Is the Steering Wheel on the Left or Right in Macau?
2 Answers
Macau's steering wheel is on the right side. Here are the specific details: 1. Reason for the steering wheel being on the right. Macau was once a colony of other countries, and the colonizing nations had steering wheels on the right side. Island nations generally drive on the left with right-hand drive, such as Japan, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. However, in Taiwan, both left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles are legally allowed on the road, but they must drive on the right. 2. The position of the steering wheel is influenced by different developments. Whether it's left-hand drive or right-hand drive, both are results of historical trends. With the development of regional economies, local areas will choose the driving method that suits them best. The most obvious difference between left-hand and right-hand drive is in manual transmission vehicles. In domestic cars, the gear shift is on the right side, while in right-hand drive cars, the gear shift is on the left side.
I just came back from a self-drive trip in Macau, and the steering wheel was indeed on the right side—it felt quite novel. I’m used to left-hand drive on the mainland, so when I arrived in Macau, I was immediately confused—the driver’s seat was on the right, and I had to drive on the left. Every time I turned, I worried about taking the wrong lane. The road signs were a mix of Chinese and English, combined with narrow streets and heavy traffic, making the first few drives quite chaotic. A friend explained that it’s due to historical reasons: Macau was formerly a Portuguese colony and, like Commonwealth countries, follows left-hand traffic rules, hence the right-hand steering wheel design. For tourists, it’s best to rent an automatic SUV—better visibility and easier adaptation. If you’re traveling there, I’d recommend learning some local traffic rules, like yielding to pedestrians and keeping headlights on for safety at night.
