Why British people drive at the left side of the road ? I could have ask the contrary, but it’s a minority of countries around the world having that rule. After making some research, it’s quite hard to give a real answer. There are a lot of possibilities.
Welcome in the UK !
1- In the Middle Age, everybody drove at the left, because it was easier for riders to use their swords in the right side. And in the 18e appeared a new horse car that should be driven at the right. Why ? because it was easier for the driver to be at the left side so he had to drive in the right side of the road to see better what arrived in front of him. But British people refused to use that horse car, so they stayed in the left side of the road…. It’s a possibility, an explanation, a proof of conservatism from UK as well….
2-There is another explanation; strategic this time and coming from the French. And especially from one of the most hated French in the UK… Napoleon. To beat the English, Napoleon decided to train militaries to give the first attack at the right and not like usually at the left to take his ennemies by surprise. And after that and also to be different than the English, Napoleon decided to impose in the whole Europe to drive at the right…. Ah! French arrogancy !!! And also because Napoleon never arrived to get Britain…
Our worst ennemy
3-The last explanation. The first cars had exterior hand break at the right so it was easier to be for the driver to be at the right side of the car. But it was not very easy to drive. But as everybody knows the hand break now is the middle, so to continue to have it at the right side (to have more strength) a lot of countries decide to place the drive at the left side. But not the British… Tell me guys: Are you better than the other country with your left hand ???
Check well before crossing
Ok, now … It’s not only the problem to drive in the other side that disturb people from the Continent. It’s how to cross a road, you have to check differently… Very disturbing. In the stairs as well, I never know if you have to stay in the right or the left side… It changes completely you perception of everything. Strange, very strange. And when you live in the UK, each you go back home, it’s disturbing as well… because you get used to it and you have to get back in your old rules…. It’s a sport …
So that’s it… It’s one more difference between UK and the Continent… And on top of that you count in miles, we count in kms … Pffff…. What do you really think ? Why UK are different from the rest of Europe ?
