Introduction
Driving on the left side of the road is a unique practice followed by a relatively small number of countries worldwide. The historical origins of this driving tradition can be traced back to ancient times, where the practice of keeping to the left side of the road was prevalent. Over time, as civilizations developed and transportation methods evolved, this preference for left-hand traffic persisted in certain regions.
One possible explanation for the prevalence of left-hand driving can be attributed to the influence of British colonialism. Many countries that drive on the left were once under British rule or had significant historical ties to the British Empire. The British introduced left-hand traffic in their colonies, and even after gaining independence, these countries continued the tradition.
The practice of left-hand traffic was reinforced further by the standardization of vehicle designs. In the early days of automobiles, vehicles were often right-hand drive. This meant that drivers had a better view of the road when driving on the left side. As manufacturing standards evolved, countries with left-hand traffic maintained their preference, while right-hand traffic became the global norm.
Interestingly, there are a few geographical clusters where left-hand traffic is particularly prevalent. The majority of left-hand driving countries can be found in the Caribbean, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. This can be attributed to the historical presence of British colonies in these regions. Additionally, several island nations, such as Bermuda, Malta, and Japan, drive on the left side of the road, possibly due to their unique geographic characteristics and historical influences.
It is worth noting that driving on the left or right side of the road is not just a matter of tradition or preference. It also has implications for road safety and traffic management. Consistency in traffic flow helps reduce confusion and improve road safety, especially for tourists or individuals accustomed to driving on the opposite side. As a result, countries with left-hand traffic typically have right-hand drive vehicles, while countries with right-hand traffic have left-hand drive vehicles.
List of Countries That Drive on the Left
| Country | Driving Left Traffic |
|---|---|
| Anguilla | Left |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Left |
| Australia | Left |
| Bangladesh | Left |
| Barbados | Left |
| Bermuda | Left |
| Bhutan | Left |
| Botswana | Left |
| British Virgin Islands | Left |
| Brunei | Left |
| Cayman Islands | Left |
| Cyprus | Left |
| Dominica | Left |
| East Timor | Left |
| Fiji | Left |
| Grenada | Left |
| Guernsey | Left |
| Guyana | Left |
| Hong Kong | Left |
| India | Left |
| Indonesia | Left |
| Ireland | Left |
| Isle of Man | Left |
| Jamaica | Left |
| Japan | Left |
| Jersey | Left |
| Kenya | Left |
| Lesotho | Left |
| Macau | Left |
| Malawi | Left |
| Malaysia | Left |
| Maldives | Left |
| Malta | Left |
| Mauritius | Left |
| Montserrat | Left |
| Mozambique | Left |
| Namibia | Left |
| Nauru | Left |
| Nepal | Left |
| New Zealand | Left |
| Norfolk Island | Left |
| Pakistan | Left |
| Papua New Guinea | Left |
| Saint Helena | Left |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Left |
| Saint Lucia | Left |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Left |
| Seychelles | Left |
| Singapore | Left |
| Solomon Islands | Left |
| South Africa | Left |
| Sri Lanka | Left |
| Suriname | Left |
| Tanzania | Left |
| Thailand | Left |
| The Bahamas | Left |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Left |
| Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus | Left |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | Left |
| Uganda | Left |
| United Kingdom | Left |
| United States Virgin Islands | Left |
| Zambia | Left |
| Zimbabwe | Left |
Countries That Drive on the Left Side of the Road
The 64 countries that drive on the left are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bermuda, Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, East Timor, Fiji, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Lesotho, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Here is the list of the 64 left driving countries :
1. Anguilla
2. Antigua and Barbuda
3. Australia
4. Bangladesh
5. Barbados
6. Bermuda
7. Bhutan
8. Botswana
9. British Virgin Islands
10. Brunei
11. Cayman Islands
12. Cyprus
13. Dominica
14. East Timor
15. Fiji
16. Grenada
17. Guernsey
18. Guyana
19. Hong Kong
20. India
21. Indonesia
22. Ireland
23. Isle of Man
24. Jamaica
25. Japan
26. Jersey
27. Kenya
28. Lesotho
29. Macau
30. Malawi
31. Malaysia
32. Maldives
33. Malta
34. Mauritius
35. Montserrat
36. Mozambique
37. Namibia
38. Nauru
39. Nepal
40. New Zealand
41. Norfolk Island
42. Pakistan
43. Papua New Guinea
44. Saint Helena
45. Saint Kitts and Nevis
46. Saint Lucia
47. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
48. Seychelles
49. Singapore
50. Solomon Islands
51. South Africa
52. Sri Lanka
53. Suriname
54. Tanzania
55. Thailand
56. The Bahamas
57. Trinidad and Tobago
58. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
59. Turks and Caicos Islands
60. Uganda
61. United Kingdom
62. United States Virgin Islands
63. Zambia
64. Zimbabwe
Left Side Driving Countries
Anguilla
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Antigua and Barbuda
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Australia
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Bangladesh
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Barbados
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Bermuda
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Bhutan
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Botswana
Driving Left Traffic
Left
British Virgin Islands
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Brunei
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Cayman Islands
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Cyprus
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Dominica
Driving Left Traffic
Left
East Timor
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Fiji
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Grenada
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Guernsey
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Guyana
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Hong Kong
Driving Left Traffic
Left
India
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Indonesia
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Ireland
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Isle of Man
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Jamaica
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Japan
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Jersey
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Kenya
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Lesotho
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Macau
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Malawi
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Malaysia
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Maldives
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Malta
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Mauritius
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Montserrat
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Mozambique
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Namibia
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Nauru
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Nepal
Driving Left Traffic
Left
New Zealand
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Norfolk Island
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Pakistan
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Papua New Guinea
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Saint Helena
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Saint Lucia
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Seychelles
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Singapore
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Solomon Islands
Driving Left Traffic
Left
South Africa
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Sri Lanka
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Suriname
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Tanzania
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Thailand
Driving Left Traffic
Left
The Bahamas
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Trinidad and Tobago
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Turks and Caicos Islands
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Uganda
Driving Left Traffic
Left
United Kingdom
Driving Left Traffic
Left
United States Virgin Islands
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Zambia
Driving Left Traffic
Left
Zimbabwe
Driving Left Traffic
Left
FAQs
How many countries drive on the left side of the road ?
There are a total of 64 countries that drive on the left.
Which countries drive on the left ?
The countries that drive on the left are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bermuda, Bhutan, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, East Timor, Fiji, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Lesotho, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
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