The Tradition of Driving on the Left in the UK

Contrary to the prompt, people in the UK actually drive on the left. This tradition dates back centuries, with origins rooted in medieval times for safety reasons during jousting and combat.

As most people are right-handed, riding on the left side of the road allowed knights to have their right arm nearer to an opponent and their sword ready to joust.

The UK's left-side driving was formalized with the Highway Act 1835. This law cemented the custom, influencing traffic patterns and vehicle designs, like right-hand drive cars.

While the UK drives on the left, approximately 65% of the world drives on the right. The division of driving practices has historical and colonial ties, leading to a global patchwork of rules.

Changing driving sides is rare and costly. Samoa switched from right to left in 2009 to align with import markets and reduce costs, showcasing the economic factors in driving orientation.

Tourists in the UK often find the left-side driving challenging. Rental car companies sometimes offer special courses to help visitors adapt to the different traffic flow.

Some UK territories, such as the Gibraltar and British Indian Ocean Territory, drive on the right, showing that UK driving practices are not universally applied even within its territories.

Ancient Romans drove chariots on the left, influencing modern UK driving customs. Their military strategies required left-side travel for better defense.