. The influence of France was so great that it influenced many countries in Europe, and they switched to driving on the right. However, in England, Portugal, Sweden and some other countries, traffic remains on the left. In Austria, a curious situation has developed. In some provinces, traffic was on the left, while in others it was on the right. It was only after the Anschluss in the 1930s by Germany that the entire country switched to right-hand drive.

At first, driving on the left was also common in the United States. But to end of the XVIII century there was a gradual transition to right-hand traffic. It is believed that the French general Marie-Joseph Lafayette, who made a significant contribution to the fight for independence from the British crown, “convinced” the Americans to switch to driving on the right. [ ] At the same time, in a number of Canadian provinces, left-hand traffic remained until the 1920s.

At various times, many countries adopted driving on the left, but they switched to new rules. For example, due to the proximity to countries that were former French colonies and drive on the right, the rules were changed by the former British colonies in Africa. In Czechoslovakia (formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), left-hand traffic was maintained until 1938.

Countries that changed the movement

At various times, many countries adopted driving on the left, despite the fact that Swedish manufacturers even produced cars with left-hand drive for the domestic market. Later, due to the inconvenience associated with the fact that the neighbors of these countries drove on the right, it was decided to switch to right-hand traffic. The most famous day in history was H-Day (Swedish: Dagen H) in Sweden, when the country switched from driving on the left to driving on the right.

The former British colonies in Africa Sierra Leone, Gambia, Nigeria and Ghana also changed from right-hand drive to left-hand drive due to their proximity to former French colonies that drive on the right. Conversely, the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique changed from left-hand drive to right-hand drive due to its proximity to former British colonies. Samoa switches to left-hand traffic due to... large quantity used right-hand drive cars. Korea changed from driving on the left to driving on the right in 1946, after the end of the Japanese occupation.

In 1977, the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, by decision of the Japanese government, switched from right-hand traffic to left-hand traffic, established in 1945 by American occupation forces. As the case was presented in Tokyo, the need for a transition was dictated by the Geneva Convention on traffic 1949, which requires participating countries to have only one transport system. This, however, does not prevent the other participant - China - from leaving left-hand traffic in the returned Hong Kong and Macau.

Countries with left-hand traffic

Changing sides at the border

At the borders of countries with different directions of traffic, road junctions are built, sometimes quite impressive.

Special cases

First cars

On cars produced at the beginning of the 20th century, the location of the steering wheel had not yet been completely determined: often the driver’s seat was made from the sidewalk (that is, they made the right-hand drive when driving on the right and the left when driving on the left). Subsequently, the standard became the location of the steering wheel on the side opposite the sidewalk - this provides better visibility when overtaking; In addition, when using the car as a taxi, it makes boarding and disembarking passengers more convenient and safe.

Postal cars

Cars for collecting mail are often made with an “incorrect” steering wheel position (for example, such a Moskvich-434P van was produced in the USSR). This is done for the convenience of the driver, who can now go directly onto the sidewalk and not be exposed to unnecessary danger. With the steering wheel on the right, the driver of the postal vehicle has easier access to mailboxes located near the roadway. Sometimes mail can be placed in the mailbox without leaving the car.

Military vehicles

Some French cars produced for combat in the African colonies had a double steering mechanism for use in right- and left-hand drive mode by simply reversing the steering wheel.

Mining trucks

Mining trucks are usually not driven on roads public use and therefore do not depend on local traffic regulations. The market for these machines is very narrow. Therefore, they are manufactured only with a left-hand drive cab for right-hand traffic on quarry roads. For example, BelAZ supplies its left-hand drive products to right-hand drive South Africa, and in right-hand drive Japan, the manufacturer Komatsu produces its dump trucks with left-hand drive cabs.

Construction and agricultural machinery

On universal row-crop tractors, the tractor driver’s seat is usually located on the longitudinal axis of the machine, which gives the same good review left and right sides. On heavy arable tractors with wide cabs (for example, “Kirovets”) the tractor driver’s position is on the right, which is convenient when working with right-handed plows. On combine harvesters, on the contrary, it is convenient to have the cab on the left side. On municipal vehicles, the driver's seat is located on the sidewalk side. Many agricultural and municipal machines and tractors have a driver or operator position that can be moved from left to right or duplicated.

Bahamas

Historically, the Bahamas drives on the left side of the road, but most cars drive on the islands on the left hand drive due to the proximity of the United States, from where such cars are constantly imported.

Russian Far East

Differences in vehicle designs

The driver's seat and steering wheel are usually located on the left on cars designed for right-hand drive, and on the right on cars designed for left-hand drive. This allows you to better see oncoming traffic and thereby facilitates maneuvers. Some cars (for example, the English McLaren F1 supercar) have a central driver's seat.

Windshield wipers (“windshield wipers”) for better review on the driver's side they also have right and left directions. In left-hand drive cars they are turned off to the right, and in right-hand drive cars - to the left. Some car models (for example, some Mercedes cars from the 1990s) have symmetrical windshield wipers. The windshield wiper switch on the steering column is located on the right on left-hand drive cars, and on the left on right-hand drive cars.

The “clutch-brake-gas” pedal arrangement inherent to left-hand drive cars has become the standard for right-hand drive cars. However, before World War II, the position of the pedals on right-hand drive cars varied. Before Hitler's invasion, Czechoslovakia drove on the left, and on old Czech cars the pedals were "clutch - gas - brake".

The gear shift lever is always located between the driver and passenger seats or on the center console of the car. The order of gears does not differ - on both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars, the lowest gears are on the left. When a driver changes from a left-hand drive car to a right-hand drive car (and vice versa), he retains the old motor reflexes for some time and may begin to look for the gear lever on the driver's door and confuse turning on the turn signal with the windshield wipers.

The turn signal switches are usually located on the left (with the exception of Australian, Japanese and older British cars). In addition, instruments in the cabin are usually designed for easy access from the driver's side. For example, in right-hand drive cars the volume control knob on the radio is located on the right, and in left-hand drive cars it is on the left.

The location of the gas tank flap is not related to the driving direction - the fuel supply neck can be on any side, even at the rear. This is due to the location of the tank and is done to ensure uniform filling of queues at gas stations. The exhaust pipe is located on the side center line(on the left for right-hand traffic, on the right for left-hand traffic), but this rule applies to the manufacturer - in Japanese-made left-hand drive cars, as a rule, the exhaust pipe is still on the right.

Doors for passengers on buses, trolleybuses and trams are located in accordance with the direction of travel.

Regardless of the position of the driver's seat, the headlights are adjusted so that the light is directed slightly towards the adjacent curb - in order to illuminate pedestrians and not blind oncoming drivers. When changing the direction of travel on the same car, the adjacent shoulder appears on the other side, and the asymmetry of the light flux (set by the reflector and glass) begins to work the other way around - the roadside is not illuminated, but oncoming drivers are blinded, which can only be corrected by replacing the optics on the corresponding side of movement.

According to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, a car temporarily entering the country must comply with the technical standards of the country in which it is registered.

Motorcycles

Single motorcycles for right- and left-hand traffic do not differ in design, with the exception of the headlight, which in low beam mode should illuminate the adjacent roadside (although motorcycles are often equipped with headlights with a symmetrical beam, equally suitable for both directions of movement).

Motorcycles with a sidecar have a mirror arrangement of the side trailer and pedals: the sidecar and rear brake pedal on the right when driving on the right and on the left when driving on the left, the gearbox and kick-starter pedals on the left when driving on the right and on the right when driving on the left. This arrangement of the pedals was chosen so that the sidecar does not interfere with starting the motorcycle with your foot, and also because of the design of the power units (on many motorcycles, the gear shift pedal, when folded down, activates the kick starter).

Other types of transport

Aircraft

For a number of reasons (imperfect ignition systems and carburetors, which often caused engine stalls, strict weight restrictions), aircraft during the First World War had exclusively rotary engines - the crankcase and cylinder block of the engine rotated along with the propeller, and the fuel-oil mixture was supplied through hollow fixed crankshaft. In such engines, the heavy crankcase and cylinders played the role of a flywheel. The screw, as a rule, was used on the right, rotating clockwise. Due to the large aerodynamic drag of the rotating cylinder block and propeller, a torque arose, tending to create a left bank for the aircraft, so turns to the left were made more energetically. Because of this, many aviation maneuvers were based on left turns - hence the left seat of the pilot.

With the improvement of ignition systems, rotary engines gave way to two-row and star-shaped ones, in which the reverse torque is many times less. The pilots (already civilians) navigated along the existing roads (and in desert areas where there were no roads, they made furrows). When planes (with an established left seat) flying along the road towards each other needed to miss each other, the pilots turned to the right - hence right-hand traffic with the left seat of the main pilot.

Helicopters

The world's first production helicopter, the Sikorsky R-4, had two interchangeable seats for crew members, two pitch-throttle handles on the sides of the cabin, but only one longitudinal-transverse control handle for the cyclic pitch of the main rotor in the middle (for reasons of weight savings). The “step-throttle” knob, which controls the overall pitch of the main rotor (in fact, the lifting force of the helicopter), required a lot of careful, precise manipulations (especially during takeoff, landing and hovering), and also physical effort, so the vast majority of pilots preferred sit on the right so that it is in the right hand. Subsequently, the habits of right-handed helicopter pilots trained on the R-4 (and its development, the R-6) spread throughout the Western world, which is why on most helicopters the crew commander's seat is located on the right.

The chief pilot's seat on the only production tiltrotor V-22 Osprey is on the right, “helicopter-style.” In Russia, both in airplanes and helicopters, the crew commander's seat is always on the left.

Vessels

Almost everywhere (except for inland rivers) right-hand traffic with a right-hand seat is used. This allows you to see traffic on the starboard side (which should be skipped). Precise driving at short intervals, which is important for cars, is not relevant on water and in the air. On large ships, the wheelhouse and the wheel inside it are located in the middle, but the captain or lookout is traditionally located to the right of the helmsman. This tradition developed in ancient times, during the times of small ships steered by a steering oar, and is again connected with the fact that most people are right-handed. It was more convenient for the helmsman to handle the heavy steering oar with his right, stronger hand, so the steering oar was almost always strengthened to the right of the ship. In this regard, on the water, the practice has developed of diverging with the left sides, so as not to damage the steering oar, as well as mooring to the shore with the free left side. With the invention of the outboard rudder, attached in the middle of the stern, the helmsman moved to the center line of the ship, but due to the already established tradition of right-hand traffic when moving along rivers and straits, an observer was placed on the right, watching the close shore.

Railway and subway

In most countries, railway systems use the same side of traffic as cars, however in many countries (e.g. China, Israel, Argentina, Brazil) although cars drive on the right, railways use left-handed. The reason for this is the influence of Great Britain, which constructed the first roads in the countries. Some countries, such as Russia (with the exception of a few sections), have gradually switched to driving on the right. In many countries (Sweden, Korea, Italy) trains pass on the left side due to the fact that at the time the roads were built the traffic was on the left, but when the trains switched to right-hand traffic new scheme didn't pass. However