What “left-hand traffic” means—and how it affects driving worldwide

Left-hand traffic (LHT) means vehicles travel on the left side of the road, with drivers typically seated on the right side of the vehicle; passing is usually on the right and roundabouts circulate clockwise. The term defines a country’s lane discipline and shapes everything from vehicle design to road signs, intersections, and border crossings.

Definition and how it works

In an LHT system, the leftmost lane is the primary travel lane and faster traffic generally overtakes on the right. Junction design, pedestrian crossings, and road signage are all oriented to support this flow, and vehicle headlamps and mirrors are configured accordingly.

The essential features of LHT can be summarized as operating rules, typical vehicle configurations, and standard junction behaviors that differ from right-hand traffic (RHT) systems.

• Lanes: Keep left except to overtake; overtaking is usually on the right.
• Driver position: Most vehicles are right-hand drive (RHD), placing the driver near the road centerline for better sightlines when passing.
• Roundabouts: Traffic circulates clockwise, with entering drivers yielding to traffic already on the roundabout (priority rules vary by country).
• Turns: Left turns are the “near-side” (generally easier) turns; right turns cross oncoming traffic and are often controlled by signals or turn bays.
• Signage and markings: Signs are placed to the left or overhead; lane arrows and turn markings are mirrored compared with RHT countries.

While these conventions are widely shared across LHT countries, specific rules—such as overtaking restrictions, signal phasing, and roundabout priority—can differ by jurisdiction and should always be checked locally.

Where left-hand traffic is used

About a third of the world’s population lives in places that drive on the left, spanning roughly 75 countries and territories. LHT is common in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and in many island territories.

• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man.
• Asia-Pacific: Japan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan; Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Timor-Leste; Australia, New Zealand; numerous Pacific islands including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
• Africa: South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda; island states like Mauritius and Seychelles.
• Americas and Caribbean: Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica; Guyana and Suriname in South America; several territories including Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Special cases: Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left, while mainland China drives on the right; purpose-built interchanges manage the switch at border crossings.

This distribution reflects historical ties, regional harmonization, and practical cross-border considerations. Some neighboring regions maintain different systems, requiring careful engineering at borders.

Why some places drive on the left

Driving side choices are rooted in history and logistics. LHT often traces to British legal and engineering influence or earlier traditions favoring left-side travel. Japan standardized left-side running with early rail and road development, and many parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania aligned regionally. The result is a patchwork shaped by colonial legacies, trade routes, and later efforts to simplify cross-border travel.

Rules and everyday implications

Practically, LHT affects how you enter junctions, scan for hazards, and position your vehicle. It shapes where bus doors are placed, how cyclists and pedestrians are guided, and how road signs are sited.

• Driver awareness: Look right first at crossings; on multi-lane roads, slower traffic stays left.
• Pedestrians: At two-way roads in LHT countries, first check for traffic approaching from the right.
• Cycling: Bike lanes are typically on the left edge; right turns require extra caution across traffic.
• Public transport: Bus doors often open to the left curb; platforms and boarding layouts reflect LHT.
• Freight and delivery: Mirror and curbside access are optimized for left-side curb operations.

These details can feel reversed to visitors from RHT countries, so consistent cues—road arrows, signage, and curb markings—reinforce correct behavior.

Vehicles and equipment

LHT countries predominantly use right-hand-drive vehicles and adjust equipment accordingly. Headlamp beams dip left to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers, and driver-assist cameras and mirrors are oriented for centerline visibility.

• Right-hand drive (RHD): Standard in LHT; offers better sightlines when overtaking.
• Lighting: Headlamps and fog lights are aimed and patterned for left-side travel.
• In-car tech: Navigation prompts and blind-spot monitoring are tuned to expected passing side.
• Exceptions: Some places, such as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Myanmar, have many left-hand-drive imports despite local LHT/RHT rules, creating mismatches in driver position and curbside access.

When importing or renting vehicles across systems, ensure lighting, mirror, and compliance standards match the road side to be used.

Changing sides and border solutions

A few countries have switched sides in response to safety, regional alignment, or trade needs. Borders between LHT and RHT regions rely on specialized interchanges, signage, and traffic control to manage the transition safely.

• Historic switches: Sweden changed from LHT to RHT in 1967 (“Dagen H”); Myanmar switched to RHT in 1970; Nigeria (1972) and Ghana (1974) moved to RHT; Samoa switched from RHT to LHT in 2009.
• Border engineering: Grade-separated “crossover” interchanges at Hong Kong–mainland China and Macau–Zhuhai borders, and on Thailand–Laos bridges, smoothly swap traffic sides.
• Interoperability: Freight corridors and bus routes use clear lane markings and advance warning signs to minimize error near borders.

Such changes and crossovers require extensive public education, temporary speed reductions, and clear road marking to keep drivers oriented.

Safety, advantages, and trade-offs

No driving side is inherently safer. Outcomes depend more on road design, enforcement, vehicle safety, and user behavior. That said, each system has practical trade-offs for drivers and operators.

• Consistency: Staying with a region’s predominant side reduces cross-border confusion and logistics costs.
• Visibility: RHD in LHT gives better sightlines for overtaking and judging centerline gaps.
• Tourism and rentals: Visitors from RHT countries may need adaptation time; clear signage and in-vehicle aids help.
• Fleet and import markets: Availability and cost of RHD vehicles can influence policy and consumer choice.

The most important safety factors are predictable layouts, legible signage, appropriate speed limits, and driver familiarity—regardless of the side used.

Tips for visitors driving in LHT countries

If you normally drive on the right and plan to drive in an LHT country, a few practical steps can ease the transition and reduce risk.

• Start slow: Practice in light traffic; consider an automatic transmission to lower cognitive load.
• Follow cues: Use lane arrows, “Keep Left” signs, and roundabout diagrams; set the navigation voice guidance.
• Positioning: Keep your body near the road centerline (in RHD cars), which naturally helps you “stay left.”
• Turns and roundabouts: Rehearse clockwise entry and exits; look right for priority traffic.
• Night driving: Be cautious until you’re fully acclimated; unfamiliar headlamp patterns and glare can be disorienting.

Most drivers adapt within a day or two; building habits slowly and obeying local rules are the keys to a safe experience.

Road signs and markings: what’s different

Signage standards in LHT countries mirror the flow of traffic and often reflect international conventions, with local variations in language and units.

• Placement: Regulatory and warning signs appear on the left shoulder or overhead; some countries duplicate signs on the right for visibility.
• Units: Speed limits are in kilometres per hour in most LHT nations; the UK and some territories use miles per hour.
• Pavement arrows: Lane arrows, turn bays, and “KEEP LEFT” markings reinforce side-of-road discipline.
• Pedestrian cues: “Look Right/Look Left” stencils are common in tourist areas (e.g., in the UK) to aid foreign visitors.

While the visual language is familiar to experienced drivers, pay attention to local units, color conventions, and any text-based supplemental plates.

Bottom line

Left-hand traffic is simply the rule that vehicles keep left, shaping how roads are built, how vehicles are configured, and how people move. It exists alongside right-hand traffic as a globally mixed standard, with safety hinging on clear design and driver familiarity more than the chosen side itself.

Summary

Left-hand traffic means driving on the left, passing on the right, and typically using right-hand-drive vehicles. It’s used across the UK and Ireland, Japan, India, Australia, parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and many islands—covering roughly a third of the world’s population. The system influences road design, signs, vehicle equipment, and border crossings, but is neither safer nor riskier by default; outcomes depend on consistent rules, good engineering, and informed drivers.

What does left-hand traffic mean in cities

In Cities: Skylines, the “left-hand traffic” option allows vehicles to drive on the left side of the road, which inverts the default right-hand traffic (RHT) system. This change affects how roads and intersections function within your city, requiring vehicles to pass oncoming traffic on the left, as seen in countries like the United Kingdom and Japan. The option is set when creating a new city and cannot be changed for an existing game.
 
How Left-Hand Traffic Works

• Driving on the left: All vehicles in your city will use the left lane, rather than the right. 
• Overtaking: Vehicles will overtake on the left side of the vehicle they are passing. 
• Driver’s position: For vehicles with a single driver’s seat, the driver will sit on the right-hand side of the vehicle. 
• Roundabouts: In a LHT system, roundabouts are driven clockwise. 

Where to Find the Option 

• You can select “left-hand traffic” on the game’s new city creation screen, under the map selection.

Important Considerations

• Cannot be changed for existing cities: Opens in new tabOnce a city is created, the traffic direction cannot be changed in-game without mods. 
• Roads and assets: Opens in new tabThe left-hand traffic option automatically adjusts the layout of the game’s roads and assets to fit the new traffic flow. 

Is the USA right or left hand traffic?

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.

What is the difference between right hand and left hand driving?

Left-hand drive (LHD) cars, with the steering wheel on the left, are used in countries that drive on the right side of the road, while right-hand drive (RHD) cars, with the steering wheel on the right, are used in countries that drive on the left side of the road. The system a country uses, such as whether traffic keeps to the left or right, also dictates the location of the driver’s controls. 
This video explains why some countries drive on the left and others on the right: 51sHistory of Simple ThingsYouTube · Sep 23, 2025
Left-Hand Drive (LHD) 

• Steering Wheel: Located on the left side of the vehicle. 
• Traffic Flow: Used in countries where traffic drives on the right side of the road. 
• Examples: Most countries in the world, including the United States and continental Europe, use LHD and drive on the right. 

Right-Hand Drive (RHD) 

• Steering Wheel: Located on the right side of the vehicle. 
• Traffic Flow: Used in countries where traffic drives on the left side of the road. 
• Examples: Countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Japan use RHD and drive on the left. 

Why the Difference?

• Historical Origins: The origins of driving on the left date back to medieval times when it was safer for right-handed people to pass on-comers on the left with their sword arm. 
• Political Influences: The French Revolution and Napoleon’s conquests led to the adoption of driving on the right in many parts of Europe, while the British Empire spread the convention of driving on the left to its colonies. 
• Practicality: The driver’s position aligns with the side of the road traffic uses to enhance visibility and safety, especially when passing and in traffic situations. 

Key Takeaway:
The location of the steering wheel (RHD or LHD) is determined by the side of the road that is designated for traffic flow (left-hand or right-hand traffic). 
This video explains the major differences between right-hand drive and left-hand drive: 56sCCV TVYouTube · Jul 14, 2021

Who uses left-hand traffic?

Countries where drivers use the left side of the road include the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Japan, Ireland, and South Africa, among many others. While most of the world drives on the right, approximately 30% of countries, largely former British colonies, drive on the left.
 
Examples of countries that drive on the left: 

• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, and the Channel Islands
• Asia: India, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga
• Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, and Uganda
• Caribbean: Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, and the British Virgin Islands