Where People Drive on the Left Side of the Road

They drive on the left in about 65 countries and territories, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, much of Southern and Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, and many Caribbean and Pacific islands. Globally, these places account for roughly a third of the world’s population. Below is a clear, up-to-date breakdown by region, plus notable exceptions and travel context.

Global overview

Left-hand traffic (LHT) persists largely due to historical influence—especially British colonial administration—and regional alignment with neighbors to simplify cross-border travel. While most countries drive on the right, LHT remains standard across key economies (Japan, India, Australia, the UK) and a wide array of island states.

Where left-hand traffic is used (by region)

Europe and the Mediterranean

In Europe, left-hand driving is concentrated in the British Isles and two Mediterranean countries; dependent territories linked to the UK also follow LHT.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Isle of Man
• Guernsey
• Jersey
• Malta
• Cyprus

Notably, Gibraltar drives on the right (aligned with Spain), even though it is a UK territory. The UK Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus also use the left, consistent with the Republic of Cyprus.

Asia

Asia features several large LHT countries and city-regions, with left-hand driving dominant across South Asia and parts of Southeast and East Asia.

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

Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, North Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines all drive on the right. Border crossings (e.g., Hong Kong–Shenzhen, Macau–Zhuhai) have engineered “handedness” switchovers.

Oceania and the Pacific

Most of Oceania—including the largest economies and many island states—drives on the left, a legacy of British and regional standards.

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands
• Fiji
• Samoa (switched from right to left in 2009)
• Tonga
• Kiribati
• Tuvalu
• Nauru
• Cook Islands (NZ-associated)
• Niue (NZ-associated)
• Tokelau (NZ territory)
• Pitcairn Islands (UK)
• Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island (Australia)

French and U.S.-linked Pacific territories generally drive on the right (e.g., New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau). Vanuatu also drives on the right.

Africa

Left-hand driving is standard across much of Southern and parts of East Africa, as well as on several islands in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic.

• South Africa
• Namibia
• Botswana
• Lesotho
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Kenya
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Mauritius
• Seychelles
• Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK)

Most of the rest of Africa, including Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and the Maghreb, drives on the right. Rwanda has discussed switching to the left but remains right-hand traffic as of 2025.

Americas and the Caribbean

In the Western Hemisphere, LHT is concentrated in the Caribbean, two mainland South American countries, and several UK territories—plus one notable U.S. exception.

• Jamaica
• Barbados
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Grenada
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Dominica
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• The Bahamas
• Bermuda (UK)
• Cayman Islands (UK)
• Turks and Caicos Islands (UK)
• British Virgin Islands (UK)
• Anguilla (UK)
• Montserrat (UK)
• U.S. Virgin Islands (USA)
• Guyana
• Suriname
• Falkland Islands (UK)
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK)

Most of the Americas—including Canada, the continental United States and Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and French territories such as Guadeloupe and Martinique—drive on the right. American Samoa follows right-hand traffic.

Notable exceptions, switches, and context

Places often confused

Some territories have arrangements that can be counterintuitive because of geography or political ties.

• Gibraltar: drives on the right, reflecting its land connection with Spain.
• Hong Kong and Macau: drive on the left, unlike mainland China (right); switchover facilities manage traffic at borders and bridges.
• U.S. Virgin Islands: drive on the left despite being a U.S. territory.
• Myanmar: drives on the right (a 1970 switch), though many vehicles are right-hand drive.

These exceptions matter for travelers planning cross-border rentals or driving near land borders where side-of-road changes occur.

Why left-hand traffic persists

Historical practice, former British administrative standards, and regional alignment keep LHT in place. Countries rarely switch sides due to infrastructure and safety costs; Samoa’s 2009 switch to the left (to align with vehicle imports from Australia and New Zealand) is a rare modern example.

Summary

They drive on the left in the UK and Ireland; Japan; Australia and New Zealand; much of Southern Africa; South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives); parts of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Timor-Leste); Hong Kong and Macau; and many Caribbean and Pacific islands. Most other countries—including mainland Europe, the Americas, and mainland China—drive on the right. Travelers should always verify local rules and be mindful of border switchovers.

Why do island nations drive on the left?

Island countries, and other nations, drive on the left primarily due to the influence of the British Empire, which established left-hand driving in its former colonies. This tradition stems from an era of horseback travel, where people kept to the left to keep their sword arm (right) free for defense against oncoming travelers. Countries like Japan, which were not part of the British Empire, also drive on the left due to historical reasons, such as samurai traditions or early railway construction influenced by the British.
 
Historical Roots of Left-Hand Driving

• Medieval Travel: Opens in new tabBefore cars, keeping to the left was a common practice. Most people are right-handed, so keeping to the left allowed them to keep their dominant right hand free to wield a sword or defend themselves against potential attackers coming from the opposite direction. 
• The British Empire: Opens in new tabBritain formally adopted left-hand driving in 1835. As the British Empire expanded, this practice was extended to many of its colonies and territories, which is why countries like India, Australia, Jamaica, and others still drive on the left today. 
• Napoleon’s Influence: Opens in new tabIn contrast, Napoleon is said to have mandated right-hand traffic in the territories he conquered. Napoleon himself was left-handed, leading some to believe he promoted right-hand traffic to give himself a tactical advantage. 

Other Factors for Left-Hand Traffic 

• Japan: Japan drives on the left, even though it was never a British colony. This tradition dates back to the Edo period (1603–1868), when samurai wore their swords on their left side and would keep to the left to avoid clashing swords when passing others. It was later solidified by the construction of the first Japanese railway, which used British technical assistance and ran on the left.
• Early Railroads: The development of railway systems often influenced traffic rules. In Japan, the construction of the first railway with British help led to trains running on the left, which reinforced the existing tradition.

What countries drive 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.

Do any US territories drive on the left?

Other countries in the Americas
In the West Indies, colonies and territories drive on the same side as their parent countries, except for the United States Virgin Islands.

Where in the US do they drive on the left side?

No U.S. state requires left-side driving; all U.S. states drive on the right. However, the U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. territory, is a notable exception where driving is on the left, and Cuttyhunk Island in Massachusetts also uses left-side driving due to its unique low-vehicle traffic environment.
 
Why no U.S. state drives on the left 

• Right-hand traffic is the standard: Opens in new tabDriving on the right side of the road became the norm in the United States and was codified by the year 1804.
• Historical reasons: Opens in new tabThe shift to driving on the right was influenced by factors such as early drivers sitting on the right side of wagons to better see oncoming traffic and avoid ditches.

Where driving on the left does occur in the U.S.

• U.S. Virgin Islands: Opens in new tabThis is the only place under U.S. jurisdiction where driving on the left is the rule, influenced by previous Danish and British colonial rule. 
• Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts: Opens in new tabOn this small island, driving on the left is a practice because there are so few vehicles and a much higher number of pedestrians, making left-hand driving more practical for safety.