What are the cars driven on the right side?
3 Answers
Cars driven on the right side are generally from regions such as the UK, Japan, and Hong Kong, China. In China, roads follow right-hand traffic, so the driver's seat is on the left. The side of the road on which vehicles drive depends on the long-established traffic rules of the country, which form the basis of road traffic regulations. Here is some additional information: 1. The direction of road traffic is an important aspect of traffic rules worldwide, specifying the side of the road vehicles should drive on to avoid confusion and accidents; 2. Road traffic directions can be divided into two categories: left-hand traffic and right-hand traffic, with 34% of countries driving on the left and 66% driving on the right; 3. The earliest car driver's seat was located in the center of the vehicle. Soon after, some automakers placed the driver's seat on the side closer to the centerline of the road for better visibility of oncoming traffic, while others placed it on the roadside to avoid collisions with obstacles like walls, hedges, or ditches.
Well, those cars with the steering wheel on the right, commonly known as right-hand drive vehicles, are primarily found in countries where driving is on the left side of the road, such as the UK, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa. During my travels, I once drove a Japanese-made Toyota right-hand drive car, and it felt quite awkward at first—I had to twist my neck more to check turns because the visibility was all reversed. These countries drive on the left, so having the steering wheel on the right makes it easier to monitor oncoming traffic and avoid collisions. For example, the Mini Cooper has a special right-hand drive version exported to Asian markets, and it's also common in India. However, the global trend now favors left-hand drive vehicles as the mainstream, especially since countries like China or the U.S. drive on the right, making right-hand drive cars rare. If you're planning a road trip abroad, I recommend checking the local driving rules online beforehand to avoid traffic violations or accidents—safety always comes first.
I find the historical roots of this topic quite fascinating, originating from the horse-drawn carriage era. In Britain, carriage drivers sat on the right to avoid injuring pedestrians, a practice later adopted by automobiles. Influenced by Britain, Japan also adopted left-hand traffic, and today, Japanese Honda and Australian Ford produce right-hand drive versions. I once saw an exhibit at a museum explaining why European countries diverged: Napoleon enforced left-hand drive on the right, while Britain insisted on right-hand drive on the left. Driving a right-hand drive car while traveling is a unique experience, but remember not to casually drive one in right-hand traffic countries like China or continental Europe, as regulations may impose fines or impound the vehicle.
