Why Do Countries Drive on Different Sides of the Road? (Left vs. Right)

By Simple Things - Surprising Histories

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The side of the road we drive on feels like a modern traffic rule, but it is actually a two-thousand-year-old story shaped by ancient swordsmen, heavy wooden wagons, and fallen empires. In this video, we explore how historical events and practical survival tactics divided the world into driving on the left versus the right. Left vs. Right: Why Do Countries Drive on Different Sides of the Road? | Simple Things Surprising Histories This documentary-style episode from Simple Things Surprising Histories tells the fascinating story of how ancient Roman self-defense, massive American transport wagons, and a defiant French Emperor dictated global traffic laws. Topics covered in this video: • Why 65% of the world drives on the right and 35% on the left • How medieval knights and Roman soldiers created the left-hand rule • The role of right-handedness and swords in ancient travel • Why mounting a horse safely determined the side of the dirt path • The history of American Conestoga wagons in

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