Hey I was wondering why driving left exists. I'm currently on in a trip in New Zealand and it really fucks me up that I always look the wrong when driving or crossing the street. Hence I'd really like to know this. Since when are there rules for vehicles or people or carts or whatever has been used on roads that tell them to keep on one side? The place where this originates from is I guess England? And why, if it's common everywhere to drive on the right side, would you choose to drive on the other side and reverse everything and just complicate things? So, when, where, how and mostly why did driving on the left develop? Anyone that knows?
Not sure if this is the best subreddit for this question, tell me if it isn't.
And Thank You to anyone who answers.
There is very likely to be more to be said on this topic, but, while you're waiting, here are some earlier threads discussing the left/right issue.
• When was driving on the left/right side of the road standardized in countries? How did it develop in the US?, with u/MrDowntown
• Why does North America drive on the right side of the road vs the British way of left? also with u/MrDowntown
• When were first traffic put in place. Were there any similar rules regarding horses/carriages/whatever transportation was used before engines?, with u/Xaethon, featuring a short discussion of Roman era cart tracks
You may also enjoy this photo showing Swedish road chaos on Dagen H, the day in 1967 that the country switched from driving on the left to driving on the right.
