Who drives on the left side of the road?

People in countries that follow left-hand traffic—such as the United Kingdom, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, and many nations in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean—drive on the left. Roughly a third of the world’s population lives in places with left-side driving. Below is a current, region-by-region breakdown and the historical context behind it.

Where people drive on the left, by region

Europe and the Mediterranean

The following European countries and nearby territories maintain left-hand traffic, largely due to British influence or long-standing local law.

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Malta
• Cyprus
• Isle of Man (Crown Dependency)
• Channel Islands: Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark (Crown Dependencies)
• Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus)

Notably, Gibraltar (a UK Overseas Territory) drives on the right, aligning with neighboring Spain. Elsewhere in continental Europe, right-hand traffic predominates.

Asia

Left-hand traffic is widespread across South Asia and parts of East and Southeast Asia, reflecting both British colonial legacies and independent national choices.

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

Most of mainland East Asia (China, the Koreas, Taiwan) and mainland Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar) drive on the right; however, Hong Kong and Macau remain firmly left-hand despite their borders with right-hand–driving China.

Oceania and the Pacific

Australia and New Zealand anchor a wide swath of left-hand traffic across the Pacific, joined by numerous island nations and territories.

• Australia (including external territories: Christmas Island, Cocos [Keeling] Islands, Norfolk Island)
• New Zealand (including associated territories: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau)
• Papua New Guinea
• Fiji
• Solomon Islands
• Samoa
• Tonga
• Kiribati
• Tuvalu
• Nauru
• Pitcairn Islands (UK Overseas Territory)

Many other Pacific jurisdictions drive on the right, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna.

Africa

Left-hand traffic in Africa is concentrated in the south and east, a legacy of British rule and regional harmonization.

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

Most other African nations are right-hand traffic, including Rwanda and Burundi (which border left-hand neighbors) and island states like Madagascar and Comoros.

Americas and the Caribbean

While the Americas are predominantly right-hand traffic, there are important exceptions in the Caribbean and on the continent’s northeast shoulder.

• Guyana
• Suriname
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Jamaica
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Dominica
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Grenada
• Montserrat (UK Overseas Territory)
• Anguilla (UK Overseas Territory)
• British Virgin Islands (UK Overseas Territory)
• Cayman Islands (UK Overseas Territory)
• Turks and Caicos Islands (UK Overseas Territory)
• United States Virgin Islands (US Territory)
• Bermuda (UK Overseas Territory)
• Falkland Islands (UK Overseas Territory)

Most of mainland North and South America—along with territories such as Puerto Rico, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius—drive on the right. The US Virgin Islands are a notable outlier, driving on the left despite being a US territory.

Why some places drive on the left

Left-hand travel dates back centuries: riders kept to the left so their right hand—the sword hand for most—was between them and oncoming traffic. In modern times, left-hand traffic spread widely via the British Empire. Japan adopted left-hand railways in the 19th century and codified left-side road driving nationwide in the 20th. Today, about 35% of the world’s population lives in left-hand jurisdictions, even though right-hand systems cover more land area overall.

Border and vehicle quirks to know

Crossing between left- and right-hand systems can create unusual arrangements and driving considerations. These examples highlight practical differences travelers may encounter.

• Unique US exception: The US Virgin Islands drive on the left; the rest of the United States and its territories (e.g., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa) drive on the right.
• China’s SARs: Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left, while mainland China drives on the right; special interchanges and “crossover” bridges handle the switch.
• Samoa switch: Samoa changed from right- to left-hand traffic in 2009 to harmonize with Australia and New Zealand vehicle imports.
• Mixed fleets: Some right-hand–traffic countries permit right-hand–drive vehicles (and vice versa), which can affect overtaking visibility and safety.
• Island territories: Many British Overseas Territories keep left regardless of the continental norm around them (e.g., Falkland Islands in South America, Saint Helena in the South Atlantic).

These transitions are managed with signage, road design, and public-awareness campaigns, but drivers should remain alert near borders and in regions with mixed vehicle configurations.

Summary

People drive on the left in the UK and Ireland; much of South and Southeast Asia (including India, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia); Australia, New Zealand, and many Pacific islands; Southern and parts of East Africa; and several Caribbean nations and territories, plus Guyana and Suriname. While most of the world drives on the right, left-hand traffic remains common and well-established across multiple regions and islands worldwide.

Why do British drive on the left?

British drive on the left due to historical reasons, particularly the prevalence of right-handed people and the need to keep their sword hand free for defense when traveling on horseback in the Middle Ages. This custom continued with smaller carriages, where drivers sat to the right to keep their whip hand free. The practice was later formalized into law, with the Highway Act of 1835 mandating left-hand driving throughout the UK and solidifying it as a permanent habit.
 
Historical Origins 

• Medieval Times: In the days of knights and horseback riders, staying to the left allowed right-handed individuals to keep their sword arm free to defend themselves against oncoming strangers.
• Roman Influence: Evidence suggests that Roman soldiers also marched on the left, and some archaeological findings point to Romans driving carts and wagons on the left.
• Early Regulations: Pope Boniface VIII officially sanctioned keeping to the left for pilgrims visiting Rome in the year 1300, which influenced the practice in parts of Europe.

Transition to Modern Driving 

• Carriage Drivers: Opens in new tabWhen larger wagons and carriages with driver’s seats became common in the 18th century, the practice of sitting on the right to control the horses and keep the whip hand free further solidified driving on the left.
• Formalization into Law: Opens in new tabThe practice was legally enforced in Britain with the Highway Act of 1835, making left-hand driving mandatory across the country.

Why it Didn’t Change

• Cost and Habits: Changing traffic laws and associated infrastructure is extremely expensive and difficult, especially because habits are hard to break. 
• Continental Influence: The spread of right-hand driving in mainland Europe was largely due to Napoleonic conquests and French influence. Britain, resisting these influences, maintained its left-hand system. 
• Colonial Legacy: Britain’s imperial reach also spread left-hand driving to many of its former colonies. 

Who still drives on the left side of the road?

Countries where drivers use the left side of the road include the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Japan, Ireland, and South Africa, among many others. While most of the world drives on the right, approximately 30% of countries, largely former British colonies, drive on the left.
 
Examples of countries that drive on the left: 

• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, and the Channel Islands
• Asia: India, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga
• Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, and Uganda
• Caribbean: Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, and the British Virgin Islands

How many countries in the world drive on the left?

RHT is used in 165 countries and territories, mainly in the Americas, Continental Europe, most of Africa and mainland Asia (except South Asia and Thailand), while 75 countries use LHT, which account for about a sixth of the world’s land area, a quarter of its roads, and about a third of its population.

Do all African countries drive on the left?

No, not all African countries drive on the left; the majority of African countries drive on the right, but a notable number, primarily former British colonies, drive on the left. Countries that drive on the left include South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and others.
 
Countries that drive on the left: 
Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Countries that drive on the right:

• Most African countries drive on the right, including Algeria, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Cape Verde. 
• Some former British colonies, like Nigeria and Ghana, switched to right-hand driving because they neighbor former French colonies that use right-hand traffic.