Uncover the historical mysteries behind driving habits in the United States and the United Kingdom. From wagon traditions to Model T innovations, explore the reasons why Americans steer on the right, while the UK stands by the left. Dive into the fascinating journey of road rules evolution and discover the cultural and practical influences that shaped these distinctive driving practices.
Conestoga, PACNN —
I drove out to Pennsylvania’s rural Amish country to see a man about a wagon. I was looking to nail down the answer to a question I’ve had since 2015 when I traveled to England on a work trip.
Back when I was motoring through London, very carefully, in a Mini Cooper, I wondered: Why was I driving on the “wrong” side of the road? I’m from the United States, which started as a bunch of former British colonies. We speak the same language, more or less. But we drive on opposite sides, sometimes with hazardous effects.
And the United Kingdom isn’t the only country, of course, to do it the other way. It turns out that about 30% of the world’s countries mandate left-side driving and another 70% or so stay to the right. How it got that way is a winding tale.
