The terms right-hand traffic and left-hand traffic refer to regulations requiring all bidirectional traffic to keep either to the right or the left side of the road, respectively. This is so fundamental to traffic flow that it is sometimes referred to as the rule of the road. This basic rule eases traffic flow and reduces the risk of head-on collisions. Though originally most traffic drove on the left worldwide, today about 66.1% of the world's people live in right-hand traffic countries and 33.9% in left-hand traffic countries. About 72% of the world's total road distance carries traffic on the right, and 28% on the left.
Blue ...Left sided drive. Red...Right sided.
Left-hand traffic
A sign on Australia's Great Ocean Road reminding foreign motorists to keep left.All traffic is generally required to keep left unless overtaking.
Oncoming traffic is seen coming from the right.
Right-turning traffic must cross oncoming traffic.
Most traffic signs facing motorists are on the left side of the road.
Traffic on roundabouts (traffic circles or rotaries) goes clockwise.
Pedestrians crossing a two-way road look first for traffic from their right.
The lane designated for normal driving and turning left is on the left
Most dual carriageway (divided highway) exits are on the left
Other vehicles are overtaken (passed) on the right, though in some circumstances overtaking on the left is permitted.
Most vehicles have the driving seat on the right.
A left turn at a red light may be allowed after stopping.
On roads without a footpath pedestrians may be advised to walk on the right.
Right-hand traffic
All traffic is generally required to keep right unless overtaking.
Oncoming traffic is seen coming from the left.
Left-turning traffic must cross oncoming traffic.
Most traffic signs facing motorists are on the right side of the road.
Traffic on roundabouts (traffic circles or rotaries) goes anticlockwise.
Pedestrians crossing a two-way road look first for traffic from their left.
The lane designated for normal driving and turning right is on the right.
Most dual carriageway (divided highway) exits are on the right
Other vehicles are generally overtaken (passed) on the left, though in some circumstances overtaking on the right is permitted.
Most vehicles have the driving seat on the left.
A right turn at a red light may be allowed after stopping.
On roads without a footpath pedestrians may be advised to walk on the left.
History. In 1998, archaeologists found a well-preserved track leading to a Roman quarry near Swindon, England. The grooves in the road on the left side (viewed facing down the track away from the quarry) were much deeper than those on the right side. These grooves suggest that the Romans drove on the left, at least in this particular location, since carts would exit the quarry heavily loaded, and enter it empty.
Some historians, such as C. Northcote Parkinson, believed that ancient travellers on horseback generally rode on the left side of the road. As more people are right-handed, a horseman would thus be able to hold the reins with his left hand and keep his right hand free—to offer in friendship to passing riders or to defend himself with a sword, if necessary.
In the late 18th century, the shift from left to right that took place in countries such as the United States was based on teamsters' use of large freight wagons pulled by several pairs of horses. The wagons had no driver's seat, so a postilion sat on the left rear horse and held his whip in his right hand. Seated on the left, the driver preferred that other wagons pass him on the left so that he could be sure to keep clear of the wheels of oncoming wagons. He did that by driving on the right side of the road.
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