Why Australia drives on the left—and what “left-hand drive” really means

Australia drives on the left side of the road (left-hand traffic), and most vehicles are right-hand drive. This convention comes from British colonial influence and was formalized in local laws during the 19th century; it remains the standard today. The phrase “left-hand drive” refers to cars with the steering wheel on the left, which is not the norm in Australia except under limited exemptions.

What the terms actually mean

In road-traffic terminology, “left-hand traffic” (LHT) means vehicles keep to the left side of the road. “Right-hand drive” (RHD) means the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle. Australia is LHT with RHD vehicles. “Left-hand drive” (LHD) vehicles—steering wheel on the left—are typical in right-hand-traffic countries such as the United States and most of Europe.

Historical roots of Australia’s left-side driving

From British custom to colonial law

Britain’s keep-left tradition dates back to the era of horses and carriages and was codified nationally by the UK’s Highway Act of 1835. As part of the British Empire, Australian colonies adopted the same keep-left rule in the 19th century for consistency and safety. By the time motor vehicles arrived, keeping left was already the established practice across the colonies.

Federation and modern harmonization

After Federation in 1901, states and territories retained keep-left rules. In the late 20th century, the Australian Road Rules framework harmonized traffic laws nationwide, preserving left-side driving. Today, “keep left” is a core rule across Australia, integrated into signage, licensing, and road design.

Why Australia keeps left

Several historical and practical factors explain why Australia continues to drive on the left and use right-hand-drive vehicles.

• British legacy: Early colonial laws mirrored British road customs, entrenching left-side traffic from the outset.
• Continuity and safety: Once a side is chosen, switching would be costly and risky; continuity minimizes confusion and collisions.
• Vehicle design: RHD layouts give drivers better sightlines for overtaking and road edges in LHT systems.
• Regional alignment: Many nearby or closely linked markets (e.g., New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, India, South Africa) also drive on the left, supporting consistent trade and fleet supply.

Together, these factors create powerful path dependence—technical, economic, and cultural reasons to keep left and maintain RHD vehicles.

How this plays out today

Left-side driving shapes Australia’s vehicle fleet, road rules, and the experience of both local motorists and international visitors.

• Vehicle fleet: Most cars are RHD. LHD imports are restricted; they typically require special permits, eligibility under federal schemes, or conversion to RHD to meet Australian Design Rules (ADRs). Older “classic” vehicles and some heavy vehicles may be registered as LHD under specific state and federal concessions.
• Road rules and design: Drivers must keep left unless overtaking; roundabouts circulate clockwise; you generally cannot turn left on red unless a sign explicitly allows it. Signage, intersections, and pedestrian crossings are designed around LHT.
• Travel and tourism: Australians driving abroad must adapt in right-traffic countries; visitors to Australia may need orientation to RHD vehicles and LHT patterns, especially at roundabouts and multi-lane roads.

The result is a coherent system optimized for left-hand traffic, from vehicle sourcing to everyday driving behavior.

Where else drives on the left

Australia is part of a sizable, though minority, group of countries and territories that keep left, many with historical ties to Britain or regional alignment.

• United Kingdom and Ireland
• New Zealand and Japan
• India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
• Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong
• South Africa and several Southern/Eastern African nations (e.g., Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana)
• Caribbean and Pacific territories with British influence

In total, roughly 70–75 countries and territories drive on the left, comprising about a third of the world’s population and a significant share of Asia-Pacific road travel.

Common misconceptions

The most frequent mix-up is terminology: people say “Australia is left-hand drive,” when they mean “Australia drives on the left.” In fact, Australia’s standard is right-hand-drive vehicles operating in a left-hand-traffic system. Unlike Sweden’s famous 1967 switch to right-side driving, Australia has never changed sides.

Summary

Australia drives on the left because it inherited Britain’s keep-left rules in the 19th century and built its transport system around them. The country is left-hand traffic with right-hand-drive vehicles, a setup reinforced by safety considerations, vehicle design, and regional alignment. While limited LHD exceptions exist, Australia’s roads, laws, and car market are firmly oriented to driving on the left.

Why doesn’t America drive on the left?

The United States drives on the right because right-hand travel was the norm in Colonial America due to the use of large wagons and practical reasons like ditch avoidance. This custom was codified into law, with New York making it mandatory for public highways in 1804, and it predates the American Revolution, not being an act of rebellion against Britain. 
Early American Practices

• Wagon Drivers: Opens in new tabIn the 18th century, large, heavy freight wagons became popular in the U.S. Drivers often sat on the left rear horse to better manage the team with their right hand and used their right arm to whip the horses, requiring them to keep to the right to avoid ditches and manage the whip more effectively. 
• Right-Handedness: Opens in new tabAs most people are right-handed, keeping to the right also allowed pedestrians and horseback riders to keep their dominant sword arm free for defense against potential threats on the road. 

Legal Standardization 

• Pennsylvania: Opens in new tabThe state of Pennsylvania was an early adopter of right-hand travel, legislating it for its turnpikes in 1792.
• New York: Opens in new tabNew York was the first state to prescribe right-hand travel on all public highways in 1804, establishing a standard that other states soon followed.

Distinction from British and Ancient Traditions

• Colonial Opposition: Right-hand travel in America was not an opposition to British rule but rather a separate path of development. Britain’s left-hand driving law was established in 1773, while right-hand travel had already become the norm in the American colonies. 
• Ancient Origins: While ancient Romans drove on the left, often to keep their sword arm free, early American practices diverged from this due to different transportation methods and societal needs, such as the need to manage large, four-horse teams with a driver seated on the left side of the wagon. 

Was the US ever a left-driving country?

The first keep-right law for driving in the United States was passed in 1792 and applied to the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. Massachusetts formalized RHT in 1821. However, the National Road was LHT until 1850, “long after the rest of the country had settled on the keep-right convention”.

Can you drive American cars in Australia?

The Australian government has set up an import permit just for your scenario if you’re moving to Australia. You can only import one vehicle every five years under the Personal Import Scheme if you have lived abroad for more than a year and have owned your car for at least a year.

Why does the UK drive on the left?

The UK drives on the left due to its origins in the Middle Ages as a safety measure, allowing right-handed individuals to keep their sword arm free when passing oncoming strangers, a practice later formalized in law. As Napoleon spread right-hand traffic across continental Europe, Britain and its former colonies retained the left-hand custom, which became entrenched with the rise of automobiles. 
Historical Origins

• Medieval Safety: The tradition dates back to the era of horses and carriages. Most people were right-handed, so keeping to the left ensured their right arm was free for defense with a sword against potential attackers. 
• Wagon Drivers: In the 18th century, large wagons required the driver to sit to the right of the carriage to keep the whip-hand free. This kept them on the left side of the road, as they would whip the horses to the left to stay in line. 

Formalization and Influence

• Early Laws: In 1773, the General Highways Act in Britain mandated keeping to the left to prevent collisions on congested roads. The Highway Act of 1835 further solidified this into law, making left-hand driving the standard. 
• Napoleon and Continental Europe: The French Revolution and subsequent conquests by Napoleon led to right-hand traffic becoming the norm on the European continent. 
• British Empire: As a powerful colonial nation, Britain exported its traffic laws, leading many of its colonies to adopt left-hand driving. 
• Modern Convention: By the time motor vehicles became common, the convention was already well-established and deeply ingrained in British culture and law, making it easier to maintain than to change. 

Global Context 

• While most countries drive on the right, about 35% of the world’s population still uses left-hand traffic, including the UK, Ireland, India, Australia, and New Zealand.