Where Is the Left-Side Road? Mapping Left-Hand Traffic Around the World

Drivers keep to the left side of the road in the United Kingdom and Ireland; Japan; India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan; Australia and New Zealand; much of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Timor-Leste); parts of Southern and Eastern Africa (including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania); and many Caribbean and Pacific islands. By contrast, most of mainland Europe, the Americas, and mainland China drive on the right. This article explains where left-hand traffic is practiced, why it persists, and what travelers should know.

What “left-side road” means

“Left-side road” refers to countries and territories with left-hand traffic (LHT), where vehicles keep left and most driver seats are on the right-hand side of the vehicle. This affects road design, roundabout flow, pedestrian behavior at crossings, and how vehicles are built and imported. Globally, about 35% of people live under LHT, spanning roughly 75 countries and territories.

Where people drive on the left

The following breakdown highlights regions and representative countries that use left-hand traffic. It is not an exhaustive list of every territory but covers the major places you’re most likely to encounter when traveling or doing business.

• Europe and the Mediterranean: United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey), Malta, Cyprus.
• East and South Asia: Japan; India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives; Hong Kong and Macau (mainland China drives on the right).
• Southeast Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste (East Timor).
• Africa and the Indian Ocean: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda; island states Mauritius and Seychelles.
• Oceania and the Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands.
• Americas and the Caribbean: Guyana, Suriname; Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, Bermuda, US Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands.

While regional clusters are common—such as southern Africa and the Anglophone Caribbean—there are notable exceptions. For instance, Gibraltar drives on the right despite close ties to the UK, and the US Virgin Islands drive on the left even though most vehicles there are left-hand-drive imports from the US mainland.

Notable places where drivers switch sides at borders

In several locations, motorists must transition between left- and right-hand traffic at international crossings. Authorities typically manage this with grade-separated crossovers, special signage, and reduced speed zones.

• UK–France: Transitions via the Channel Tunnel terminals and ferry ports with engineered crossovers.
• Hong Kong–Mainland China: Multiple ports of entry (e.g., Shenzhen corridor) switch from left (HK) to right (PRC).
• Macau–Zhuhai and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge: Complex interchanges guide drivers between systems.
• Thailand–Laos and Thailand–Myanmar: Friendship bridges and land crossings provide marked crossovers (Thailand is left; Laos and Myanmar are right).
• Guyana–Brazil: The Takutu River Bridge includes a purpose-built switchover (Guyana left; Brazil right).
• East Africa examples: Kenya–Ethiopia (Moyale), Tanzania–Rwanda (Rusumo), and Uganda–South Sudan (Nimule) all require side changes.

If you’re approaching one of these borders, expect clear lane guidance and signage, but plan to slow down and follow local instructions carefully, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the switch.

Why some places keep left

Left-hand traffic patterns stem from history, infrastructure, and trade. Many LHT countries were once part of the British Empire, which standardized left-side driving across its territories. Japan independently adopted LHT, influenced by early railway practices and later codified nationwide. Samoa switched from right to left in 2009 to align vehicle imports with Australia and New Zealand. In a few places, tradition outlasted colonial ties: the US Virgin Islands kept left from the Danish era, and Hong Kong and Macau retained left-hand traffic after their return to China, preserving road safety and infrastructure continuity.

Practical tips for travelers in left-hand traffic countries

If you’re used to right-hand traffic, a few habits and checks can make driving on the left safer and more comfortable when you travel.

1. Choose the right car: A right-hand-drive vehicle improves sight lines for overtaking and turns.
2. Roundabouts: Enter clockwise and give way to traffic coming from the right.
3. Turns: Look for oncoming traffic from the right when turning right; take wide left turns and tight right turns.
4. Pedestrian checks: At crossings, look right–left–right first.
5. Headlights and mirrors: Ensure proper alignment; adjust mirrors for the opposite lane position.
6. Navigation: Set your app to avoid complex junctions at first; consider voice prompts.
7. Border awareness: At known switchover points, reduce speed and follow lane guidance.
8. Licensing and insurance: Carry an International Driving Permit if required; verify coverage for LHT countries.
9. Practice: Start in low-traffic areas or consider an automatic transmission to reduce cognitive load.

A little preparation goes a long way. Most drivers adapt within a day or two, but staying methodical—especially at roundabouts and multi-lane junctions—helps avoid common mistakes.

Data snapshots and caveats

As of 2025, roughly three-quarters of the world’s countries and territories drive on the right, while about 75 drive on the left—home to around 35% of the global population. Lists can vary because territories, dependencies, and special administrative regions are sometimes counted differently. Always check local rules before driving, since practices like vehicle orientation (right- vs left-hand-drive cars) and road signage can differ even within the same traffic system.

Summary

Left-side roads are found chiefly in the British Isles, Japan, South Asia, much of Southeast Asia, large parts of southern and eastern Africa, and across many Caribbean and Pacific islands. The rest of Europe, the Americas, and mainland China drive on the right. Historical legacies and infrastructure continuity explain the pattern, while modern border crossings and clear signage help drivers transition safely between systems.

Is the USA left side or right side driving?

Right Side
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 countries drive on the left side road?

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.

Which side of the road is left and right?

And according to them it was best to keep. Left. It turns out there were two reasons for. This. First back in ancient Rome people traveled on horseback.