Essential advice for a safe and enjoyable road trip in left-driving countries

Renting a car during your vacation often leads to fantastic adventures and is frequently a highlight of the journey. However, driving in foreign countries can raise some concerns. Surveys indicate that many American drivers feel apprehensive when visiting nations that drive on the left.

Which nations follow left-hand traffic rules, and what should you keep in mind while driving in these locations? Check out my guide filled with valuable tips for navigating countries that drive on the left.

Key information about countries where driving is on the left

Historically, areas where large numbers of people and vehicles gather have necessitated rules and regulations for practical reasons. Without these guidelines, whether for cars or horse-drawn carriages, the convergence of numerous vehicles going in various directions could lead to traffic congestion or worse, leaving everyone stuck in place.

Driving on the left is an intriguing feature of global traffic systems (especially for those hailing from right-hand traffic countries like the US). In left-driving nations, vehicles move to the left while the driver occupies the right side of the car. This can be disorienting for travelers accustomed to right-hand traffic. It's crucial to note that this rule impacts not just drivers, but also pedestrians and cyclists.

Additionally, vehicles in these regions are specifically designed for left-hand traffic, which adds another layer of complexity for visitors from right-driving countries.

The idea seems straightforward, right? Sadly, navigating left-side driving can be a bit challenging if you've only driven in right-hand traffic countries!

What are the reasons behind some countries driving on the left?

There's a lot to appreciate about the charming, courteous, and often humorous English people. While they measure speed in miles per hour (despite using the metric system for nearly everything else), they were the pioneers of left-hand driving.

When you examine a world map highlighting left-driving nations, it aligns almost perfectly with the former British Commonwealth. Essentially, all the countries that were British colonies at the turn of the 20th century. However, left-hand traffic also appears in a few notable exceptions, such as Japan.

To grasp why Great Britain never considered adopting right-hand traffic like the rest of the world, one must recognize the immense power of the British Empire. It was famously said that the sun never set on England during Queen Victoria's reign, and this was quite accurate. The British Empire was once synonymous with a significant portion of the world. Consequently, as many countries transitioned to right-hand traffic shortly after this era of empire-building, the British saw no need to follow suit. What happened on the fringes of the world, as other nations were viewed by Great Britain, seemed largely irrelevant.

Thus, left-hand traffic continues to be the norm in those nations that were connected to Great Britain at the dawn of the 20th century.

Countries that made the switch from left-hand to right-hand traffic

Throughout much of the 20th century, there has been a gradual shift from left-hand to right-hand traffic in Europe. Portugal made the change in 1928, with several other nations following suit. Countries like Austria and Hungary adopted right-hand traffic during their occupation by Nazi Germany shortly before and during World War II.

Iceland transitioned to right-hand traffic in 1968. Sweden initially adopted right-hand traffic in 1718, switched to left-hand traffic for over two centuries, and reverted back to right-hand traffic in 1967.

In the US, it was the state of New York that first officially adopted right-hand traffic in 1804. Other states gradually followed in the ensuing decades. Interestingly, early cars featured a driver's seat on the right side, mimicking the position where most carriage drivers would sit. It wasn’t until 1908 that Ford launched the first model with the driver's seat on the left side.

Which countries currently drive on the left?

As noted, left-hand traffic is primarily associated with Great Britain and its former colonies today. Currently, only four countries in Europe maintain left-hand traffic. These include Great Britain, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus, all of which lack direct road links to right-hand traffic countries. The car tunnel beneath the English Channel stands as one of the few exceptions.

For practical reasons, vehicles drive on the right in the small British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, as its only land connection is to Spain, where driving is on the right.

Beyond Europe, left-hand traffic is more prevalent. In Asia, the regions and countries that drive on the left include Bhutan, Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, and East Timor. Japan's left-hand driving stems from the influence of British engineers who designed its first railway.

In Africa, countries where left-hand traffic is observed include Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, St. Helena, Seychelles, Swaziland, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

Australia, New Zealand, and several island nations in the Pacific also adhere to left-side driving.

In the Caribbean, left-hand traffic is found in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as in Suriname and the Falkland Islands in South America.

Is driving in a country with left-hand traffic challenging?

The strength of habit is considerable. When you drive, you predominantly rely on trained movements that are performed almost automatically. To drive as confidently as you would back home in a right-hand traffic environment, you'll need to practice quite a bit, similar to how you learned when you first obtained your license.

That said, I don’t want to overstate the difficulty of the task. Most people I consult share a common sentiment: the adjustment period for left-hand traffic is relatively brief. With time, most actions will become instinctive. Initially, you might find yourself closely observing the behavior of the car ahead and meticulously studying the signs, but soon your instincts will take over, allowing you to trust your practiced abilities again.

Keep in mind that you won’t be alone in feeling the strangeness of driving on the left. A significant portion of tourists driving in left-hand traffic countries are more accustomed to right-side driving. Many nations with left-hand traffic understand this and adjust their conditions accordingly.

For instance, when you rent a car in Ireland, you might find helpful stickers on the windows that remind you which side of the road to drive on. At many intersections across Ireland, arrows along the roadway indicate the appropriate lane, and overall, there’s a solid signage system to assist inexperienced left-hand drivers.

However, there are left-hand traffic countries where I would strongly advise against renting a car and driving yourself. One notable example is India. This isn’t specifically about left-hand driving, but rather the chaotic nature of traffic in India as a whole. In larger cities, it often seems like many drivers choose whether to drive on the left or right side of the road based on their own judgment.

Challenges faced by travelers in left-hand driving countries

Naturally, you should take a moment to consider before getting behind the wheel in a left-hand traffic country. Particularly during your first few miles driving on the left, your initial thought might be: “Oh no, this feels wrong! I’m going to crash.” It takes time to adjust to the reality that the lane on the right, which still feels like the 'correct' lane, may either be a passing lane or for oncoming traffic, depending on whether you're on a highway, rural road, or in an urban area.

The car must be positioned on the left side of the road, a concept that your brain will initially resist.

Eventually, you'll encounter a traffic circle or need to take an exit. Unlike right-hand traffic, you navigate a traffic circle in a clockwise direction, and exits will be to the left rather than the right.

Advice for driving in left-hand traffic

It can certainly be intimidating at first to drive on the left. However, it’s helpful to remember that adjusting typically only takes a few hours. After that, it will start to feel quite natural, and most new movements and driving habits will come instinctively.

Visualize a mental map before you get in the car. Consider how you navigate intersections and traffic circles, as well as how you shift gears. You might even try sketching a few traffic scenarios on paper, like how a traffic circle operates in left-hand traffic. This can help your brain acclimate to unfamiliar situations.

A simple way to begin is by entering the car from the correct side. The driver's seat is located on the right side of the vehicle, where the passenger would normally sit when driving in the US.

Next, familiarize yourself with the car's various controls. The accelerator and clutch are positioned the same as in a right-hand drive vehicle. However, the indicators and windshield wipers might operate in reverse (this can vary by car model), and you'll shift gears with your left hand instead of your right. It often takes some time to adjust to this new movement.

Naturally, it’s easier if you choose a rental car with automatic transmission. This way, you won’t have to think about shifting gears, which can be one of the trickiest aspects to master when transitioning to the opposite side of the road.

A crucial tip for crossing roads: always remember to look right-left-right. This applies both when you're driving and when you're a pedestrian crossing the street.

Finding it hard to navigate turns? Consider wearing a bracelet on your left arm as a reminder of which side to keep to when exiting an intersection or traffic circle.

The final and most crucial piece of advice: take it slow. Don’t let other drivers pressure you—we all have to start somewhere when driving on the opposite side of the road, whether it’s left or right.

How can Dinogo ensure that all information in this guide is accurate?

It’s a combination of experience and research. With over 20 years as a travel journalist, I've published guidebooks and articles covering more than 100 countries. Traveling and exploring new destinations is a regular part of my life. It’s essential to my professional integrity to stay informed about the specifics of various travel destinations, and I strive to provide my readers with accurate and easily digestible information.

I have also traveled to and driven in multiple countries worldwide—on both sides of the road. In this article, I’m sharing my tried-and-true tips to help make the transition to driving on the left side smoother.

Final tips before heading to countries that drive on the left

Embarking on a road trip in a new country is often the highlight of any vacation. Cars offer a level of freedom and convenience that few other forms of transport can provide. You definitely shouldn't pass up this opportunity just because your destination has left-hand traffic.

Adjusting to driving on the left is a temporary challenge for everyone and is quite manageable with some practice. I highly recommend opting for an automatic vehicle; this way, you can focus on navigating without worrying about gear changes. Relax, drive at a steady pace, and you’re sure to enjoy an incredible road trip!

To discover more about rental cars, check out our guide on renting a car for a road trip.