Where People Drive on the Left

They drive on the left in many countries—most notably the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and several Caribbean nations. In short, left-hand traffic is standard across significant parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, encompassing roughly a third of the world’s population.

What “driving on the left” means and how common it is

Left-hand traffic (LHT) means vehicles keep to the left side of the road and typically have the driver’s seat on the right. About 75% of countries drive on the right, but LHT remains widespread—especially in nations with British historical ties and in Japan and parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania. Today, more than 70 countries and territories follow LHT, representing roughly one-third of the global population.

Countries and territories that drive on the left, by region

Europe

The following are the principal European places where motorists drive on the left, a practice rooted in historical and legal traditions that endure today.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Cyprus
• Malta
• Isle of Man (Crown Dependency)
• Channel Islands: Jersey, Guernsey (Crown Dependencies)

These jurisdictions stand out within Europe, where most other countries—such as France, Spain, Germany, and Italy—drive on the right.

Asia

Asia includes some of the world’s largest left-driving nations, reflecting both historical influence and regional standards.

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

Most of mainland East and Southeast Asia (including China, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines) drives on the right, making the above countries notable regional exceptions.

Africa

Left-hand driving in Africa is concentrated in the south and east, along with a few island nations.

• South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
• Lesotho, Eswatini
• Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
• Mauritius, Seychelles

Much of North, West, and Central Africa drives on the right; the listed countries form the core of the continent’s LHT network.

Oceania and the Pacific

Oceania has some of the highest concentrations of left-driving countries and territories, aligning closely with regional norms.

• Australia, New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga
• Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru
• Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau (associated with New Zealand)
• Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)
• Pitcairn Islands (UK)

Note that several nearby territories drive on the right, including New Caledonia and French Polynesia (France), Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Caribbean and the Americas

The Caribbean features a diverse mix, but many island nations and British Overseas Territories keep left; in the Americas, two sovereign South American countries are notable LHT exceptions.

• Caribbean sovereign states: Jamaica; Barbados; Trinidad and Tobago; Antigua and Barbuda; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Dominica; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Grenada; the Bahamas
• British Overseas Territories: Bermuda; Cayman Islands; Turks and Caicos; British Virgin Islands; Anguilla; Montserrat
• South America: Guyana, Suriname

Most of the mainland Americas—from Canada and the United States to Mexico and the rest of Latin America—drive on the right, making Guyana and Suriname the regional outliers among sovereign states.

Why some places drive on the left

Left-hand traffic often traces back to British colonial legal frameworks or, in Japan’s case, historical and railway engineering practices that favored left-side operation. Over time, these norms became embedded in road design, driver education, vehicle fleets (with right-hand-drive cars), and international conventions. While a few countries have switched sides for regional integration—Samoa moved from right to left in 2009—wholesale changes are rare due to infrastructure and safety considerations.

Travel notes and safety tips

If you’re planning to drive in a left-hand-traffic country for the first time, it helps to prepare with a few practical steps that can improve safety and confidence.

• Book a right-hand-drive vehicle with automatic transmission if you’re not used to shifting with your left hand.
• Rehearse lane discipline: keep left except to pass, and take extra care at multi-lane roundabouts.
• Use visual cues: place a sticker or reminder in the car to “keep left,” especially after stops.
• Plan routes that avoid complex city centers until you’re comfortable.
• Check local rules on speed limits, roundabout priority, and turning on red (often prohibited).

With some preparation and patience, most drivers adapt quickly to left-side traffic—particularly when following local signage and pacing.

Summary

They drive on the left in dozens of countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania—prominently the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, much of Southeast Asia, parts of East Africa and Southern Africa, and many Caribbean islands. Although most of the world drives on the right, left-hand traffic remains a well-established standard for roughly a third of the global population.

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.

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 does Britain drive on the left and Europe on the right?

Britain drives on the left due to an historical rule rooted in the medieval practice of keeping the sword hand (usually the right) free when passing others on horseback, a tradition reinforced by Roman practices and codified into law in 1773 before being spread by the British Empire. In contrast, mainland Europe largely switched to right-hand traffic following Napoleon’s adoption of the system for his armies, a change that was then widely adopted across the continent for standardization.
 
Why Britain drives on the left

• Ancient Origins: The custom may go back to Roman times, when soldiers and chariot riders traveled on the left so they could use their right sword hand against approaching enemies. 
• Medieval Practice: Travelers on horseback, the vast majority being right-handed, kept to the left to have their dominant sword arm free for defense. 
• Roman Tradition: Roman soldiers marched on the left, and archaeological evidence suggests they drove carts and wagons on the left as well. 
• Law and Standardization: In 18th-century England, the need for order in crowded areas like London Bridge led to official laws and rules for traffic flow. A “keep left” standard was established for horse-drawn carriages, and this practice was made mandatory in 1835, eventually extending throughout the British Empire. 

Why Europe drives on the right

• Napoleon’s Influence: Following the French Revolution, France changed to right-hand traffic. Napoleon’s subsequent conquest of much of Europe led to the adoption of right-hand driving in these territories as a way to standardize traffic and for military purposes. 
• Logistical Advantages: Later, heavy horse-drawn wagons, popular in the 18th century, were often driven from the left side, and drivers would sit on the right to wield their whip with their right hand. This helped lead to right-hand driving becoming the norm in the United States and France. 
• Adoption and Standardization: Most countries in Europe eventually adopted right-hand driving to harmonize traffic and prevent confusion, a process that took decades to complete across the continent. 

How many countries drive on the left-hand side?

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.