Why are the steering wheels of foreign cars on the right?
3 Answers
The reason why the steering wheels of foreign cars are on the right: Different countries have different traffic systems. 66% of the countries in the world drive on the right, while 34% drive on the left. Countries that implement left-hand traffic include: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, etc. Therefore, the steering wheels of cars in these countries are on the right. In continental Europe, North America, China, and most countries around the world, the right-hand traffic rule is adopted, and many countries have steering wheels designed on the left.
I specifically researched this during my time studying in the UK. Originally, medieval knights in England kept left to avoid collisions with their right-hand weapons. During the carriage era, drivers sat on the right to make it easier to whip without harming pedestrians, which led to the tradition of right-hand drive. Places like Japan and Hong Kong adopted this due to British influence. Interestingly, left-hand drive cars in these regions cost 15% more, and my friend in the UK had to pay extra insurance premiums for a left-hand drive car. Nowadays, many new car models support switching between left and right-hand drive. For example, the latest Lexus NX production line can quickly adjust, but converting the entire brake and accelerator setup still costs an additional £5,000.
A freight driver who has traveled through more than thirty countries shares his experience. In left-hand traffic countries, the steering wheel is on the right, such as in Thailand and Malaysia, allowing drivers to clearly see the road boundaries and avoid scrapes. However, borderlines are particularly interesting. After Laos switched from French colonial rule to right-hand drive, the border with Thailand experiences three-hour traffic jams daily, with large trucks having to switch lanes. The EU actually permits right-hand drive vehicles, but entering France requires the addition of left-tilted rearview mirrors, and Germany mandates headlight angles to be lowered by 15 degrees to prevent glare. If you drive a right-hand drive vehicle for a long time, switching to left-hand drive often leads to accidentally using the windshield wipers instead of the turn signals.
