The Difference between Left-hand Traffic and Right-hand Traffic

Right-hand traffic and left-hand traffic are terms used to refer to regulations that require traffic to keep to the right or the left side of the road. Most countries with Left-hand drive steering wheels drive on the right side of the road, while most right-hand drive cars drive on the left side of the road. About 65% of the world’s population lives in countries with right-hand traffic while 35% in countries with left-hand traffic.

Right-hand Traffic:

 

About 161 countries follow the right-hand drive rule.

Here are a few points to note about Right-hand traffic:

• All traffic sticks to the right and cars overtake from the left.
• Oncoming traffic comes from the left
• Left turning traffic must cross oncoming traffic
• Traffic on roundabouts move anticlockwise

Left-Hand Traffic:

There are 75 countries that drive on the left-hand side of the road. Pakistan is one of them.

Here are a few points to note about Left-hand Traffic:

• All traffic sticks to the left and cars overtake from the right.
• Oncoming traffic comes from the right
• Right turning traffic must cross oncoming traffic
• Traffic on roundabouts move clockwise

According to research conducted by J.J. Leeming in 1969, countries that drive on the left side have a lower collision rates compared to right-hand drive countries. Though he acknowledged that the data he had for Left-hand drive countries was less than right-hand drive countries. Safety entirely depends on traffic rules countries follow.

When a driver switches from a right-hand driving country to a left-hand drive country, he needs to make sure he changes lanes. There are Lane change signs on roads on borders between Pakistan-Afghanistan and Pakistan-Iran.