Versatile movement. Left-hand traffic: origin, features, interesting facts. Countries in the world that drive on the left

Currently in Russia and many other countries it is accepted right-hand traffic on the roads. There are also countries that drive on the left. IN modern world these are Ireland, Great Britain, Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and a number of African countries. Let's try to figure out why this particular situation has arisen.
The traditions of driving on the left and on the right began long before the invention of the automobile.

According to one version, right-hand traffic arose in Europe during the Middle Ages, when narrow roads between settlements It was not cars that drove, but riders on horses. They were all armed. The riders held a shield in their left hand to protect themselves in case of a surprise attack, which is why they stayed on the right side. There is another version of the emergence of right-hand traffic: when horse-drawn carts were moving apart, it was easier to direct the crew to the side of the road to the right, pulling on the reins right hand, which is more developed in most people. Years have passed, the means of transportation have changed, but the tradition remains...

Driving on the left is believed to have originated in England. This island state was connected with the outside world only by sea routes, and shipping was actively developing. To streamline the movement of ships, the maritime department issued a decree according to which ships were required to keep to the left. Later this rule extended to car roads, and also passed to all countries under British influence. Some still adhere to it. Another version connects the tradition of driving on the left with the fact that when horse-drawn carriages moved along the streets, the coachman held a whip in his right hand and, while driving the horses, could hit pedestrians. Therefore, the crews had to drive on the left side.

As for our country, in 1752, the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna issued a decree on the introduction of Russian cities right-hand traffic for carriages and cabbies.

IN different time In many countries, driving on the left was adopted, but they switched to new rules. For example, due to the proximity to countries that were former French colonies and drive on the right, the rules were changed by the former British colonies in Africa. North Korea and South Korea changed from left-hand traffic to right-hand traffic in 1946, after the end of the Japanese occupation.

One of last countries who switched from driving on the left to driving on the right was Sweden. This happened in 1967. Preparations for the reform began back in 1963, when the Swedish parliament formed the State Commission for the Transition to Right-Hand Driving, which was supposed to develop and implement a set of measures to ensure such a transition. September 3, 1967 at 4:50 a.m. everyone vehicles had to stop, change sides of the road and continue driving at 5:00. For the first time after the transition, a special speed limit mode was installed.

Tourists who come to a country with unusual traffic conditions are advised not to drive on their own for safety reasons, but to use the services of a driver.

Which countries in the world drive on the left side of the road?

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bermuda
Butane
Botswana
Brunei
Cocos Islands
Cook Islands
Cyprus
Dominica
East Timor (right-hand traffic 1928-1976)
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Grenada
Guyana
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Macau
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Montserrat
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Zealand
Norfolk
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Swaziland
Tanzania
Thailand
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uganda
Great Britain
British Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands
Zambia
Zimbabwe

P.S. We can thank Great Britain for the fact that we drive on the left. England is located on islands, and the sea route was once the only way for its inhabitants to communicate with residents of other countries. There was always a huge concentration of ships in the ports, and they often collided. To restore order, the maritime department issued a decree, the essence of which boiled down to the rule “keep to the left.”

That is, the ships had to let oncoming ships pass on the right. Gradually, this principle began to be followed in the overland movement of carts and carriages.
And with the advent of the automobile, the well-known conservatism of the British played a role - they did not change anything in relation to automobile traffic.
Subsequently, the rule extended to all countries under British influence, including India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Japan, Thailand, Great Britain, Kenya, Nepal, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Jamaica, Maldives, Bahamas, Cyprus.

Countries that changed the movement:
At various times, many countries adopted left-hand traffic, but due to the inconvenience associated with the fact that the neighbors of these countries had right-hand traffic, they switched to right-hand traffic. The most famous day in history was H-Day in Sweden, when the country switched from driving on the left to driving on the right.

The former British colonies in Africa Sierra Leone, Gambia, Nigeria and Ghana also changed from right-hand drive to left-hand drive due to their proximity to countries of former French colonies that drive on the right. Conversely, the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique changed from left-hand drive to right-hand drive due to its proximity to former British colonies. The DPRK and South Korea switched from driving on the left to driving on the right in 1946, after the end of the Japanese occupation.

If you color in on a world map different colors countries with left-hand and right-hand traffic, then we will see that there are much more of the latter. Statistics speak about this: 66% of the population travels on the right side of the road, while the remaining 34% travel on the left.

It is interesting that in ancient times the situation was the opposite: left-hand traffic was mainly observed. It is known that throughout the Roman Empire, left-hand traffic was used, for which a lot of evidence has been found, ranging from ancient Roman images to studies of the ruts of ancient Roman roads. This can be explained by the fact that most people are right-handed, which means that, having caught up with a stranger on the road, in case of danger it was more convenient to grab a weapon with your right hand and immediately be ready for a skirmish. Probably, this rule, adopted for the movement of Roman troops, was soon taken up by other citizens of the empire. Imitating the Romans, driving on the left was used in most ancient states.

The modern division of the world into left-hand traffic (blue) and right-hand traffic

After the fall of the Roman Empire, some general norms that had previously regulated movement over a vast territory ceased to exist, so they came to the fore physiological characteristics person: for the drivers, most of whom were right-handed, it was more convenient to drive on the right side, so that on narrow roads when passing oncoming traffic, they could more confidently control their horses strong hand, pointing them to the side. Over the centuries, this habit has become established as the norm. social movement in many countries.

In 1776, the first regulation was issued in Europe traffic. The country that accepted it was Britain, which established on its territory... left-hand traffic. Historians are still arguing about what exactly caused this decision. Perhaps this was done in order to “separate” from the rest of the right-wing Europe, with the leading countries of which Britain was in confrontation. Or, perhaps, officials simply adopted the law from the army naval admiralty, which ordered oncoming ships of the English crown to diverge to starboard.

The introduction of left-hand traffic in a geographically small metropolis affected vast areas of the colonies of the British Empire, as well as allied countries. First of all, these are the territories of what is now India, Australia and Pakistan, where, by analogy with Britain, left-hand traffic is still used to this day.

On the other side was France with its allies, who began to use right-hand traffic. Legislatively in many European countries it was established during the time of Napoleon. As usual, the colonies of European states followed their center, which divided the world into two camps, the echoes of which we see to this day.

In Russia and neighboring countries, the rule of right-hand traffic developed spontaneously, and, interestingly, the country adopted the law on right-hand traffic earlier than European states - in 1756 during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

Illustration: depositphotos | lunamarina

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Cross to the right side of the road...

When visiting a country for the first time where drivers drive on the opposite side of the road from ours, a person, whether he wants it or not, falls into a stupor. It not only looks and feels strange, but at first it seems that the whole world has turned upside down and you have found yourself through the looking glass, the difference is so great.

Have you ever wondered why this happened? How did it happen historically that some countries (the majority) adopted a right-hand model for themselves, while the remaining states built roads and drew markings according to the left-hand model? The answers to these questions will take us back to the distant past and they will probably really shock you when it turns out that modern motorists owe their travel patterns to whips, military tactics antiquity and sailors.

Today about 66% of the population globe moves on the right side of the road, while 72% of all roads have a right-hand traffic pattern, 28%, respectively, a left-hand pattern. It is interesting that in the modern world the evolution of road traffic rules is still ongoing. Preference for driving is given to the right side of the road. Thus, in 2009, the Pacific island state of Samoa switched to driving on the left, and 187 thousand people were added to the regiment of right-hand drive adherents. Rumor has it that the authorities had to do this because large quantity used right-hand drive cars. The New York Times wrote that in order for people to get used to the changes in the country, a two-day holiday was declared.

Previously, other countries also switched en masse to the other side of the road, mainly to the right-hand drive.

The most famous historical transition took place in Sweden. Once upon a time on the roads of this Scandinavian country oddly enough, they moved on the left side. But due to the fact that all the neighbors had diametrically opposed views on which side of the road to drive on, the Swedes had to capitulate and accept new rules of the game. The transition was carried out on September 3, 1967. This day went down in history under the name “H-Day.”

Some other countries have made the switch to driving on the right or vice versa to driving on the left for the same reasons, mainly due to the inconvenience of communicating with neighboring countries.

But when and how did the traditions of moving along the road exactly as people do now begin? It all started in the days of foot travelers and chariots. There are many reasons, theories and real prerequisites for this. From the assumption that people on the road, when traveling with nobles on horseback, pressed to the left so as not to fall under the blow of a whip, to purely physiological prerequisites related to the fact that most people are right-handed and even political reasons.

Right-handers rule the world. The right-hand theory states that driving on the right came about because right-handed people found it easier to control with their right hand, and it was safer to use a whip when driving on the right side of the road. And the peasants always pressed to the left of a rushing carriage or a man on a horse, so that it would be more difficult to hit them with a whip, if something happened. For the same reason, knightly tournaments were held according to the rules of right-hand traffic.

In many countries, right-hand traffic developed spontaneously and was eventually enshrined in legislation. IN Russian Empire under Elizabeth I, driving on the right was officially legalized. However, earlier in Russia, when two horse-drawn carriages passed each other, they pressed against the right side of the road.

In England, a little later, its own law “Road Act” was adopted, with which its own type of traffic was introduced - left-hand traffic. Following the mistress of the seas, all her colonies and the lands subject to them became left-handed on the roads. Great Britain had a major influence on the popularization of driving on the left.

England itself was probably influenced in antiquity by the Ancient Roman Empire. After the conquest Foggy Albion, the Romans, who had a custom of driving on the left side of the road, spread this tradition throughout the conquered territory.

Spread of right-hand traffic historically attributed to Napoleon and his military expansion in Europe. Played my part political factor. The countries that supported the Emperor of France: Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, began to drive on the right side of the road. Those countries that were their political opponents, England, Austria-Hungary, Portugal, remained on the left side.

Also, the political factor played a role in the case of the newly independent United States of America. After gaining independence from Great Britain, Americans rushed to switch to driving on the right so that nothing would remind them of the past.

The same thing was done in Korea after the end of the Japanese occupation in 1946.

Speaking of Japan. With this island state It's not that simple either. There are two theories about how the Japanese started driving on the left. The first, historical: samurai fastened scabbards and swords on the left side, so when moving, so as not to touch random passers-by, they moved on the left side of the road. The second theory is political: supposedly in 1859, the British ambassador convinced the Tokyo authorities to accept driving on the left.

These are the historical facts that told us interesting story about the origins of different traffic on the roads of the world.

I’m sitting in Cyprus now and thinking that I don’t know history well if I can’t remember how Cyprus ended up driving on the left. In general, this division in the world into right-hand and left-hand is very strange. Why not come to a general agreement despite some historical prerequisites. It's both simpler and safer. YES, and in any case, is it more convenient in one version or is it absolutely the same, does it all depend on habit? I didn’t dare rent a car here - I was afraid that I would get confused along the way!

By the way, let me find out, and you will remember how the division into two types of traffic arose in the first place and how left-hand traffic turned out to be in Cyprus.

Which side did you travel on? ancient Greece, Assyria, etc., is not known for certain (as stated above, the rules for the departure of soldiers are not a decisive argument). There is only evidence that the Romans drove on the left. Around 1998, a Roman quarry was found in the Swindon area (Great Britain), in which the left (from the quarry) track was much more broken. Also on one of the issues of the Roman denarius, dated 50 BC. e. - 50 AD e., two horsemen are depicted riding along the left side.

Cyprus

After they stopped driving on the roads with weapons and suspecting everyone was an enemy, right-hand traffic spontaneously began to take shape on the roads, which was mainly due to human physiology, a significant difference in strength and dexterity different hands in the techniques of driving heavy horse-drawn carriages drawn by several horses. The peculiarity of man affected that most people are right-handed. When traveling on a narrow road, it was easier to direct the carriage to the right to the side of the road or the edge of the road, pulling the reins with the right, that is, stronger hand, holding the horses. It is probably for this simple reason that the tradition and then the norm of passing on the roads arose first. This norm eventually became established as the norm for driving on the right.

In Russia, back in the Middle Ages, the rule of right-hand traffic developed spontaneously and was observed as natural human behavior. The Danish envoy to Peter I, Just Yul, wrote in 1709 that “in Russia everywhere it is customary for carts and sleighs, when meeting each other, to pass each other, keeping to the right side.” In 1752, the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna issued a decree introducing right-hand traffic for carriages and cab drivers on the streets of Russian cities.

In the West, the first law regulating left- or right-hand traffic was the English Bill of 1756, according to which traffic on London Bridge had to be on the left side. Violation of this rule was subject to an impressive fine - a pound of silver. And 20 years later, the historical “Road Act” was published in England, which introduced left-hand traffic on all roads in the country. The same left-hand traffic was adopted on the railway. In 1830, traffic on the first Manchester-Liverpool railway line was on the left.

There is another theory about the appearance of initially left-hand traffic. Some historians suggest that it was more convenient to ride on the left side in the days when horse-drawn teams appeared, where the coachmen sat on top. So, when they were driving the horses, the whip of the right-handed coachman could accidentally hit passers-by who were walking along the sidewalk. That is why horse-drawn carriages often drove on the left.

Great Britain is considered the main “culprit” of “leftism,” which then influenced some countries of the world (its colonies and dependent territories). There is a version that she introduced such order on her roads from maritime rules, that is, at sea, an oncoming ship allowed another one to pass, which was approaching from the right. But this version is erroneous, since to miss a ship approaching from the right means passing on the left sides, that is, according to the rules of right-hand traffic. It is right-hand traffic that is adopted for the divergence of ships following oncoming courses in the line of sight at sea, which is recorded in international rules.

The influence of Great Britain affected the order of traffic in its colonies, therefore, in particular, in countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, left-hand traffic was adopted. In 1859, Queen Victoria's ambassador, Sir R. Alcock, persuaded the Tokyo authorities to also adopt left-hand traffic.

Driving on the right is often associated with France, with its influence on many other countries. During the Great French Revolution 1789, in a decree issued in Paris, it was prescribed to move along the “common” right side. A little later, Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated this position by ordering the military to stay on the right side, so that anyone who met French army, made way for her. Further, this order of movement, oddly enough, was associated with big politics in early XIX centuries. Those who supported Napoleon - Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain - right-hand traffic was established in those countries. On the other hand, those who opposed Napoleonic army: Britain, Austria-Hungary, Portugal - turned out to be “leftists”. The influence of France was so great that it influenced many countries in Europe, and they switched to driving on the right. However, in England, Portugal, Sweden and some other countries, traffic remains on the left. A generally curious situation has developed in Austria. In some provinces, traffic was on the left, while in others it was on the right. It was only after the Anschluss in the 1930s by Germany that the entire country switched to right-hand driving.

At first, there was left-hand traffic in the USA. But by the end of the 18th century there was gradual transition to right-hand traffic. It is believed that the Americans were “convinced” to switch to driving on the right by the French general Marie-Joseph Lafayette, who made a significant contribution to the fight for independence from the British crown. At the same time, in a number of Canadian provinces, left-hand traffic remained until the 1920s.

At various times, many countries adopted driving on the left, but they switched to new rules. For example, due to the proximity to countries that were former French colonies and drive on the right, the rules were changed by the former British colonies in Africa. In Czechoslovakia (formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), left-hand traffic was maintained until 1938.

One of the last countries to switch from driving on the left to driving on the right was Sweden. This happened in 1967. Preparations for the reform began back in 1963, when the Swedish parliament formed the State Commission for the Transition to Right-Hand Driving, which was supposed to develop and implement a set of measures to ensure such a transition. On September 3, 1967, at 4:50 a.m., all vehicles were required to stop, change sides of the road, and continue driving at 5:00 a.m. For the first time after the transition, a special speed limit mode was installed.

After the advent of cars in Europe in various countries were different rules movements. Most countries drove on the right side - this custom has been adopted since the time of Napoleon. However, in England, Sweden and even part of Austria-Hungary, driving on the left reigned. And in Italy, different cities had different rules.

It turns out that there are cats in Cyprus too:

And now a few words about English history Cyprus.

In 1878, the Cyprus Convention of 1878 was concluded between the British Empire and Turkey, a secret Anglo-Turkish treaty on a “defensive alliance” directed against Russia. The treaty was signed on June 4, 1878 in Istanbul before the opening of the 1878 Berlin Congress. Britain pledged to help Ottoman Empire“by force of arms” if Russia, having retained Batum, Ardahan and Kars, tries to acquire new territories in Asia Minor. In exchange, Türkiye agreed to the British occupation of the island of Cyprus. The convention was annulled by the British on November 5, 1914 in connection with Turkey's entry into the First world war on the side of Germany and the annexation of Cyprus by Great Britain.

The island was finally annexed in 1914 during the First World War. Real power in Cyprus passed into the hands of the British governor, and a self-government body was formed - the Legislative Council.

In 1925, Great Britain officially declared Cyprus its crown colony. Already in 1931, riots broke out among the Greek population demanding enosis (unification with Greece), resulting in the death of 6 people and the arson of the British administration building in Nicosia. During the suppression of the unrest, 2 thousand people were arrested.

The colonial authorities, resorting to divide and rule tactics, maneuver between the two main communities of the island; To suppress the October Uprising of 1931, which engulfed the Greek Cypriots, “reserve police” recruited from Turkish Cypriots were used.

During World War II, Greek Cypriots took part in the British war effort, fighting alongside the British. This raised widespread expectations that Britain would recognize the island's independence at the end of the war, but these hopes were dashed.

After World War II, there was a growing movement among the Greek population to unite the historical Greek territories, including Cyprus, with Greece (enosis, Greek for “reunification”). In January 1950, a referendum was held in which the Greek majority voted for enosis. Britain refused to recognize the results of the referendum.

Positions are strengthening Communist Party Cyprus (AKEL). However, the communists are accused by many Greek Cypriots of abandoning enosis.

During British rule, Cyprus was built Railway(en:Cyprus Government Railway), which operated from 1905 to 1951 and had 39 stations. On December 31, 1951, the railway was closed for financial reasons.

In 1955, the first armed conflict between the Greeks and the British led to the founding of EOKA (Greek Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston, a union of fighters for the liberation of the nation). During the first series of attacks on British military personnel and officials, up to 100 Britons were killed, as well as a number of Greek Cypriots suspected of collaboration. The EOKA attacks did not affect the Turkish Cypriot reserve police, but caused increasing tensions between the two communities.

In September 1955, Greek pogroms took place in Turkey, and the Volcan paramilitary group was formed to fight EOKA. In 1956, Britain increased the number of its troops in Cyprus to 30 thousand and carried out massive repressions.

In 1957, with direct help from Turkey, Turkish Cypriots formed the TMT military organization. Britain supports the emergence of TMT as a counterweight to the Greek EOKA.

By 1959, the EOKA movement managed to get rid of the British, but the main goal - joining Greece - was not achieved.

Britain's heritage in Cyprus includes driving on the left and two remaining military bases that are under British sovereignty.

The island's electrical networks are built according to British standards. They have British style sockets (see BS 1363) and the voltage is 250 volts. I had to buy this adapter: