Where in Canada do they drive on the left?

Nowhere on public roads—Canada drives on the right in every province and territory. While a few private, controlled environments (such as some mine haul roads or airside zones at certain airports) may direct vehicles to keep left for operational reasons, all public highways and streets nationwide require right-hand traffic. Historically, parts of Canada once drove on the left, but that ended by the mid-20th century, with Newfoundland switching in 1947 before joining Canada in 1949.

Canada’s current driving side

Across the country—from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador, and in the territories—traffic laws mandate driving on the right-hand side of the road. Road design, signage, and vehicle standards (predominantly left-hand-drive cars) reflect this nationwide consistency, which also aligns Canada with its largest neighbor, the United States.

Are there any exceptions?

Private and special-purpose roads

Some non-public, controlled environments in Canada may designate left-side operation to suit local safety or logistical needs. These rules are site-specific and do not apply on public roads.

• Mine haul roads and quarries, where heavy equipment sometimes keeps left to improve visibility and reduce collision risk.
• Airside service areas at certain airports, where ground-operations procedures may differ from public-road norms.
• Industrial sites, ports, or large construction zones that post left-side rules for internal traffic flow.

These are restricted environments with posted instructions and supervision; they are not accessible public highways and should not be confused with general road rules in Canada.

Right-hand-drive vehicles vs. left-side driving

You may see right-hand-drive vehicles in Canada (for example, imported vehicles eligible under the 15-year import rule, or specialized fleets like postal delivery). Even so, these vehicles still drive on the right, following the same traffic rules as left-hand-drive vehicles.

How we got here: a brief history

Canada’s standardization on right-hand traffic emerged in the early automobile era, strongly influenced by cross-border trade and travel with the United States. While central and western regions generally used the right side early on, several coastal jurisdictions once kept left before switching.

The following list outlines where left-hand driving existed historically in what is now Canada and when it ended:

• British Columbia: drove on the left until the early 1920s; switched to the right in 1922.
• Nova Scotia: left-hand traffic in the early years; converted to the right in the early 1920s.
• New Brunswick: switched from left to right in the early 1920s.
• Prince Edward Island: transitioned from left to right in 1924.
• Newfoundland (not yet part of Canada at the time): kept left until 1947, then switched to the right two years before joining Canada in 1949.

By the mid-1920s, most of Canada had standardized on right-hand traffic, and Newfoundland’s 1947 change completed the picture. As a result, modern Canada has always been right-hand on public roads.

Tips for visitors used to left-side driving

If you normally drive on the left (for example, in the UK, Australia, or Japan), these quick pointers can ease your adjustment on Canadian roads.

• Keep right, pass left: stay in the right lane except when overtaking, unless signs indicate otherwise.
• Speeds are in kilometres per hour (km/h), not miles per hour.
• Watch for right-on-red rules: generally allowed after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it; local exceptions exist (for example, restrictions in parts of Montreal for right-on-red).
• Winter readiness: in many regions, winter tires and extra stopping distance are essential in cold months.
• Navigation cues: roundabouts circulate counterclockwise; yield to traffic already in the circle and to pedestrians where marked.

A brief familiarization—especially after long flights—helps avoid common lane-positioning mistakes and makes the transition to right-side driving smoother.

Summary

Public roads in Canada use right-hand traffic everywhere; there is no left-side driving on Canadian highways or city streets. Any left-side operation you might encounter is limited to private, controlled environments such as certain mines or airside areas, and does not reflect public road rules. Historically, a few regions once kept left but switched in the 1920s, with Newfoundland converting in 1947 before Confederation—cementing the nationwide “drive on the right” standard seen today.

Does any part of Canada drive on the left?

No, Canada does not drive on the left; Canada drives on the right-hand side of the road, similar to the United States. Canada switched to driving on the right, completing the transition by 1947, in order to facilitate easier movement and border crossings with the United States.
 
Key points:

• Standard Practice: The majority of the world, including Canada, drives on the right. 
• Historical Context: Some parts of Canada, particularly those with British influence, originally drove on the left. However, these provinces, such as British Columbia and Newfoundland, switched to driving on the right to align with the rest of Canada and the United States. 
• Alignment with the US: The switch to driving on the right was a major factor in harmonizing traffic rules between Canada and the United States, making cross-border travel more convenient. 
• Vehicle Configuration: Because of this, cars in Canada, as in the US, are typically left-hand drive, meaning the steering wheel is on the left side of the vehicle. 

When did Canada change to right-hand drive?

The province of British Columbia changed to RHT in stages from 1920 to 1923, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island in 1922, 1923, and 1924 respectively, and the Dominion of Newfoundland (part of Canada since 1949) in 1947, in order to allow traffic (without side switch) to or from the United States.

Where in the world do they drive on the left?

But some countries do the opposite, driving on the “wrong” side of the road. If you’ve ever been to the UK, Australia, Japan, or India (or watched TV shows and movies set in these countries), you’ve seen people driving on the left side. And it’s not just a handful of countries that drive on the left…

Is driving different in Canada vs. the US?

Key differences between Canadian and U.S. road rules
The road rules in the U.S. are similar to those in Canada, but there are some important differences to be aware of. In the U.S., speed limits are often posted in miles per hour (mph) instead of kilometres per hour (km/h), which can be confusing at first.