This fall, Samoan drivers woke up to a startling surprise—the Samoan government had decided to force the entire nation to switch to driving on the left side of the road. The official switch occurred at 6 a.m. on Sept 7, 2009.
According to the New York Times, the Samoan government will allow cars with steering wheels on either side for now. But the bigger issue isn’t steering wheels, it’s the country’s buses whose doors are mounted on the right side, which means passengers will now board and get off from the middle of the street.
Samoa is the first country in 40 years to switch driving sides and they claim the reason is all economics-related. According to the Samoan government, the country wanted to end their reliance on expensive left-hand vehicles imported from the United States because it is cheaper to import cars from countries like Australia and New Zealand which drive also on the left.
This interesting story got me wondering, how do countries decide which side of the road their citizens will drive on? Why do drivers in the U.S. drive on the right side of the road?
I did some research and found a great Mental Floss article about 4 ways countries have historically decided on which side of road to drive.
Reasons for left-side driving
1. The Pope
In 1300 AD, Pope Boniface VIII decreed that pilgrims headed for Rome keep on the left. During his time, traveling on the road was common practice started with feudal societies in the Western world who were wary of other travelers. Because of their fear of others on the road, they rode on the left side to keep their sword arm between themselves and the other traveler.
2. Government Laws
In 1756, a city ordinance ordered all traffic on the London Bridge keep to the left. Looking at historical data, places under French and US influence kept to the right while territories and countries under the influence of the British Empire tended to keep left.
Reasons for right-side driving
1. Right-hand Rules
Because most people are right-handed, some believe that there is a natural tendency to keep to the right.
2. The Left-hand Drivers’ Seat
During the 1700s, farmers in the US and France began using wagons to transport their products. These wagons had little room for people to sit so drivers would sit on the rear left horse—the beginning of the left-hand drivers’ seat. Some believe drivers began riding on the right side of the road because it was safer since you could see the wheels of oncoming traffic. This practice was re-affirmed in the early 1900s when Ford introduced the Model T with a left-hand drivers’ seat.
3. Napoleon and Hitler
Because Napoleon was left-handed, he demanded that everyone approach him from the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and anyone he met. Although this was a practice that started well before Napolean’s reign, his troops loyally followed his orders and spread his influence throughout his empire across Europe. When Hitler invaded Eastern European countries, he forced everyone to drive on the right. Parts of Vienna, Hungary and Czechoslovakia that had historically drive on the left, now drive on the right side of the road.
Still Confused?
According to Mental Floss, you may not be alone. There are still places like the US Virgin Islands that permit left-hand cars to drive on the left-side on the road!
{ 1 trackback }
Comments on this entry are closed.