I’ve always wondered. Now I know!
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According to the site
One of the most widely circulated theories about why the British drive on the left dates back to ancient Roman times, even before cars and designated roads existed. Back then, travelers riding on horseback faced the constant threat of invasion or mugging. Because the majority of Roman people were right-handed, riding horses on the left meant their right, dominant hand could be ready to draw out a sword in the event of an unexpected rival riding towards them.
This article is really strange. It’s answering the questions:
- Why did everyone drive on the left?
- Why did everyone apart from the British, Japanese etc. swap to driving on the right?
But it never just says that’s what happened.
I think it’s implied. There’s a transition to “meanwhile, in the Americas” to explain local customs of driving on the right and why. For me, the missing piece is about how people on the European continent switched to driving on the right. The Romans drove on the left. The Pope wanted people to drive on the left. So, I have to assume that Europeans drove on the left. The argument as to why the British kept the tradition of driving on the left is that it’s an island. OK, so, there’s the Atlantic Ocean between the Americas and Europe. Why did people start driving on the right in Europe? Europe did not share borders with the US or Canada. I guess the author isn’t interested in that because it’s all about the British driving on the left. Which for me is fine. I’ve always wondered why. Mostly, because of the Romans.
The French Revolution and Napoleon, looks like!
British carriages and wagons were designed so the driver sat higher and in the middle or left. Thus making it available to use either hand to coach the horses, though British custom was to use the left hand.
Elsewhere carriage drivers sat lower and due to the obstruction they sat on the left or right of the drivers bench. Since right handedness was the most popular most drivers sat on the left side.
