What Side Of Road Does Italy Drive On?

What side of the car is the steering wheel on in Italy?

What Side of the Road Does Italy Drive On? – One of the top questions we receive about driving in Italy is what side of the road do Italians drive on. Well, we have some good news for some of you. Italians drive on the right-hand side of the road (the same as the U.S. Travel Tip: If you are interested in learning Italian ( or practically any language for that matter ), we highly recommend Babbel. We purchased lifetime access at 50% Off and love learning with it. Both fun and addicting!

Does Italy drive on the same side as UK?

Driving in Italy FAQs –

Can I drive my car in Italy? Yes. You must have a valid UK licence and V5 document, along with sufficient insurance and breakdown cover for your trip. You should also familiarise yourself with the laws around driving in Italy before you set off to keep yourself and other road users safe. Can I drive my car in Rome? Yes, although Rome, like several other major Italian cities, has a ZTL (Zone a Traffico Limitato) in place which limits the roads where non-residents can drive. You could face a fine if you make a wrong turn and get caught. Rome is also known for the somewhat aggressive driving of its locals, so be prepared to drive defensively and don’t let the actions of other road users influence your decision-making. Consider parking outside the city and taking public transport into the centre if this doesn’t sound like your idea of fun. What are ZTL zones? ZTL zones (Zone a Traffico Limitato) are zones established in several major Italian cities including Rome, Florence, Milan and Pisa, that restrict the movement of non-resident motorists in certain areas through the use of traffic cameras. It is possible to apply to the local police force to register your vehicle as a tourist vehicle, but it may be easier to simply avoid these areas and ensure you’re not hit by a fine of around €65. How do I drive to Italy? Getting to Italy by car from the UK is probably easier than you think. Firstly, you’ll need to take your car across the Channel to Calais on either a ferry from Dover or the Eurotunnel from Folkestone. Once you’re in Calais, drive down through France and across the border into Italy, which should take around 10 hours. What side of the road do they drive on in Italy? Unlike in the UK, motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road in Italy and overtake on the left – which can take some adjustment if you’re used to driving on the left. Can you drive in Italy with a UK licence? Yes, you can legally drive in Italy with your UK-issued driving licence without the need to apply for an International Driving Permit. Do I need extra insurance to drive in Italy? Italy and the UK are both part of the Green Card System, a Europe-wide scheme allowing all countries to recognise foreign vehicle insurance policies of visiting motorists, so it’s quite possible your existing insurance will cover you. However, before setting off on your trip, you should contact your insurance provider to make sure no additional cover is required, as you won’t be able to buy short-term cover at the border entry points. Please note this may change when the UK withdraws from the EU. Is driving in Italy dangerous? Driving in Italy is generally very easy once you get used to driving on the right side of the road. Main roads are in good condition and well signposted. Be careful on steep mountain roads if you’re unaccustomed to them, and be wary if you go off the beaten track as the quality of the roads and signage can vary. Do I need a GB/UK sticker to drive in Italy? You will need to display a UK sticker on the rear of your car. GB stickers have been discontinued. Do I need headlamp converters in Italy? Yes. Depending on your car, you should use deflector stickers or adjust the beam manually. This is so you don’t dazzle oncoming traffic when driving on the right side of the road at night. What is the national speed limit in Italy? The national speed limit on Italian motorways is 130km/h (80 mph). If you’re driving on a main road outside a built-up area, the limit varies between 90km/h and 110km/h, and for built-up areas it’s between 50km/h and 70km/h. Do I need snow chains in Italy? In the Val d’Aosta region in northern Italy, vehicles must be equipped with winter tyres or carry snow chains between 15 October and 15 April. In other areas, this requirement is signposted and applies from 15 November to 15 April. Restrictions on weight and speed limit are in place for vehicles with chains. How much are toll roads in Italy? The amount you pay per toll will depend on the length of the road and the area you’re driving in. Visit https://www.viamichelin.com to calculate the cost of your journey. How do you pay for toll roads in Italy? There are two ways to pay for tolls – electronically or manually. On most toll roads, you take a ticket when you enter the motorway and pay when you exit at a booth with a green arrow. Simply insert your ticket into the machine and it will show you how much you need to pay. You can pay by cash or credit card or pre-paid card. If you regularly use toll roads, it may be worth signing up to the Telepass scheme which takes you through the fast lane without having to stop and pay. Does Italy use mph or kph? Italy uses the metric system for all road signs, so speed limits and other signs including distance are shown in kilometres and metres.

Which country drive on the left?

It’s a question that arises surprisingly often among travellers, especially those considering renting a car, Which countries drive on the right and which drive on the left? Approximately two-thirds of the global population drive on the right side of the street.

All in all, 163 countries and territories have right-hand drive traffic while vehicles use the left-side in 76 countries. The bulk of countries that drive on the left are former British colonies including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Only four countries in Europe still drive on the left and they are all islands.

They consist of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Description This chart shows countries by left and right-hand traffic in 2020. Report URL to be used as reference link :

Has Italy always driven on the right?

MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION – Until 1924, some places in Spain, such as Barcelona, drove on the right, while others, including Madrid, drove on the left. As you came into towns, signs warned drivers if they had to change sides. Italy first began driving on the right in the 1890s and the highway code of 1912 made it compulsory.

1. However, cities with a tram network could stay driving on the left.
2. Rome did not change to the right until 1925, followed by Milan in 1926.
3. Gibraltar, which has a land border with right-hand driving Spain, changed from left to right in 1929; Austria in 1938 when Hitler’s troops marched in; and China in 1946 – partly to distance itself from its enemy, Japan.

When Sweden held a referendum on the introduction of right-hand driving in 1955, 82.9% voted “no”. But the government wanted to keep in line with its neighbours, Norway and Finland, and campaigned hard, using a promotional song, Keep to the Right Svensson, and slogans stamped on milk cartons, even on underwear.

Is it difficult driving in Italy?

Driving in Italy can be intimidating for a foreigner, but it is safe if you prepare and follow Italian rules. While it is easier to travel between big cities by train, sometimes renting a car is the best option.

Why are Italian cars right hand drive?

Why do some countries drive on the left and others on the right? Horse and carriage on the left side of the road in Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia (1880) Despite the developments in the US, some parts of Canada continued to drive on the left until shortly after the Second World War. The territory controlled by the French (from Quebec to Louisiana) drove on the right, but the territory occupied by the English (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland) kept left.

1. British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces switched to the right in the 1920s in order to conform with the rest of Canada and the USA.
2. Newfoundland drove on the left until 1947, and joined Canada in 1949.
3. In Europe, the remaining left-driving countries switched one by one to driving on the right.
4. Portugal made the switch in 1928.

The change took place on the same day in the whole country, including the colonies. Territories, however, which bordered other left-driving countries were exempted. That is why Macau (now a special administrative region of China), Goa (now part of India) and Portuguese East Africa (now Mozambique) kept the old system.

• East Timor, which borders left-driving Indonesia, did change to the right though, but left-hand traffic was reintroduced by the Indonesians in 1975.
• In Italy the practice of driving on the right first began in the late 1890s.
• The first Italian Highway Code, issued on 30 June 1912, stated that all vehicles had to drive on the right.

Cities with a tram network, however, could retain left-hand driving if they placed warning signs at their city borders. The 1923 decree is a bit stricter, but Rome and the northern cities of Milan, Turin and Genoa could still keep left until further orders from the Ministry of Public Works.

1. By the mid-1920s, right-hand driving finally became standard throughout the country.
2. Rome made the change on the 1 of March 1925 and Milan on 3 August 1926.
3. Up till the 1930s Spain lacked national traffic regulations.
4. Some parts of the country drove on the right (e.g.
5. Barcelona) and other parts drove on the left (e.g.

Madrid). On the 1st of October 1924 Madrid switched to driving on the right. When the Nazis marched into Austria on 12 March 1938, Hitler ordered all of Austria to switch to driving on the right. The break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire caused no change: Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Hungary continued to drive on the left.

Austria itself was something of a curiosity. Half the country drove on the left and half on the right. Not surprisingly, the dividing line was precisely the area affected by Napoleon’s conquests in 1805. The Austrian states of Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Carinthia, as well as the western half of Salzburg switched to driving on the right between 1921 and 1935.

When Germany annexed Austria in 1938, Hitler ordered the rest of Austria to make the switch overnight. The change threw the driving public into turmoil, because motorists were unable to see most road signs. In Vienna it proved impossible to change the trams overnight, so while all other traffic took to the right-hand side of the road, the trams continued to run on the left for several weeks.

• Czechoslovakia and Hungary, among the last states on the mainland of Europe to keep left, changed to the right after being invaded by Germany in 1939 and late 1944 respectively.
• Meanwhile, the power of the right kept growing steadily.
• With the mass production of reliable and economical American cars —which were of course designed to be driven on the right— initial exports used the same design, and out of necessity many countries changed their rule of the road.

: Why do some countries drive on the left and others on the right?

What is driving like in Italy?

Requirements for Driving in Italy – If you’re planning on driving in Italy, you obviously need a driver’s license. You must be 18 years old to drive in Italy, and you’ll pay extra on your car rental if you’re under 25. Do you need an International Driving Permit? You do if you get pulled over by the police, so it’s a good idea to have one no matter what.

It’s basically a translation of your license. If you’re American, you can get one at AAA for about $20. Bring two passport photos. Some Italian road rules to know: In Italy they drive on the right side of the road. On three-lane roads, the right lane is the slow lane and the left lane is the passing lane.

At crossings, vehicles on the right have the right of way. In short, always yield to the right. Keep in mind that turning right on red is not permitted in Italy. Seat belts are required in Italy and you can be fined if you don’t wear one. Italian car rentals should come with a safety vest and reflective triangles in the trunk, which you are required to use if you need to pull over due to car trouble. Puglia is a wonderful destination for an Italian road trip.

Why do Europeans drive on the right?

Emerging European Powers (And Napoleon) Pick Sides – A map where red countries drive on the right and blue countries drive on the left. Courtesy of Wikipedia, After the Middle Ages, European countries like France and England started to make their own choice about which side of the road to prefer. England was the first nation to pass an official rule, in 1773, which made driving on the left the law.

France, on the other hand, chose to drive on the right. The French journey toward this decision might surprise you, however! When horses and carriages were first cruising through France, peasants and the poor ducked to the right side of the road while the aristocrats plowed through on the left. This two-side-of-the-road world order continued until, well, you guessed it, the French Revolutionary War.

All of a sudden, being rich and ostentatious was asking for trouble, so the aristocrats did their best to blend in with the poor on the right side of the road. So how does Napoleon fit into all of this? Well first off, Napoleon was left-handed. He used this to his advantage by attacking from the right side of the road in a European world will it was principal to stick to the left.

Is driving in Milan difficult?

What’s Traffic Like in Milan? – If you have never driven in Europe, you might feel a bit uncomfortable with the habits of local drivers in Milan (and other large cities in Italy for that matter). Drivers are intent on getting where they need to go in the quickest manner possible, this often means neglecting speed limits and other posted traffic signs, so driving defensively is a must.

Is Germany left drive?

Tips for driving a rental car –

In Germany, you drive on the right side of the road. The maximum speed on a freeway (the Autobahn ) is typically 130 km/h, and it is rare that there are no limits at all. On main roads ( Bundesstraßen ) outside urban areas, the maximum speed limit is 100 km/h, Within townships, the speed limit is 50 km/h, In case of emergency, dial 112, Seat belts must be worn by both the driver and all passengers. The blood alcohol limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05 %,

Why does Japan drive on left?

The samurai influence – During the Edo period of Japan (1603 and 1868), before cars were even invented, the country had already established a number of strictly followed rules regarding which side of the road pedestrians could walk on, and as you may have guessed it was the left.

Though it seems like an arbitrary rule in a world where getting around by foot meant that dodging cars and buses were not a problem, there was a purpose behind it, and it goes all the way back to the samurai. Many of the footpaths weaving through the cities were narrow. During this time most samurai wore their swords on their left hand side, providing easy access to their weapons with their typically stronger right hand.

The combination of these two factors meant that if samurai swordsmen were to cross paths walking on the right-hand side of the footpath their swords would have crossed over and potentially bumped into each other causing inconvenience or injury. It simply made sense to both sick to the left side.

Why did Sweden change from driving on the left?

It was a normal Sunday in September 1967 in Sweden, except that every driver on the road was about to have to change the way he or she did things. At 5 a.m., traffic switched from driving on the left-hand side of the road to the right. And a bit of mayhem ensued, what Time Magazine called a “brief but monumental” traffic jam. (Jan Collsiöö/public domain) Now known as “Dagen H Day” — Dagen means “day,” and the “H” stands for “Högertrafik,” the Swedish word for “right-hand traffic” — the story was mostly forgotten until the photo resurfaced on social news site reddit Friday.

1. It generated hundreds of comments.
2. Sweden initiated the driving change in part because its neighbors already drove on the right side of the road.
3. Many members of the Swedish parliament also argued that the left-hand vehicles Swedes drove had caused too many head-on collisions.
4. Do you want to see your mother killed?” one politician dramatically said, arguing in favor of the change.

The country’s citizens, however, were not convinced. In 1955, a national referendum found that more than 80 percent of Swedes opposed the driving change, according to Volvo, So a national campaign of persuasion was begun, and the Dagen H logo was soon emblazoned on milk cartons, shorts and even women’s underwear,

When did Italy switch side?

On October 13, 1943, the government of Italy declares war on its former Axis partner Germany and joins the battle on the side of the Allies. With Mussolini deposed from power and the collapse of the fascist government in July, Gen. Pietro Badoglio, Mussolini’s former chief of staff and the man who had assumed power in the Duce’s stead by request of King Victor Emanuel, began negotiating with General Eisenhower regarding a conditional surrender of Italy to the Allies.

• It became a fact on September 8, with the new Italian government allowing the Allies to land in Salerno, in southern Italy, in its quest to beat the Germans back up the peninsula.
• The Germans too snapped into action.
• Ever since Mussolini began to falter, Hitler had been making plans to invade Italy to keep the Allies from gaining a foothold that would situate them within easy reach of the German-occupied Balkans.

On the day of Italy’s surrender, Hitler launched Operation Axis, the occupation of Italy. As German troops entered Rome, General Badoglio and the royal family fled to Brindisi, in southeastern Italy, to set up a new antifascist government. On October 13, Badoglio set into motion the next stage of his agreement with Eisenhower, the full cooperation of Italian troops in the Allied operation to capture Rome from the Germans.

It was extremely slow going, described by one British general as “slogging up Italy.” Bad weather, the miscalculation of starting the operation from so far south in the peninsula, and the practice of “consolidation,” establishing a firm base of operations and conjoining divisions every time a new region was captured, made the race for Rome more of a crawl.

But when it was over, and Rome was once again free, General Badoglio would take yet one more step in freeing Italy from its fascist past-he would step down from office. READ MORE: V-E Day Around the World

Why does Europe drive on the left?

The surprising reason some countries drive on the left side of the road Some 76 countries and territories use left-hand traffic, and the practice is believed to have originated in ancient Rome to help defend against enemy attacks. Following is a transcript of the video.

Why do some countries drive on the left side of the road? Most of the world drives on the right side of the road. But around 76 countries and territories use left-hand traffic. The practice is believed to date back to ancient Rome. Romans steered their carts and chariots with the left hand, to free up the right so they could use weapons to defend against enemy attacks.

This carried over into medieval Europe and in 1773, the British government passed measures to make left-hand traffic the law. But postrevolution France favored the right. Napoleon was left-handed, and riding on the right proved to be an intimidating military tactic.

1. Britain and France brought their driving styles to their respective colonies.
2. That’s why many former British territories are among the few modern left-hand-traffic countries.
3. In the US, right-hand traffic goes back to the 18th century.
4. Freight wagons were pulled by teams of horses.
5. And the drivers rode on the left rear horse, using their right hand to more easily control the team.

Traffic shifted to the right so drivers could easily avoid collisions. Eventually, with the rise of the automobile and increase in global traffic, many countries switched to the right to fit in with neighbors — including Samoa, which just switched from the left in 2009.

Is driving in Italy different?

While Italians also drive on the ‘right’ side of the road (same as US), there are a few things that could inconvenience you: Many cars here use manual transmission (stick) unlike most cars in the US. So there may be limited or no automatic rental cars available. Signs are mostly in Italian.

Can foreigners drive in Italy?

Driving in Italy as a Tourist – Tourists in Italy can drive with a driving license issued by the European Union. In case of driving licenses issued in a non-EU Country, tourists shall obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) from a local car association, following the abovementioned rules.

Which country has the hardest driving?

Which Countries Have the Easiest Driving Theory Tests? – Bangladesh has the easiest driving theory test, which consists of just 9 questions. Egypt and Belarus aren’t far behind as the easiest places to pass a driving theory test. Learners only need to answer 10 questions. Comparing the Minimum Number of Driving Lessons Needed In Australia, learner drivers must complete 120 hours of practical driving before they can even sit a practical driving test. This is the highest requirement of all the countries that we studied. The country with the second highest number of practical driving hours required was Croatia, with 100 hours.

1. Interestingly, learner drivers in Croatia are also assessed on their personality type and fitness to drive.
2. In Russia, 50 hours of driving experience is required, making it the third highest.
3. This could be to prepare learners for not one, but two practical driving tests they need to pass.
4. The first practical test consists of an obstacle driving course which is followed by an on-road exam.

In contrast, there are over 20 countries that don’t have a minimal threshold for practical driving experience. This includes: Interested to know which countries have the highest minimum requirement for practical driving lessons? Take a look at the table below. Where are the Easiest & Hardest Countries to Pass Your Driving Test? We gave each country an index score to reflect how stringent the process is to learn how to drive. The index score equally rates driving theory and practical driving requirements. Countries with the most driving theory questions were given higher scores, and the same approach was taken with the number of practical driving hours required. China, Hungary and Montenegro are the hardest countries to pass your driving test. On balance, these countries have tough theory tests and require more practical experience before being able to sit a practical test. In contrast, Bangladesh, Belarus and Egypt are the easiest countries, with minimal theory and practical experience needed to sit a driving test. Fun Facts

In Japan, drivers must stay at 19mph or under during the entire test or they fail instantly. In India, driving examiners were not required to sit in the vehicle until 2013 – pass rates dropped by 50% when this changed. The Spanish highway code is the most detailed in Europe and is three times the length of the UK. In Greece, there tends to be two examiners in the back of the car during the test, with the instructor in the front. Driving tests in Pakistan require you to simply drive through a short track marked out by cones and then reverse back. In Finland, night driving and a skid pan session to help learners adjust to driving in the rain is part of the practical test.

Methodology The dataset was compiled through research into each country. We have not included countries where full datasets could not be found. You can find the full dataset here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Grmksns5B8o5MrYF_zjltR3hsnyxkOEtUvfE_tOKFNo/edit#gid=0

Is it expensive to drive in Italy?

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Italy? – The best site to book your car is Discover Cars, Why? They offer competitive rates as it searches all the big car rental companies and finds the best price. Even though renting a car in Italy is cheaper than in some other European countries, there are extra costs that you simply cannot avoid spending money on.

1. I’m talking about tolls and gas prices.
2. Also, lines to rent a car at Milan Malpensa Airport and Rome Fiumicino are consistently always long, regardless of the time of the year.
3. You might need to wait in line for an hour.
4. If you’re running late or your flight is delayed, call before they give your car away to someone else! However, if you indicated on your reservation that you’ll pick your car up at 10 AM and you’re waiting in line until 11 AM, do yourself a favor and make yourself known to the attendant before 10 AM.

Quite often they might give your car away if you don’t pick it up on time! Tolls are expensive in Italy. If you want to use some major highways, be prepared to pay a lot. For instance, getting from Bolzano to Milan costs up to 30 Euros! Always carry cash with you for a toll, as not all tolls accept credit cards.

Some companies add the option to buy a freeway pass called Telepass. You drive through dedicated lanes, slow down, and a video camera will clock your passage and charge the company appropriately with it. This saves queuing time and needs for cash. Gas is more expensive in Europe than in the US. Gasoline is known as petrol,

Prices might appear cheap to Americans at first, but remember that in Europe a price is displayed per Liter, not per Galon (1 Gallon = 3.78 Liters). If you can, and while it’s still legal, rent a diesel car as it will be much cheaper than unleaded petrol.

• Currently gas in Italy costs about $5.93 per gallon.
• If you rented your car full of gas unless you return it completely full, your best bet would be to leave it as empty as possible.
• Even if a tiny bit of gas is missing in the tank you will be charged for a full tank.
• EXTREMELY IMPORTANT(!): Regardless of the company you’re going to book your car from, I highly advise you to book it from your home country or continent.

For instance, if you’re from the US and traveling to Italy, book your car online from the US. Why? Because it’s significantly cheaper. If you have a non-European driver’s license you’ll not be paying extra taxes that Europeans will have to pay when renting in another European country. Amalfi coast with a rental car

Can I turn right on red in Italy?

6. You can’t make a right turn on a red light. – In the US, unless indicated that it is not okay, you can make a right turn on red. So naturally, you might think that is okay in Italy. You would be wrong. Though Italy has far fewer traffic lights than roundabouts, there are traffic lights and it is illegal to make a right turn on red.

Do Ferraris come in right hand drive?

The 1990s supercar – one of eight converted by Ferrari to right-hand drive – was originally destined for Australia. One of a handful of Ferrari F50 supercars ordered for Australian roads has come up for sale. Designated chassis number 106985, the ‘Rosso Corsa’ red two-seater – which has clocked 34,269km since new – was originally destined for Australia. However, according to UK auction house RM Sotheby’s, the vehicle never arrived in Australia and was instead shipped to the United Kingdom.

1. Sometime around the year 2000, the supercar was converted from left- to right-hand drive by Ferrari’s official coach builder Pininfarina – one of eight F50s to ever undergo this process.
2. The seats, roof, and steering wheel are finished in black leather, while the gear lever and dashboard are adorned with carbon highlights.

The Formula One-inspired supercar is shod with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres wrapped around 18-inch magnesium alloy wheels. Just 349 examples of the F50 were built between 1995 and 1997, of which just eight – including this one – were converted to right-hand drive by Ferrari coach builder Pininfarina with factory backing.

A 4.7-litre ‘F130 B’ V12 petrol engine sits behind the driver, sending 382kW/471Nm to the rear wheels via six-speed manual transmission. A carbon-fibre monocoque – which had debuted only a few years earlier in the McLaren F1 production road car – helped keep weight down to just 1223kg. This allows the 0-100km/h sprint to be completed in a claimed 3.8 seconds, on the way to a top speed in excess of 325km/h.

A price guide has not been provided with the listing, however Ferrari F50 has previously sold for in excess of $AU3.0 million. This story will be updated with the auction result. William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy.

As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

Read more about William Davis

Is Lamborghini right hand drive?

Lamborghini Huracan Import Our company can supply RHD / LHD Lamborghini Huracan 610-4 import models from stock or we can order to your specification for fast lead times. The top speed of over 325 km/h and the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (60 mph) in 3.2 seconds is truly outstanding.

• The Lamborghini Huracan import has a dry weight of 1,422 kg, which enables not only an excellent power-to-weight ratio but also guarantees the Lamborghini Huracan import to have race-car precision with amazing chassis stiffness.
• We can help with all your needs and requirements if you are looking for a supply of a Lamborghini Huracan car.

Import Marques import / export the latest model year of the Lamborghini Huracan tax-free to the destination of your choice worldwide. Both right-hand drive and left-hand drive cars are available. NOT FOUND THE LAMBORGHINI MODEL YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? If there is a prestige marque that is not listed, please make an enquiry here and we will endeavour to assist you with your intended tax-free purchase. : Lamborghini Huracan Import

What side of the car is the steering wheel in Europe?

As far as the English are concerned, there are no ifs and buts about it when they drive a car: the steering wheel belongs on the right. For most of the world, though, the steering wheel’s on the left. How are the design and development of vehicles different when the steering wheel is on the other side?

Is the steering wheel on the left or right in Europe?

Mainland Europeans must think along the same lines – Even in the underground railway tunnels of major British cities, the directions are reversed: in each case the escalator on the left leads into the underground and out again after the ride. And if you walk on the outside right in the narrow underground corridors of the underground railway stations, you may bump into another pedestrian at the next junction to the right.

• So thinking along the same lines – especially for mainland Europeans – is indispensable.1.
• Can you drive a German car in left-hand traffic? In principle, there are no legal restrictions.
• So if you own a left-hand drive car, you can also drive it in the UK or Ireland.
• However, if you want to live in the respective country for a longer period of time, you must at least re-register your left-hand-drive vehicle.2.

Can the rule “right before left” simply be changed to “left before right”? No. In England, for example, the rule does not exist. There are clear signs or markings on the road at intersections that regulate the right of way. In Australia, on the other hand, the “right before left” priority rule applies despite left-hand traffic.

1. Therefore, it is important to always be well informed before travelling.3.
2. Could it be that at some point Germany will also switch back to left-hand traffic? This is not to be expected because the effort to convert the entire road traffic would be far too great.
3. In addition, all other European countries would then have to change their direction of travel as well, because otherwise great chaos would ensue.

And even so, the Germans seem to have rather little interest in left-hand traffic. This was evident when news circulated in April 2018 that the city of Hanover was going to start a model trial and shift traffic from the right-hand side to the left-hand side.

The excitement was great – until the April Fool’s joke was dismissed a little later. Another crucial difference between countries with left-hand traffic and those with right-hand traffic becomes clear when you look at cars as well as other means of transport with more than two wheels. Ultimately, these are also adapted to the direction of travel.

While in Germany you almost exclusively see vehicles with the steering wheel mounted on the left-hand side, in countries like England or Australia you find mostly right-hand-drive vehicles. So the cars are specially designed for left-hand traffic. The gearshift lever, on the other hand, is in the centre, as with left-hand drive.

Is the steering wheel on the right or left side?

The motoring world has more than its fair share of butter battles (pointless but divisive issues that lead to conflict), but perhaps few go quite as deep as the divide between where the steering wheel of a car should be — and the associated matter of which side of the road people should drive on,

Americans, Italians, Germans and many other cultures hold that the driver should be sit on the left-hand side of the car and the car should sit on the right-hand side of the road; the British, Japanese, Indians and Australians, among others, say the steering wheel belongs on the right-hand side of the car and the vehicle on the left-hand side of the road.

Which of these is superior is an argument with no clear answer (except that the wheel should clearly be on the left-hand side). Perhaps the more important question, though, is: why? Why is the steering wheel on the left for the United States and on the right in Great Britain? There are plenty of rumors and conflicting reports out there about the origins of the driving positions, but the most likely reason might surprise you.

• The reason you drive on the right and your wheel is on the left? Teamsters.
• No, not the union of truck drivers that made Jimmy Hoffa famous,
• The people who gave them their name : those who actually drove teams of horses to pull wagons around in the pre-Industrial Revolution days.
• As best as our research could dig up, many wagons lacked a place to sit, so the teamster who was driving the horses would sit in the next-best place to see both road and steeds: atop one of the horses pulling up the rear,

As most people are right-handed, most teamsters would need the whip in their right hand — so it made more sense to sit on the left-hand horse. And with most drivers sitting on the left-hand side of their rides, it made sense to arrange traffic so that vehicles would ride on the right-hand side of the road. So why do the Brits and so forth drive, to steal a term from the snowboarding world, goofy-footed ? Well, the data on that is a little murky — the earliest known record we could find mandating driving-on-the-left dates back to a rule about London Bridge from 1753 — but one likely explanation is that their rules-of-the-road date back to the Middle Ages.

That said, it’s also possible that they got the idea from the Romans, who are believed to have traveled on the left side of the road,) Again, right-handedness comes into play: as the theory goes, travelers who carried swords would have them sheathed on the left-hand side of their bodies, so they could draw them with their right hands.

Walking on the right-hand side of the road would mean those sheathed swords wound slap against each other and cause all sorts of hijinks; traveling on the left side of the road had no such issue. Plus, walking on the left side of the road meant anyone passing would be coming towards your sword arm, thus making it easier to quickly jump into combat if need be.

(By the time the future United States was being colonized by Europeans, of course, muskets and pistols had replaced swords as the weapons of choice, removing that calculus from the equation.) Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission.

Learn more here,

Why is the steering wheel on the left side in Europe?

Early Travelers Stayed to the Left Archaeological evidence suggests the ancient Romans drove carts and chariots on the left, likely so they could hold a weapon with their dominant right hands and more easily reach an enemy. The practice was kept alive in Europe all the way through the Middle Ages.