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Australia was colonised by the British, who brought the idea of driving on the left side of the road with them when Australia was colonised. Many countries nowadays that drive on the left are a result of the former British Empire.

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14y ago
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12y ago

because they aren't in their right mind.

apparently it has to do with the king sitting on the left side in his carriage (in England ) the carriages would pull up to the entrance on the left side to let the king out and they just kept it up after cars were invented

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13y ago

Most likely for uniformity. At one point, there were sections of Canada which drove on the left, and regions where they drove on the right. When the United Nations declared that sides of the road driven on should be uniformed amongst countries, the Canadians opted to drive on the right, which was most likely done for regional uniformity.

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14y ago

It all depends on how those roads were first used. In Great Britain, for example, travelers would want to pass each other so they could easily defend themselves with their right hands if necessary, since that was usually the weapon hand. In the U.S., however, wagons were the norm, and a driver would use his right hand to whip the horses, so he would sit on the left. Since this gave him a better view of the wheels on the left side, so he drove on the right when passing another wagon. In many countries, the system is based on one of these two models for more political reasons, but this is what started the trend.

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11y ago

Uh... No, Our steering wheels are on the right side of our cars because we drive on the left, not the other way round.

Well it's one of those trivia questions that can really nag at you until you find an answer, I did some research and discovered the following:

In days of old logic dictated that when people passed each other on the road they should be in the best possible position to use their sword to protect themselves. As most people are right handed they therefore keep to their left. This practice was formalised in a Papal Edict by Pope Benefice around 1300AD who told all his pilgrims to keep to the left.

Nothing much changed until 1773 when an increase in horse traffic forced the UK Government to introduce the General Highways Act of 1773, which contained a keep left recommendation. This became a law as part of the Highways Bill in 1835.

That is why we British drive on the "wrong" side of the road!

In older ages, when cars are not yet invented and horse is the primary medium of transportation in England, most people are right handed and that their knights who uses horses uses their right hand to wield their sword leaving the left hand on the horse to control or drive. The practice was then formalised in a Papal Edict of Pope Benefice around 13000AD and set to all that the left hand will be kept for driving or controlling purposes.

Until 1773 when the UK Government legalized and implemented an Act regarding left hand driving up until the law was amended in the Highways Bill of 1835.

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13y ago

Influence of the British, who colonised the country. Most of southern Africa - whether former British colonies or colonies of countries other than Britain - drive on the left.

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15y ago

the left

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4y ago

Left

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Q: Do Australians drive on the left or right?
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