Where do people drive on the left?

They drive on the left in dozens of countries and territories, notably the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Macau, among many others. Broadly, left-side driving spans much of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Southern Africa, and parts of the Caribbean and South America; roughly a third of the world’s population lives in left-driving jurisdictions.

Global overview

Left-side driving is a legacy of history, law, and colonial influence, most prominently from the British Empire. While the majority of countries drive on the right today, left-side systems remain coherent regional clusters, allowing cross-border travel within those regions with fewer transitions. Notably, some territories drive on the left even when their sovereign neighbors drive on the right, creating unique border and vehicle-standards arrangements.

Countries and territories that drive on the left

Europe

In Europe, left-side driving is concentrated in the British Isles and two Mediterranean EU members, plus several Crown Dependencies and military areas.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Malta
• Cyprus
• Isle of Man
• Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey)
• Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus)

Gibraltar is a notable nearby exception: it drives on the right to align with Spain, while the above jurisdictions remain firmly left-driving.

Asia (South, East, and Southeast)

Asia hosts some of the most populous left-driving countries, with dense networks and long-established rules influenced by British and regional practice.

• Japan
• India
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal
• Bhutan
• Maldives
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Brunei
• Indonesia
• Timor-Leste (East Timor)
• Hong Kong
• Macau

Mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar drive on the right, making Hong Kong and Macau stand out; special infrastructure handles the side switch at their borders.

Africa

Southern and parts of Eastern Africa predominantly drive on the left, reflecting historic links and regional cross-border consistency.

• South Africa
• Botswana
• Namibia
• Lesotho
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Zimbawe
• Zambia
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Tanzania
• Kenya
• Uganda
• Mauritius
• Seychelles
• Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK Overseas Territory)
• British Indian Ocean Territory

Most of West, Central, and North Africa drives on the right; Rwanda and Burundi, adjacent to several left-driving neighbors, are right-driving.

Oceania and the Pacific

Oceania is strongly left-driving, led by Australia and New Zealand, with many Pacific island nations following suit.

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Fiji
• Solomon Islands
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Kiribati
• Tuvalu
• Nauru
• Cook Islands
• Niue
• Tokelau
• Pitcairn Islands

American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia drive on the right, making them regional exceptions.

Caribbean and the Americas

While the Americas are predominantly right-driving, the Caribbean features many left-driving states and territories; two mainland South American countries also keep left.

• Guyana
• Suriname
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Jamaica
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Bermuda
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Anguilla
• Montserrat
• Falkland Islands
• United States Virgin Islands

Most neighboring territories—such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the French and Dutch Caribbean—drive on the right, so side-switch awareness is crucial for inter-island travelers.

Why some places drive on the left

Left-side travel dates back to pre-motor eras when riders kept to the left to keep their right (sword) hand free—customs codified in Britain and spread through the British Empire. As nations motorized, these norms became law, yielding enduring regional patterns. A few modern switches have occurred—Sweden moved to the right in 1967; Samoa moved to the left in 2009—but such changes are rare due to the expense and safety risks of transition.

Travel and driving tips

If you are visiting a left-driving jurisdiction from a right-driving one (or vice versa), a few practical steps can help you adjust quickly and safely.

• Start slow: practice in low-traffic areas to recalibrate lane position and mirrors.
• Roundabouts: enter clockwise and give way to traffic already circulating (local rules vary).
• Pedestrian habits: look in the correct direction for oncoming traffic when crossing.
• Vehicle choice: consider renting a vehicle with the driver’s seat on the side native to local traffic (usually right-hand drive in left-traffic countries) for better visibility.
• Border nuances: expect side-switch facilities at borders like Hong Kong–Mainland China or Macau–Zhuhai, and follow signage closely.
• Insurance and rules: verify local licensing, insurance coverage, speed limits, and drink-driving laws before setting off.

With a little preparation and patience, most drivers adapt within a day or two; extra caution at intersections and roundabouts pays the greatest safety dividends.

Summary

They drive on the left in the UK and many countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Southern Africa, and the Caribbean, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, and several others. Although most of the world drives on the right, left-driving regions form coherent clusters shaped by history and law. Travelers should check local rules, watch for exceptions near borders, and take time to adjust when switching sides.

How many countries drive on left?

All in all, 174 countries and territories have right-hand drive traffic while vehicles use the left side in 78 countries. Most countries that drive on the left are former British colonies including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Only four European nations still drive on the left, all of which are islands.

Why did the US switch to right side driving?

for their convenience the US switched from the left to right side. so right hand driving became the norm in the US. then when the pan-american highway was being built basically all the countries in the americas who drove on the left were pressured to switch to the right in the 1920s when construction began.

Why do British drive on the left?

British drive on the left due to historical reasons, particularly the prevalence of right-handed people and the need to keep their sword hand free for defense when traveling on horseback in the Middle Ages. This custom continued with smaller carriages, where drivers sat to the right to keep their whip hand free. The practice was later formalized into law, with the Highway Act of 1835 mandating left-hand driving throughout the UK and solidifying it as a permanent habit.
 
Historical Origins 

• Medieval Times: In the days of knights and horseback riders, staying to the left allowed right-handed individuals to keep their sword arm free to defend themselves against oncoming strangers.
• Roman Influence: Evidence suggests that Roman soldiers also marched on the left, and some archaeological findings point to Romans driving carts and wagons on the left.
• Early Regulations: Pope Boniface VIII officially sanctioned keeping to the left for pilgrims visiting Rome in the year 1300, which influenced the practice in parts of Europe.

Transition to Modern Driving 

• Carriage Drivers: Opens in new tabWhen larger wagons and carriages with driver’s seats became common in the 18th century, the practice of sitting on the right to control the horses and keep the whip hand free further solidified driving on the left.
• Formalization into Law: Opens in new tabThe practice was legally enforced in Britain with the Highway Act of 1835, making left-hand driving mandatory across the country.

Why it Didn’t Change

• Cost and Habits: Changing traffic laws and associated infrastructure is extremely expensive and difficult, especially because habits are hard to break. 
• Continental Influence: The spread of right-hand driving in mainland Europe was largely due to Napoleonic conquests and French influence. Britain, resisting these influences, maintained its left-hand system. 
• Colonial Legacy: Britain’s imperial reach also spread left-hand driving to many of its former colonies. 

Did Canada ever drive on the left side of the road?

Driving in the left lane was the norm on the east and west coasts of Canada, until cross-country jaunts by automobile became more common and the need for standard cross-border traffic rules became more urgent. Central Canada and the prairie provinces had always followed the American practice of driving on the right.