What It’s Called When You Drive on the Left Side of the Road

Driving on the left side of the road is called left-hand traffic (LHT), also referred to as left-side driving or the “keep left” rule. It’s used in about 75 countries and territories, including the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, India, and much of Southern Africa and the Caribbean, and typically pairs with right-hand-drive (RHD) vehicles.

What “Left-Hand Traffic” Means

Left-hand traffic (LHT) is the road rule system where vehicles keep to the left side of the roadway and generally overtake on the right. In LHT regions, most cars are right-hand drive (RHD), meaning the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle. The mirror-image system is right-hand traffic (RHT), where vehicles keep to the right and are typically left-hand drive (LHD). Roundabouts in LHT run clockwise, and drivers yield to traffic already on the roundabout, usually approaching from the right.

Where It’s Used

The following list highlights prominent countries and territories that use left-hand traffic. It is not exhaustive, but it covers the major LHT jurisdictions across regions.

• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta; UK Crown Dependencies and territories such as the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, and Gibraltar.
• Asia: Japan; South Asia including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives; Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and Timor-Leste; Hong Kong and Macao (both LHT, adjacent to mainland China’s RHT).
• Oceania and Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa (switched from RHT in 2009), Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, and Niue.
• Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
• Americas and Caribbean: Guyana, Suriname; and many Caribbean jurisdictions including Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda; British Overseas Territories such as Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat; plus the U.S. Virgin Islands (notable for driving on the left while many cars are LHD).
• South Atlantic territories: Falkland Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

While these are the most prominent LHT locations, travelers should always verify local rules and signage, especially in border regions and territories with unique import patterns (for example, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ mix of LHT roads and many LHD vehicles).

Why Some Places Drive on the Left

Historical roots

Left-side travel has roots in pre-motor eras when riders preferred to keep the sword arm (typically the right) toward oncoming traffic. In the modern period, the practice spread and solidified through British influence across the empire. Japan independently codified LHT in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reinforced by its rail network and road regulations.

Changes over time

A handful of countries have switched for alignment with neighbors or safety reasons. Notable examples include Sweden (left to right in 1967, “Dagen H”), Iceland (1968), Nigeria (1972), Ghana (1974), and Myanmar (left to right in 1970). Samoa moved the other way—from right to left—in 2009 to align with nearby Australia and New Zealand and the availability of RHD vehicles.

Practical Notes for Travelers

If you’re visiting a left-hand-traffic country for the first time, the following points can help you adjust quickly and safely.

• Lane discipline: Keep left except to overtake; pass on the right on multi-lane roads.
• Driver position: Expect right-hand-drive vehicles; your position will be near the centerline when seated.
• Roundabouts and turns: Roundabouts circulate clockwise; yield to traffic from the right. When turning onto a dual carriageway, enter the left carriageway.
• Pedestrian checks: At crossings, first look right (oncoming traffic in the nearest lane), then left, then right again.
• Headlights and signage: Follow “Keep Left” signs and be mindful of headlight alignment, which is designed for LHT patterns.
• Vehicle rental: Confirm transmission side and controls; indicator and wiper stalks may be reversed from what you’re used to.

With a little preparation and patience—especially at junctions and roundabouts—most drivers adapt to LHT quickly.

Related Terms and Distinctions

The vocabulary around driving sides can be confusing. Here’s how the main terms relate.

• Left-hand traffic (LHT): The rule to stay on the left side of the road; often called “driving on the left” or “keep left.”
• Right-hand traffic (RHT): The rule to stay on the right; often called “driving on the right” or “keep right.”
• Right-hand drive (RHD): Steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle; typical in LHT countries.
• Left-hand drive (LHD): Steering wheel on the left; typical in RHT countries.

In short, LHT/RHT describe the road rule, while RHD/LHD describe the vehicle configuration commonly paired with those rules.

Summary

Driving on the left side of the road is known as left-hand traffic (LHT), commonly paired with right-hand-drive vehicles. It’s the norm in the UK and Ireland, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, much of Southern Africa, South Asia, parts of Southeast Asia, and many Caribbean islands. The system stems from historical practice and colonial influence, with a few countries having switched sides to align with regional norms. Travelers can adapt smoothly by keeping left except when overtaking, navigating clockwise roundabouts, and staying alert at intersections and crossings.

What does driving on the left mean?

Driving on the left means keeping to the left side of the road and overtaking on the right. It also means the driver sits on the right side of the vehicle with the steering wheel on the right. This system, also known as left-hand traffic (LHT), is used in countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, and Australia, among others. 
Key Aspects

• Lane Position: In countries where people drive on the left, vehicles occupy the left lane when driving in the direction of travel and move to the right lane to overtake slower vehicles. 
• Steering Wheel Position: The most noticeable difference for drivers is that the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, providing a better view of the road and oncoming traffic. 
• Overtaking: To pass another vehicle, you move to the right lane, pass, and then move back into the left lane. 

Why This Difference Exists

• Historical Roots: The tradition of driving on the left has historical roots in Europe, where it was common for horse riders and knights to keep to the left. This allowed them to keep their dominant right hand, which held a sword, free to defend against oncoming threats or to greet others. 
• Legacy: England formally adopted this practice, and it was then passed on to its former colonies and other countries, creating the system used today. 

Which European countries drive on the left?

The Channel Islands, Ireland, The Isle of Man, Cyprus, and Malta are the only European countries that also drive on the left. If you’re hiring a car on a European holiday anywhere except for these places, you’ll need to be confident driving on the opposite side of the road.

Why do Europeans drive on the right?

The subsequent Revolutionary wars and Napoleon’s European conquests led to the spread of driving on the right to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Napoleon ordered his armies to use the right-hand side of the road in order to avoid congestion during military manoeuvres.

Is India LHT or RHT?

Every nation has its unique traffic laws. There are other nations that drive on the right, while India drives on the left. Nobody is certain of the precise cause or rationale for its beginning.