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International Drivers Handbooks


Countries that drive on the left


If you are planning to travel and perhaps rent a car it's a good idea to check in advance about which side of the road vehicles drive on. There are more than 50 around the world that drive on the left, and in some countries it's very common, and perhaps scary, when a mix of left drive (driving on the right) and right drive (driving on the left) vehicles share the road.




Left driving countries

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

Bahamas

Bangladesh

Barbados

Bermuda

Bhutan

Bophuthatswana

Botswana

British Virgin Islands

Brunei

Cayman Islands

Channel Islands

Ciskei

Cyprus

Dominica

Falkland Islands

Fiji

Grenada

Guyana

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Ireland

Jamaica

Japan

Kenya

Lesotho

Macau

Malawi

Malaysia

Malta

Mauritius

Montserrat

Mozambique

Namibia

Nepal

New Zealand

Pakistan

Papua

New Guinea

St. Vincent and Grenadines

Seychelles

Sikkim

Singapore

Solomon Islands

Somalia

South Africa

Sri Lanka

St Kitts and Nevis

St. Helena

St. Lucia

Surinam

Swaziland

Tanzania

Thailand

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

Uganda

United Kingdom

US Virgin Islands

Venda

Zambia

ZimbabweEnd of Article

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All Comments (11)

Showing 1 - 11 comments

Raj B, on Monday, 19. December 2011 at 04:59 AM

Hi
Thanks for the list. But Sikkim listed here as a country is actually a state in India. Please have this corrected
Regards
Raj

Falcon, on Friday, 24. June 2011 at 11:42 PM

I know this is an old post and thread - but had to chime in (was Googling for all the countries that drive on the left and found this list) - Excellent -

Further to those that have commented, I'll just add this - I was born in the USA and learned to drive 20+ years on the 'right'... In 2004, I moved to New Zealand and bought a car and about got killed (as a pedestrian) 2x within the first 48 hours of being there... Just 'habit' looking over the wrong shoulder, or looking the wrong way (right!) - Walked right into oncoming traffic - How stupid did I feel??!! (and almost killed) -

BUT - After that, my GF at the time, got a big yellow sign and taped it to my dashboard next to my speedo - saying "KEEP LEFT"!! (still have it to this day:) - and that is all it took... even round-a-bouts are a breeze now...

Now, the most interesting/curious thing is... having driven on the left for so long now - When I go back to the States, I actually PREFER driving on the left!!?? I don't know anything about the whole left brain/right brain thing and how that may play a role - but I LOVE driving on the left.... Sitting on the right, behind wheel, just feels "right"! :)

Now, I will also confess, I've been thru 4 left rear wheels and tyres in 5 years! Takes a bit of time to learn that distance and gauge a corner (curbs are all granite down here!) LOL - so yeah - I love it! Wish the whole world drove on the 'right' side... err, left!

Cheers

Sid, on Saturday, 04. September 2010 at 07:54 PM

Driving on the left is an ancient thing which most of Europe did once. It is to keep the horse whip away from the pavement/sidewalk as most people are right handed. Also to carry one's sword or weapon on the side of a potential oncoming threat. Only that anomaly Napolean changed things as he was left handed,lol.One country has recently swapped from right to left in the Pacific as several African on one Asian state did.

Hooray, on Saturday, 07. August 2010 at 06:27 PM

For not being the same as the yanks!

neb nosidda, on Monday, 05. July 2010 at 07:49 PM

There is left brain and right brain. They both funtion all-RIGHT

Arjyle, on Saturday, 18. April 2009 at 02:46 PM

Ian is absolutely correct. I lived in UK
for over two years, and had "keep left'
totally under control. Then one night
a man went off the road in front of me.
I drove on till the first lane, turned
around and hurried back -- on the right
side of the road -- to help him.

Fortunately there was not other traffic
at that moment, or there'd have been two
accidents.

Admin, on Thursday, 19. March 2009 at 07:58 PM

Thailand is one of the few South East Asia countries never to have been taken over by a colonial power. I guess the British influence in the area must have been responsible for the left side driving rules.

Phil, on Thursday, 19. March 2009 at 01:27 AM

Please enlighten me as to when Thailand was ever a British Colony?

Gary, on Thursday, 06. November 2008 at 04:17 PM

You don't get it Tim. It's not that easy to change sides. The main problem is where to look and when (for example when crossing traffic) and your driving habits.

...and about typing the characters - its to prevent spammers!

Tim Palmer, on Wednesday, 05. November 2008 at 08:50 AM

If one cannot adapt to driving on a different side of the road, then, one should not be on the road!
Furthermore, why should I have to read characters before submitting this message.

IAN ANDREWS, on Friday, 01. February 2008 at 09:46 PM

Essentially, the remaining left hand drive countries are the former British Empire plus Japan .

There are lots of accidents & deaths involving drivers with perfect driving records - until they tried driving on the opposite side of the road to what they were used to . I have seen some of these accidents .

In my opinion, the problem isn't with remembering to "keep left" or "keep right" because that's only 1 rule to remember. It's the mistakes made under pressure that are the problem - when the habits of a lifetime kick in before the concsious mind intervenes . e.g. swerving the wrong way when cut off, looking the wrong way at an intersection , having attention diverted momentarily when fumbling to find one of the driver's controls or switches.

There should be some compulsory driver training required , possibly including some online simulation, as part of the requirement for an International Driving Permit.


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