Which is safer: driving on the left or the right?

The short answer: neither side is inherently safer worldwide. Modern evidence from the WHO and OECD/ITF shows that countries with the lowest road-death rates include both left- and right-driving nations; what matters far more are speed management, road design, vehicle standards, enforcement, and post-crash care. Below, we explain why the side of the road is a minor factor compared with the overall “Safe System” a country builds.

What the global data actually shows

Global road safety performance varies widely, but the variation does not align neatly with driving on the left (LHT) or right (RHT). The WHO’s Global status report on road safety 2023 estimates 1.19 million road traffic deaths in 2021 and highlights that the safest countries include a mix of LHT and RHT systems. Likewise, recent OECD/International Transport Forum (ITF) annual reports list top performers on both sides of the road. This indicates side-of-road is not a primary determinant of safety outcomes.

Examples of high-performing countries on both sides

The following examples illustrate that both left- and right-driving nations can achieve world-leading safety, according to WHO and OECD/ITF reporting in recent years.

• Left-side (LHT): United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore
• Right-side (RHT): Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark

These countries consistently show low road-death rates per capita by combining strong laws, safe infrastructure, vehicle safety standards, and effective enforcement—not because of the side they drive on.

What actually drives road safety

Safety outcomes are governed by the “Safe System” approach—designing roads and mobility so that human mistakes do not result in death or serious injury. The side of the road is a relatively minor design convention compared with the elements below.

• Speed management: Setting and enforcing safe speeds for the road type and traffic mix.
• Road design and infrastructure: Median separation, roundabouts, protected crossings, forgiving roadsides, and safe urban street design.
• Vehicle safety: High crashworthiness standards, active safety tech (AEB, lane-keeping), and fleet renewal.
• User behavior and enforcement: Seat-belt and helmet use, drink- and drug-driving deterrence, distraction enforcement.
• Post-crash care: Rapid emergency response and trauma care systems.

Countries that invest consistently in these pillars see sustained reductions in fatalities regardless of whether they drive on the left or right.

When the side-of-road does matter

Although not decisive overall, the choice of left vs right can influence risk in certain situations, especially where human habits, vehicle configuration, or infrastructure details interact.

• Transitions and tourism: Visitors used to the opposite side can make scanning and turning errors, especially at intersections and roundabouts.
• Vehicle-seat mismatch: Driving a vehicle with the “wrong” steering position for the local side (e.g., left-hand-drive cars in LHT countries) can worsen overtaking visibility and blind spots.
• Pedestrian scan direction: People tend to look first toward traffic approaching from the side they’re used to; mismatches raise crossing risk without strong cues.
• Heavy vehicles and blind spots: Near-side blind-spot risks differ with side-of-road and can affect conflicts with cyclists and motorcyclists if not mitigated by design and mirrors/cameras.
• Infrastructure consistency: Signing, markings, and intersection design must align with the chosen side; inconsistencies elevate crash risk.

These are manageable risks. Clear signage, public information, vehicle compliance rules, and road design tailored to local traffic flow can minimize them.

What history tells us about switching sides

System-wide changes highlight that the disruption of a switch—rather than the side itself—drives short-term risk. Sweden’s 1967 shift from left to right (“Dagen H”) produced short-term behavioral changes and then a return to underlying trends as drivers adapted; sustained safety gains later came from broader policy and engineering reforms. Samoa’s 2009 switch (right to left) similarly caused a period of adjustment; longer-term safety was shaped by enforcement, infrastructure updates, and vehicle standards, not the side change alone. The lesson: the quality of implementation and the overall safety system dominate outcomes.

Practical takeaway for travelers and planners

If you drive in a country that uses the opposite side from what you’re used to, the following practices reduce risk materially.

• Choose a vehicle with the local-standard driving position (RHD in LHT countries, LHD in RHT countries) to improve sightlines.
• Prefer automatic transmissions if gear-shifting with the non-dominant hand might distract you.
• Practice in low-traffic areas, especially turning and roundabout entries, before tackling busy roads.
• Use navigation prompts and lane guidance; set speed alerts to avoid inadvertent speeding.
• At crossings, consciously “look the other way first” and follow marked pedestrian guidance.
• Avoid fatigue after long flights; unfamiliar-side driving plus jet lag sharply increases error risk.

These measures address the specific human-factor pitfalls that arise when your habits don’t match the local traffic flow.

Summary

Driving on the left or right is not, by itself, safer. Countries with the best safety records span both conventions. What saves lives are the fundamentals: safe speeds, forgiving road design, high vehicle standards, strong enforcement, and good post-crash care. For individuals, aligning vehicle configuration with the local side, staying alert, and practicing key maneuvers matter far more than which side the country uses.

What lane offers the least amount of risk when driving?

Overall, while the left lane has fewer crashes, the severity of accidents is higher. The right lane has the highest number of accidents due to merging traffic. The middle lane, though not without risks, often provides a safer driving environment by avoiding the extremes of the other two lanes.

Why do Japanese drive on the left?

Japan’s left-hand traffic system is the result of a combination of historical traditions, including samurai customs, horse-drawn cart practices, and the influence of British railway engineers during the Meiji era.

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.

Which is better, left side or right side?

• Driving on the left-hand side of the road (cars with steering wheels on the right) is better.
• It allows the most dangerous manoeuvre (overtaking) to be judged using, what is for the vast majority of people, their dominant eye.