Which side of the road does the USA drive on?

The United States drives on the right side of the road, with vehicles typically configured as left-hand drive (steering wheel on the left). An important exception is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where traffic keeps left. Below is a concise guide to how this works nationwide, the notable exception, and what visiting drivers should know.

How driving sides work in the United States

Across the 50 states and the District of Columbia, right-hand traffic is the uniform standard. Most U.S. territories also follow this rule, aligning vehicle design and roadway engineering with right-side travel.

The national norm

Right-hand traffic applies in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Vehicles are predominantly left-hand drive, which positions drivers near the centerline for better sightlines when passing and turning.

The notable exception: U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix) are the outlier: traffic keeps left. Most cars there are still left-hand drive—imported from the mainland—so visitors should take extra care with lane positioning, overtaking, and turns, especially on narrow or hilly roads.

What right-side driving means for everyday rules

The following points summarize how right-side driving shapes everyday road behavior in the U.S., from lane usage to turns and roundabouts.

• Lane use: Keep right except to pass on multi-lane roads; the left lane is generally for faster traffic or overtaking (enforcement varies by state).
• Passing and overtaking: Pass slower vehicles on the left; passing on the right is limited to specific, signed conditions or multi-lane roads when safe and legal.
• Turns at signals: Right turn on red is widely allowed after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it; in New York City, it’s generally prohibited unless a sign explicitly permits it.
• Left on red: Many states allow a left turn on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street after a full stop when no sign prohibits it—check local law and signage.
• Roundabouts: Travel counterclockwise; yield to traffic already in the circle (approaching traffic yields to the left).
• School buses: When red lights flash and the stop arm is extended, traffic in both directions must stop on undivided roads (rules differ on divided highways).
• Units and signs: Speed limits and distances use miles and miles per hour (mph); pavement markings, traffic lights, and signage follow U.S. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards.
• Pedestrians and crosswalks: Yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks; turning drivers must yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

Taken together, these conventions reflect a right-side system designed around left-hand-drive vehicles, standard U.S. signage, and widely harmonized traffic laws across states.

Variations and rules to watch by jurisdiction

While the side of travel is consistent (right-side, except the U.S. Virgin Islands), several rules vary by state or city. Drivers should verify local requirements, especially in large metro areas.

• Right on red: Commonly permitted after stopping, but local bans exist—most notably in New York City unless signs allow it.
• Left on red (one-way to one-way): Legal in many jurisdictions but not all; rely on posted signs and local law.
• Hands-free driving laws: Most states restrict handheld phone use while driving; penalties and enforcement vary.
• Lane discipline: “Keep right except to pass” rules exist in many states; some actively ticket left-lane cruising.
• Move Over laws: All states require moving over or slowing down for stopped emergency and service vehicles; details vary.
• Motorcycles: California permits lane splitting; several states (e.g., Arizona, Utah, Montana) allow limited lane filtering at intersections—conditions differ.
• Tolls and HOV/express lanes: Payment systems (e.g., E-ZPass) and carpool rules vary by region; check signage and occupancy requirements.

Local nuances seldom change the driving side but can significantly affect day-to-day driving decisions, so reading roadside signs and checking state DOT guidance is essential.

Why the U.S. drives on the right

Historically, U.S. right-side driving emerged in the 18th–19th centuries and solidified with the mass adoption of left-hand-drive cars like Ford’s Model T. Placing the driver on the left improved visibility of oncoming traffic and made passing and right-hand turns more predictable, reinforcing right-hand traffic nationwide.

Tips for visitors from left-driving countries

If you usually drive on the left, a few habits will help you adapt quickly to right-side travel in the U.S.

• Choose an automatic transmission if you’re not used to shifting with your right hand; most rentals are automatic LHD.
• Use lane markers: Keep yourself centered in the lane and remember the centerline should be on your left side.
• Practice turns: For right turns, turn into the rightmost lane; for left turns, cross the center of the intersection into the leftmost appropriate lane.
• At intersections: After stopping, look left-right-left before proceeding; be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists.
• Roundabouts: Enter to the right and circulate counterclockwise, yielding to traffic already in the circle.
• Plan navigation: Use GPS with lane guidance to reduce last-second lane changes on multi-lane freeways.

With a bit of planning and habit-building, most visitors adjust within a day or two—especially when following lane guidance and signage.

Summary

The United States drives on the right side of the road in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and most U.S. territories; the key exception is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where traffic keeps left. Expect left-hand-drive vehicles, right-on-red (with local exceptions), counterclockwise roundabouts, and state-by-state variations on lane use, phone rules, and motorcycle practices. When in doubt, follow posted signs and consult local driving regulations.

Is the USA driving left or right?

Right Side
On The Right Side of the Road. The Federal Highway Administration has often been asked about the American practice of driving on the right, instead of the left, as in Great Britain, our “Mother Country.” Albert C.

Is the driver’s side left or right in the US?

United States
Massachusetts formalized RHT in 1821. However, the National Road was LHT until 1850, “long after the rest of the country had settled on the keep-right convention”. Today the United States is RHT except the United States Virgin Islands, which is LHT like many neighbouring islands.

Is the US left or right lane?

Common practice and most law on United States highways is that the left lane is reserved for passing and faster moving traffic, and that traffic using the left lane must yield to traffic wishing to overtake.

Which country drives on the left?

These include India, Australia, New Zealand and former British colonies in Africa and the Caribbean. Very few countries drive on the left in Europe like we do in the UK. The Channel Islands, Ireland, The Isle of Man, Cyprus, and Malta are the only European countries that also drive on the left.