Why Sweden Originally Drove on the Left

Sweden originally drove on the left because long-standing travel customs from the horse-and-carriage era—shaped by a predominantly right-handed population—were formalized in national law as early as 1734, directing road users to meet and keep to the left. Over time, this custom became the default rule for carts, sleds, and later motor vehicles, even as much of continental Europe shifted to the right. The practice endured until Sweden’s well-known 1967 switch to right-hand traffic, a move driven by safety and cross-border harmonization rather than a change in historical rationale.

Historical Roots: Custom Before Cars

For centuries, travel norms across much of Europe balanced safety, etiquette, and practicality. In Sweden, like in Britain, these norms favored the left side of the road long before automobiles existed, reflecting how people rode horses, maneuvered carriages, and passed one another on narrow roads and bridges.

From Custom to Law

Sweden’s left-side practice was not just custom; it was codified. The 1734 national law (Sveriges rikes lag) set rules for how riders and drivers should meet on roads, effectively embedding left-side meeting and, by extension, left-hand travel. As motor traffic emerged, a national ordinance in 1916 reaffirmed that vehicles must keep left, turning a centuries-old habit into a clear, modern rule of the road.

What Made Left-Side Travel Logical at the Time

Several practical and cultural factors explain why left-side travel felt natural and safe in Sweden before the automotive era. The following points outline the most commonly cited reasons historians and transport scholars give for the tradition.

• Right-handed society: With most travelers right-handed, riding or driving on the left kept the dominant hand closer to oncoming traffic—for greetings or, historically, for defense—while maintaining better control of reins.
• Mounting and dismounting horses: Riders traditionally mount from a horse’s left side; keeping left meant people could mount from the roadside rather than in the middle of traffic.
• Narrow roads and bridges: Standardizing left-side passing reduced collisions on Sweden’s many one-lane roads and river crossings, where predictable behavior mattered most.
• Continuity with broader European practice: Before the Napoleonic era pushed right-hand rules across much of the continent, left-side travel was common; Sweden simply retained this older European norm.

Taken together, these factors made left-hand travel a practical, widely accepted solution for pre-motor road conditions in Sweden, reinforcing the logic behind its early legal codification.

The Long Road to “Dagen H”

Although Sweden’s left-side rule made historical sense, the 20th century introduced pressures that eventually rendered it a liability, especially as cars proliferated and cross-border driving increased. The timeline below shows how the tradition evolved and why it ultimately changed.

1. 1734: Sweden’s national law sets left-side meeting conventions, establishing the basis for left-hand travel.
2. 1916: A national ordinance explicitly mandates left-hand traffic for motor vehicles, unifying practice across the country.
3. 1955: A national referendum sees a large majority oppose changing sides, but the issue remains open due to safety and trade concerns.
4. 1963: The Riksdag votes to switch to right-hand traffic, prioritizing alignment with neighbors (Norway, Finland, and Denmark) and road safety.
5. 3 September 1967: “Dagen H” (H-Day) executes the switch to right-hand driving nationwide, one of the most meticulously planned traffic changes in modern history.

By the 1960s, most Swedish cars were left-hand drive, imported from right-driving markets—an awkward pairing with left-side roads that made overtaking riskier. Harmonizing with neighboring right-driving countries and improving safety tipped the scales toward change.

Why Sweden Kept Left When Others Switched Right

While Napoleon spread right-hand rules across his sphere, Sweden remained outside that wave and retained its older left-hand tradition. Geography and politics mattered: Sweden was not compelled to change, and its own legal framework had long favored left-side travel. Only with the rise of motor traffic, regional integration, and modern safety standards did the incentives flip.

Summary

Sweden originally drove on the left because pre-motor travel customs—favoring right-handed riders and left-side passing on narrow roads—were entrenched early and codified by law in 1734, later reaffirmed for motor vehicles. The practice persisted until modern safety concerns and cross-border consistency led to the 1967 switch to right-hand traffic.

Why did Sweden switch from driving on the left to driving on the right?

In 1955, Sweden held a national referendum on right-side driving, and the result was that 82.9 percent of Swedes opposed the change. But in light of rising accidents, the Swedish parliament ultimately overruled the populace and passed a law converting to right-driving in 1963.

When did Sweden stop being neutral?

2024
The accession to the European Union in 1995 meant that neutrality as a principle was abolished. Sweden remained a non-aligned country in regard to foreign and security policy until joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2024.

Why did Europe decide to drive on the left?

Europe doesn’t have a single side of the road for driving; countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta still drive on the left, while most continental European countries drive on the right. The tradition of driving on the left was a widespread practice in the Middle Ages, particularly for right-handed people to keep their dominant hand free for weapons. However, Napoleon’s conquests spread the practice of driving on the right across much of continental Europe, as he was left-handed and attacked from the right, and wanted to establish a new order.
 
The History of Driving on the Left in Europe

• Ancient Origins: The practice of keeping left may have been common in the Roman Empire, with archaeological evidence in places like Pompeii suggesting left-hand traffic. 
• Medieval Tradition: In a feudal and often violent society, people kept to the left to keep their dominant (right) hand free with a sword or weapon for protection when encountering strangers. 
• Official Law in Britain: The first official law for left-hand traffic was established in Britain with the passage of government measures in 1773 and 1835. 

The Shift to Driving on the Right

• French Revolution and Napoleon: Opens in new tabThe French Revolution led to a social shift where the rich and powerful, who previously “drove” on the left, began to blend in by moving to the right side of the road. Napoleon then formalized and spread the practice of right-hand traffic across his conquered territories, establishing it as a rule of law. 
• Spread to Mainland Europe: Opens in new tabThis change was propagated throughout the continent, leading to a split between Britain and its former colonies (who kept left) and the rest of Europe (who switched to the right). 
• Examples in Europe: Opens in new tabCountries like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain moved to the right, while the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus maintained the left. 

The Present Day 

• Today, the majority of the world drives on the right, while countries that maintain left-hand traffic are largely those that were formerly part of the British Empire, such as Australia, New Zealand, and India.

When did the US switch to right hand drive?

New York, in 1804, became the first State to prescribe right hand travel on all public highways. By the Civil War, right hand travel was followed in every State. Drivers tended to sit on the right so they could ensure their buggy, wagon, or other vehicle didn’t run into a roadside ditch.