If you’ve ever travelled by car or public transport, you may have noticed an interesting detail — the driver’s seat is positioned on the opposite side of the road on which vehicles drive.
For example, in
India, vehicles keep to the left side of the road, so the driver’s seat is on the right. In contrast, in countries like the United States and much of Europe, vehicles drive on the right, and the driver’s seat is on the left.
So why is this the case, and more importantly, which system is actually safer? Let’s explore the historical roots and the safety implications of left- and right-side driving.
The Historical Reason Behind Left-Side Driving
The custom of driving on the left dates back centuries. In ancient times, when people travelled on horseback or in carts, they generally kept to the left side of the road.
This was largely because most people are right-handed, and riding on the left allowed them to defend themselves more easily with a weapon in their right hand if they were approached by someone coming in the opposite direction.
This practice carried over into the age of carriages and eventually into motor vehicles. Countries like India, once under British colonial rule, retained this left-side driving tradition when automobiles became widespread in the late 19th century.
The Origin Of Right-Side Driving
Right-side driving gained traction following the French Revolution in 1792, when France began encouraging citizens to drive on the right side of the road.
This practice gradually spread across continental Europe, and later, other nations followed suit. For example, Sweden switched to right-side driving in 1967, primarily because the number of cars being imported from right-driving countries was increasing.
It was also considered more logical and safer from a traffic management perspective, especially when integrating with neighbouring countries already following the right-side system.
Which System Is Safer?
Today, the majority of countries in the world drive on the right side of the road. But is it really safer than left-side driving?
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), countries that follow right-side driving tend to have lower road fatality rates compared to those where vehicles drive on the left.
One study even suggests that right-side driving may reduce traffic accidents by up to 40%. This could be due to factors like road design, vehicle manufacturing standards, and traffic flow patterns, which are now largely aligned with the right-driving system in global markets.
Whether a country drives on the left or the right often depends on historical context and colonial influence. While both systems function effectively, modern research suggests that right-side driving may have a slight edge when it comes to safety.
Nonetheless, with proper infrastructure, enforcement, and awareness, road safety depends more on driver behaviour than the side of the road.
