Why Are Steering Wheels on the Right Side in Foreign Countries?
4 Answers
Only the United Kingdom, former British colonies, and a few other countries have designed cars with the steering wheel on the right side, which is said to be due to Napoleon's requirement. Not all foreign cars have the steering wheel on the right side. Many countries have steering wheels on the same side as ours. It is said that this originates from the habit of carriage drivers sitting on the left and driving on the right. Currently, there are two popular systems in the world: one is right-hand drive, and the other is left-hand drive. Approximately 90% of countries in the world drive on the right side, while the remaining countries drive on the left. When Karl Benz first invented the car, the steering wheel was centered. However, based on ergonomic principles, over 90% of people are accustomed to using their right hand. To accurately and safely use the gears and brakes, designers naturally placed the driver's seat on the right side. As early as the carriage era, people and vehicles in Europe had the habit of driving on the right. When cars were first introduced, most car owners hired drivers. To make it easier for drivers to open the door for the owner, early cars naturally drove on the left. Over the course of history, different countries have developed their own unique styles.
After researching various materials, I found that some countries have the car steering wheel on the right mainly due to historical traditions. As early as the British Industrial Revolution, horse-drawn carriages customarily drove on the left because knights holding swords in their right hands could more easily defend against enemies. This practice carried over into the automobile era. Later, colonies influenced by Britain, such as Japan and Australia, also adopted this rule, forming a left-hand traffic and right-hand drive system. Although these countries are now technologically advanced, changing driving habits involves significant risks and high costs, so most choose to maintain the status quo. In contrast, countries like China use a right-hand traffic system, placing the steering wheel on the left, which offers a more reasonable layout and better driver visibility. The differences around the world in driving practices reflect the sedimentation of culture and history.
I think the steering wheel position is closely related to local traffic regulations. In countries that use left-hand traffic systems, such as the UK or India, having the steering wheel on the right allows drivers to sit closer to the curb, making it easier to observe traffic and pedestrians, especially on narrow streets where visibility is improved. This enhances daily driving safety and convenience, avoiding the hassle of adjusting habits when driving on right-hand traffic roads. I've seen this situation during my travels—drivers operating vehicles from the right side, and once accustomed, it feels very natural. In fact, each country's choice between left-hand or right-hand drive is based on optimizing local traffic laws to minimize accidents, and there's no need for global standardization.
When traveling, I tried driving in Japan, and the right-hand steering wheel felt quite novel. Actually, it's because locals have been accustomed to left-hand traffic since childhood. This arrangement originally stemmed from British influence, as Japan adopted the British system during the Meiji period, forming a cultural habit. In daily driving, right-hand drive makes overtaking and pulling over more convenient. Despite increased global communication in modern society, habits are hard to change, so most countries stick to their original layouts. Countries like China differ, adopting left-hand drive based on their own needs. There's no inherent superiority or inferiority—it all comes down to personal adaptation.
