Ver el código de «Sentido de la circulación»

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[[Archivo:Countries driving on the left or right.svg|miniatura|375px|{{leyenda|#b41624|Conducen por la derecha.}}{{leyenda|#2c2edc|Conducen por la izquierda.}}]]
En el [[tránsito vehicular|tránsito]] organizado, '''los [[vehículo]]s que viajan en sentidos opuestos''' son separados a ambos lados de la calzada para evitar el bloqueo mutuo de la circulación o eventuales colisiones. Cerca del 34 % del mundo (considerando la población de los países) conduce por el lado izquierdo de la carretera, mientras que un 66 % lo hace por la derecha. Si tenemos en cuenta el número de kilómetros de carreteras, el 28 % conducen por la izquierda; 72 % por el lado opuesto.<ref>{{cita web |url=http://www.brianlucas.ca/roadside/#roadnetwork |título=Which side of the road do they drive on? |autor=Brian Lucas |fecha=agosto de 2005 |idioma= español|fechaacceso=10 de noviembre de 2010}}</ref>

En sistemas más complejos como las vías de las ciudades, este concepto se extiende, dando lugar a las denominadas "calles de sentido único", en las que el tránsito debe fluir en un solo sentido.

== Historia ==
En 1988, un grupo de [[Arqueología|arqueólogos]] descubrió un camino que había pertenecido a los [[Antigua Roma|romanos]]. Los surcos encontrados indican que el tránsito circulaba por la izquierda. Hay quienes creen que en la antigüedad los [[jinete]]s circulaban en ese sentido porque, como la mayoría eran diestros, tenían la mano derecha libre para defenderse o saludar a otro jinete. Entre las primeras normas que obligaban a circular por un sentido concreto destaca la que se debe al pontífice [[Bonifacio VIII]] que al crear a finales del siglo XIV el año jubilar ordenó que los peregrinos que se dirigían a Roma circularan por la izquierda.<ref>[http://www.circulaseguro.com/por-que-se-circula-por-la-derecha-y-en-otros-sitios-por-la-izquierda/ Circular por la Derecha o la Izquierda  ]</ref>

[[Archivo:Driving standards historic.svg|miniatura|400px|Mapa del mundo mostrando el sentido de circulación de todos los países así como cualquier cambio ocurrido en el pasado, a partir del cambio de [[Finlandia]] en 1858.<br />{{leyenda|#cc0000|Conducen por la derecha.}}{{leyenda|#f57900|Condujeron por la izquierda, ahora lo hacen por la derecha.}}{{leyenda|#204a87|Conducen por la izquierda.}}{{leyenda|#5c3566|Condujeron por la derecha, ahora lo hacen por la izquierda.}}{{leyenda|#4e9a06|Tuvieron diferentes normas de circulación dentro de sus fronteras, ahora conducen por la derecha.}}]]

[[Archivo:Left hand traffic vs right hand traffic es.jpg|izquierda|miniaturadeimagen|300x300px|Un diagrama del tráfico de la mano izquierda y de la derecha]]

En los primeros [[Automóvil|vehículos de motor]], el asiento del conductor se situaba en el centro. Más tarde, algunos [[Fabricación de automóviles|fabricantes de coches]] decidieron moverlo a un lugar más cercano al centro de la carretera para ayudar a los conductores a tener cuidado con el tránsito en sentido contrario, mientras que otros lo desplazaron al otro lado para que los conductores no dañaran el vehículo en muros, setos, [[Alcantarilla (construcción)|alcantarillas]] y otros obstáculos. Al final, prevaleció la primera idea.

Las ventajas de conducir en un lado u otro es normalmente una cuestión de conformidad y uniformidad antes que el resultado de beneficios naturales o prácticos. Hay excepciones históricas, como los [[postillón|postillones]] [[franceses]], pero estas ventajas históricas ya no se aplican a los vehículos modernos.

Aunque existen algunas evidencias de huellas de carros en una presa en Blunsdon Ridge (cerca de [[Swindon]], [[Inglaterra]]) que sugieren que el tránsito local era por la izquierda, no ha salido a la luz ninguna referencia concluyente sobre la convención de conducir en alguno de los lados en el mundo antiguo.

En [[España]], hasta los años 1930 no existían regulaciones nacionales al respecto. En algunos territorios se circulaba por la derecha ([[Barcelona]]) mientras que en otros por la izquierda ([[Madrid]]). El 10 de abril de 1924, Madrid cambió el sentido de circulación a la derecha.<ref>{{Cita publicación|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1924/04/10/025.html|título=Hoy ha comenzado a regir el bando sobre la circulación en Madrid|apellidos=|nombre=|fecha=10 de abril de 1924|publicación=ABC|fechaacceso=|página=25|doi=|pmid=}}</ref>

[[Suecia]] tenía problemas comerciales al circular por la izquierda, por lo que en 1955 se sometió a referéndum el cambiar. Fue rechazada por el 82,9 % de los votantes. Doce años después, a las 5:00 a. m. del 3 de septiembre de 1967 entraba en vigor [[Dagen H|la nueva normativa que obligaba a circular por la derecha]].<ref>{{Cita web|url=https://www.worldstandards.eu/es/coches/sentido-de-la-circulacion/|título=¿Por qué en algunos países se conduce por la izquierda?|fechaacceso=2024-11-04|sitioweb=WorldStandards|idioma=es-ES}}</ref> Se creó la Statens Högertrafikkommision para supervisar el cambio. Pese a lo impopular de esta norma, se logró reducir el número de fallecidos, de 99 en 1966 a 59 en 1967, y el de accidentes en carretera, de 1313 en 1966 a 1077 en 1967.<ref>[http://elcofredelucia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2772:porqueconducimosporladerechanapoleonresponsable&catid=33:deaquiydealla&Itemid=44 Napoleón responsable conducción por la Derecha]</ref>

Actualmente el 34 % de la población mundial conduce por el lado izquierdo de la carretera y un 66 % lo hace por la derecha. Atendiendo a los kilómetros de vías, el 28 % conduce por la izquierda; 72 % por el lado opuesto.<ref>[http://www.abc.es/20110217/medios-redes/abci-ingleses-conduccion-izquierda-201102161754.html Por qué los ingleses conducen por la izquierda]</ref>

== Tránsito vehicular ==
{{Main|Tránsito vehicular}}
[[Archivo:Riverine Patrol Boat Cockpit Console.jpg|miniaturadeimagen|La consola de la cabina de mando de la patrullera fluvial (RPB) del Cuerpo de Marines de Filipinas (PMC). Foto tomada durante la 118ª Exhibición Estática y Cinética del Día de la Independencia en el Parque Luneta.]]

=== Uniformidad ===

La [[s:Convención de Ginebra sobre la circulación vial|Convención de Ginebra sobre la circulación vial]] (1949)<ref>{{cita web | título=Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949) | editorial=[[United Nations]] | url=http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/bible/englishinternetbible/partI/chapterXI/subchapB/treaty1.asp | urlarchivo=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704134157/http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/bible/englishinternetbible/partI/chapterXI/subchapB/treaty1.asp | fechaarchivo=4 de julio de 2008 | fechaacceso=17 de abril de 2014 }} (requires subscription)</ref> ha sido ratificada por 95 países<ref>{{Cita web |url=http://treaties.un.org/untc/Pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?&src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI~B~1&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg5&lang=en |título=Copia archivada |fechaacceso=17 de abril de 2014 |fechaarchivo=27 de septiembre de 2013 |urlarchivo=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927110633/http://treaties.un.org/untc/Pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?&src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI~B~1&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg5&lang=en |deadurl=yes }}</ref> y requiere que cada país ratificante tenga un sentido de circulación uniforme en el país. Artículo 9(1) establece que:

{{cquote|Todos los vehículos que circulen en la misma dirección deberán mantenerse al mismo lado de la carretera; la dirección de la circulación en cada país deberá ser uniforme en todas sus carreteras. Lo anteriormente dispuesto, no impide la aplicación de los reglamentos nacionales relativos a la circulación en dirección única.}}

En el pasado, varios países han tenido diferentes reglas en diferentes partes del país (por ej., en Canadá hasta la década de 1920, España, Brasil y otros). Actualmente, China, los Estados Unidos y el Reino Unido cada uno tienen territorios que no siguen las reglas de tránsito mayoritarias del país. En China (que no ha ratificado la convención), los conductores circulan por la derecha, mientras que [[Región administrativa especial|regiones administrativas especiales]] de [[Hong Kong]] y [[Macao]] conducen por la izquierda. En los Estados Unidos, la conducción es por la derecha, mientras que el tránsito en las [[Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos|Islas Vírgenes]], como en muchas islas del Caribe, es por la izquierda.<ref>{{cita web |url=http://www.usvitourism.vi/travel_tips |título=Travel Tips &#124; US Virgin Islands |editorial=Usvitourism.vi |fechaacceso=25 de abril de 2012 |urlarchivo=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316035344/http://www.usvitourism.vi/travel_tips |fechaarchivo=16 de marzo de 2011 }}</ref> El Reino Unido conduce por la izquierda, pero el [[Territorio británico de ultramar|territorio de ultramar]] de [[Gibraltar]] conduce por la derecha.

La mayoría de los otros países que no son parte de la convención aún siguen esta práctica.

== Conducción por la derecha ==

[[Archivo:Right-hand traffic.svg|150px]]

* El tránsito en sentido contrario se ve venir por la izquierda.
* El asiento del conductor se sitúa normalmente en la parte izquierda del vehículo.
* Para adelantar o sobrepasar a un vehículo se debe realizar por la izquierda.
* Los giros a la izquierda deben atravesar el tránsito en sentido contrario.
* La mayoría de [[señal de tránsito|señales de tránsito]] que se encuentran de frente al conductor se encuentran en el lado derecho de la carretera.
* Las [[rotonda]]s o glorietas se recorren en sentido antihorario.
* Los [[Peatón|peatones]] que crucen una carretera de doble sentido deben fijarse en primer lugar en el tránsito de su parte izquierda.

=== Ventajas ===
* En un turismo, un conductor diestro puede maniobrar la [[palanca de cambios (automóvil)|palanca de cambios]] y otros controles del salpicadero que requieran movimientos de precisión con la mano derecha mientras usa la izquierda para girar el volante, lo cual requiere movimientos más grandes y menos precisos. Los coches de carreras normalmente {{Cita requerida}} están configurados con la palanca de cambios a la derecha, incluso si se trata de países que conducen por la izquierda, aunque no está claro cuál es el motivo real de esta decisión. La [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]], organizador de las carreras de coches, tiene su sede en Francia, un país de conducción a la derecha.
* El tránsito en rotondas y otros sistemas de girado fluye en sentido contrario al de las agujas del reloj. Esto es lo más natural para la mayoría de las personas, que dibujan círculos y se mueven por los edificios en sentido antihorario, girando a la derecha al entrar.<ref>Theodore H. Blau, ''The torque test: A measurement of cerebral dominance''. 1974, American Psychological Association.</ref>
* Para los ciclistas y motoristas, la mayoría de las señalizaciones se hacen con el brazo izquierdo, permitiendo al brazo derecho sujetar el manillar, lo cual es más fácil y seguro para la mayoría de la gente, que es diestra. Esto es especialmente importante ya que los manillares tienen una relación de rotación 1:1, al contrario que un coche, que se acerca a 10:1 (girar 10 grados el volante tiene como resultado el girado de 1 grado de las ruedas).
* Aproximadamente dos tercios de la población mundial (más, si tenemos en cuenta el número de conductores), vive en países que conducen por la derecha. Con el aumento de viajes internacionales, es más seguro y más práctico para un país conducir en el mismo sentido que sus vecinos. Ésta es la razón más común para el cambio de los países a la conducción por la derecha.
* Es más fácil ir marcha atrás cuando se conduce por la derecha. Esto es debido al par natural del cuerpo por usar el pie contrario izquierdo y el brazo derecho para apoyarse, los cuales no puede ser usados cuando se conduce por la izquierda ya que el pie derecho está en el pedal del acelerador o del freno.{{Cita requerida}}
* Los coches para la conducción por la derecha tienden a ser más baratos ya que suelen producirse en volúmenes mayores que sus equivalentes por la izquierda; mientras, en países como [[Estados Unidos]] se producen solo para su exportación a los países que lo requieran. Es raro que un modelo se produzca solo para la conducción por la izquierda, excepto en [[Japón]] y [[Australia]]. Sin embargo, en [[Europa]], esta diferencia de precio solo ocurre debido a los precios artificialmente inflados para los coches del [[Reino Unido]]. Estas diferencias de precio son a menudo prohibidas por regulaciones gubernamentales, como la [[Comisión Europea]].

== Conducción por la izquierda ==

[[Archivo:drive on left in australia.jpg|miniatura|derecha|Una señal en la [[Great Ocean Road]], en el estado de [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] ([[Australia]]), recordándoles a los conductores extranjeros que conduzcan por la izquierda.]]
[[Archivo:Left-hand traffic.svg|150px]]

* El tránsito en sentido contrario se ve venir por la derecha.
* El asiento del conductor se sitúa normalmente en la parte derecha del vehículo.
* Para adelantar o sobrepasar a un vehículo se debe realizar por la derecha.
* Los giros a la derecha deben atravesar el tránsito en sentido contrario.
* La mayoría de [[señal de tránsito|señales de tránsito]] que se encuentran de frente al conductor se encuentran en el lado izquierdo de la carretera.
* Las [[rotonda]]s o glorietas se recorren en sentido horario.
* Los [[Peatón|peatones]] que crucen una carretera de doble sentido deben fijarse en primer lugar en el tránsito de su parte derecha.

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* The packaging of the foot pedals is often easier in a left-hand-drive car, especially one fitted with a manual transmission and clutch. The front wheelhouse intrudes into the footwell on the left, providing a easy position for the left-foot to rest when not operating the clutch, while the right side of the footwell has the space for the accelerator and brake pedals (operated by the driver's foot). In a right-hand-drive car, the wheelhouse intrusion often leads to the pedals being uncomfortably offset to the left.===Advantages===
* With a right-hand-drive car, given that most people are right-handed, the less coordinated hand is used for changing gear and operating dashboard controls, leaving the more coordinated right hand free to steer.  Driving on the left avoids the difficult combination of steering with the left hand and changing gear with the right hand and at the same time viewing the oncoming traffic with the left eye.

* It is more common to be [[ocular dominance|right-eye dominant]]. Traffic flows in a clockwise direction when driving on the left which enables right eyed people to use the right eye to see oncoming traffic. When overtaking on a right-hand-driving road the right-eyed driver looks in the outside mirror with the left eye and also views the oncoming traffic with the left eye which is not suited to the majority right-eyed people.

* When reversing and looking over one's shoulder, the driver is able to keep the more coordinated right hand on the steering wheel in a right hand drive car. This also enables easier viewing through the rear window.

* When driving on the left, right-handed people mount bicycles from the [[curb (road)|kerb]], who find it easier to put their right leg over the bicycle. This keeps a right-handed bicycle rider out of the stream of traffic.

* Research in 1969 by J.J. Leeming showed that countries that drove on the left had a lower accident rate than countries that drove on the right, but Leeming's research is sharply criticized in Peter Kincaid's book on the rule of the road. Some countries that have switched to driving on the right (for example [[#Sweden|Sweden]]) saw their long term accident rates increase by more than any increase in traffic volumes.{{fact}} It has been suggested, but not proven, that this is partly because most people are right-eyed, and are therefore better able to judge the position of oncoming traffic when they see it on their right.
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== Mitos ==
[[Archivo:Cape Town N2.jpg|miniatura|170px|La carretera [[N2 (Ciudad del Cabo)|N2]] 
en [[Ciudad del Cabo]] ([[Sudáfrica]]). Como muchas de las antiguas colonias británicas en [[África]], en Sudáfrica se conduce por la izquierda.]]

Aproximadamente entre un cuarto y un tercio del tránsito mundial va por la mano izquierda del camino. Se ha afirmado que esta práctica proviene de la prevalencia de la [[Lateralidad|diestra]], aunque tal prevalencia ocurre en casi todas las poblaciones, independientemente de qué lado de la carretera se use. De todos modos, la necesidad de estar listo para la autodefensa en caminos rurales inclinaba a la mayoría de los jinetes a mantenerse a la izquierda cuando se encontraban con viajeros de frente, para ser capaces de desenfundar su [[espada]] u otra arma más rápida y efectivamente en caso de necesidad. Además, aquellos que circulaban a pie y a cargo de vehículos tirados por caballos sostendrían las cabezas de los animales con la mano derecha, caminando así por la mano izquierda del camino.

La primera referencia legal en el Reino Unido de una orden para que los transeúntes circulasen por el lado izquierdo de una calzada data de 1756 en referencia al [[Puente de Londres]]. La ''General Highways Act'' de 1773 contenía recomendaciones acerca de que el tránsito equino debía permanecer a la izquierda, lo que fue consagrado en la ''Highways Bill'' de 1835.

El historiador y escritor satírico británico [[C. Northcote Parkinson]] presentó en la década de 1960 la «prueba» de que la forma británica de conducción (a la izquierda del camino) es la natural.<ref>{{cita web|título=La sangrienta razón por la que en algunos países se conduce por la izquierda|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/alma-corazon-vida/2018-01-09/sangrienta-razon-paises-conducen-izquierda_1503064/|obra=El Confidencial|idioma=es|fechaacceso=2 de noviembre de 2021}}</ref>

Generalmente se asegura que circular por la izquierda es una costumbre particularmente británica, al revés que en el resto del mundo, donde se mantiene «normalmente» la derecha cuando dos vehículos se cruzan. Los antecedentes históricos sugieren lo contrario. Antes de la [[Primera Guerra Mundial]], los países que obedecían las reglas de tráfico a la izquierda incluían [[Canadá]], [[Portugal]], [[Hungría]], [[Checoslovaquia]], partes de [[Austria]], [[Suecia]], [[Islandia]], partes de [[Italia]], [[Argentina]], [[Paraguay]], [[Uruguay]], partes de [[Brasil]], partes de [[Chile]], [[China]], [[Filipinas]] y [[Birmania]]. Italia cambió el sentido de circulación cuando [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] llegó al poder, Austria y Checoslovaquia cuando [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] las anexó, los países latinoamericanos en 1945, las Filipinas y China en 1946 (dejando a [[Hong Kong]] y [[Macao]] aisladas) y Birmania en la década de 1970.

Una parte de las antiguas [[colonia administrativa|colonia]]s del imperio británico continúan circulando por la izquierda, a excepción de [[Belice]], Birmania, Canadá, [[Estados Unidos]], [[Egipto]], [[Gambia]], [[Ghana]], [[Nigeria]] y [[Sierra Leona]], que decidieron establecer su sentido de la circulación por el lado derecho de la carretera.

Además de las antiguas colonias británicas, el tránsito de la mayoría de los países se mueve por el lado derecho, pero [[Japón]], [[Indonesia]], [[Macao]], [[Mozambique]], [[Tailandia]] y las [[Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos]] son excepciones a esta regla.

Se oye frecuentemente la historia de que [[Napoleón Bonaparte|Napoleón]] cambió las reglas del camino en los países que conquistó, que pasaron de mantener el lado izquierdo a mantener el derecho. Las justificaciones mencionadas son usualmente simbólicas, como que Napoleón mismo era zurdo (o diestro), o que el Reino Unido, el enemigo de Napoleón, mantenía la izquierda. Es un hecho que Napoleón solo hizo norma en los territorios que gobernó la costumbre adoptada tras la [[revolución francesa]] de cambiar el sentido de la circulación imponiendo como medida simbólica lo que hasta entonces era propio de las clases inferiores: moverse al lado derecho para evitar ser arrollados al venir por la izquierda los carruajes y señores a caballo.<ref>[http://www.londresweb.com/conduccion_ingleses_izquierda.htm Conducción ingleses por la izquierda]</ref>

== Cambio de carril ==

Aún hay muchos ejemplos de tráfico rodado en los cuales se tiene que cambiar de lado al llegar a los cruces fronterizos, como los existentes entre [[Afganistán]] y [[Pakistán]], [[Frontera entre Laos y Tailandia|Laos y Tailandia]], [[Frontera entre Uganda y Sudán del Sur|Sudán del Sur y Uganda]], [[Frontera entre Brasil y Guyana|Brasil y Guyana]]. Tailandia es particularmente notable en cruces fronterizos, ya que es el único país de tamaño considerable que tiene casi todos sus límites con países que conducen por el lado opuesto. Circula por la izquierda, pero el 90 % (4357 km) de sus fronteras son con países que conducen por la derecha; solo [[Malasia]] conduce por la izquierda desde que [[Birmania]] (ahora Myanmar) cambió de conducir a la izquierda a conducir por la derecha en 1970.

Algunos países han cambiado el lado del camino en el que sus automovilistas conducen para incrementar la seguridad del tránsito fronterizo. Por ejemplo, antiguas colonias británicas en [[África]], tales como [[Gambia]], [[Sierra Leona]], [[Nigeria]] y [[Ghana]], todas han cambiado de la izquierda al tránsito por la mano derecha, dado que todas comparten fronteras con antiguas colonias francesas, que circulan por la derecha. La antigua colonia portuguesa de [[Mozambique]] siempre ha conducido por la izquierda, ya que todos sus vecinos son antiguas colonias británicas.

En la antigua [[Hong Kong británico|colonia británica]] de [[Hong Kong]] y el antiguo enclave [[Portugal|portugués]] de [[Macao]], el tránsito continúa siendo por la izquierda, a diferencia de [[China continental]], a pesar del hecho de que ahora son [[Región Administrativa Especial|Regiones Administrativas Especiales]].<ref>{{Cita web|url=https://www.worldstandards.eu/es/coches/sentido-de-la-circulacion/|título=¿Por qué en algunos países se conduce por la izquierda?|fechaacceso=2024-11-04|sitioweb=WorldStandards|idioma=es-ES}}</ref> Sin embargo, [[Taiwán]], antiguamente bajo gobierno [[Japón|japonés]], cambió a conducir por la derecha en 1946 después que el gobierno de la [[República de China]] asumiera la administración del territorio; lo mismo pasó en [[Corea]] (tanto en el Norte como en el Sur), una antigua colonia japonesa bajo ocupación estadounidense y [[soviética]].
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=== Foreign occupation and military transit===
Many countries have temporarily or permanently changed their rule of the road as a result of foreign [[Military occupation|occupation]]. Recent examples include [[Austria]], [[Czechoslovakia]] ([[Switch to right hand traffic in Czechoslovakia|details]]) and [[Hungary]] under German rule or military transit in the 1930s and '40s. The [[Channel Islands]] also changed to driving on the right under German occupation, but changed back after liberation in 1945. The [[Falkland Islands]] did the same under [[Argentine]] control during the 1982 [[Falklands War]], (although the Argentine government officially ordered the islanders to drive on the right, they often drove on the left to assert their defiance to occupation). [[East Timor]] changed to driving on the left under Indonesian rule in 1976, and continues the practice as an independent state.  The Japanese region of [[Okinawa]] changed from left to right under US occupation; after the occupation ended, it changed back to driving on the left to match the rest of [[Japan]].

== Vehicles ==
For safety reasons (and in some cases political or economic reasons), some countries have banned the sale or import of vehicles with the steering wheel on the "wrong" side.

In [[Australia]], with one exception, this is the case with non-vintage LHD vehicles, with the result that Australians who import such vehicles usually must pay sometimes thousands of dollars to convert them to RHD. The exception is for vehicles registered in the [[Australian Capital Territory]] (ACT); because the ACT is the seat of [[Canberra]], the national capital, more than a few diplomats bring LHD vehicles with them and are permitted to use them unchanged. This privilege has been extended to residents of the A.C.T. also.

In [[New Zealand]], LHD vehicles may be privately imported, and driven locally under a LHD permit. Since 1999, only LHD vehicles older than 20 years or cars owned and operated for at least 90 days may be privately imported.

In the [[Philippines]], RHD cars are banned. Public buses and vans imported from Japan are converted to LHD, and passenger doors are created on the right side. However, some vans keep their doors on the left side, leading to the odd (and dangerous) situation in which passengers have to exit toward oncoming traffic.

[[Cambodia]] banned the use of RHD cars, most of which were smuggled from [[Thailand]], from 2001, even though these accounted for 80 per cent of vehicles in the country. The government threatened to confiscate all such vehicles unless they were converted to LHD, in spite of the considerable expense involved. According to a [[BBC]] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1096303.stm report], changing the steering column from right to left would cost between US$600 and US$2000, in a country where average annual income was less than US$1000.

[[Archivo:Pyongyang Toyota Landcruiser.jpg|miniatura|300px|a RHD Toyota Landcruiser in front of a Pyongyang hotel]]

[[North Korea]], although it drives on the right, imported various used RHD vehicles from Japan, from tourist buses to [[Toyota]] [[Land Cruiser]]s for its army and secret police, and cars for high rank party members.

However, many [[grey import|used vehicles exported]] from Japan to countries like [[Russia]],  [[Peru]] are already converted to LHD. But even if the driver's position is left unchanged some jurisdictions require at least headlights readjustment.

[[Singapore]] bans LHD vehicles from being imported for personal local registration, but temporary usage by tourists of LHD vehicles is allowed. It is also notable that embassy vehicles in Singapore are exempt from the RHD-only ruling, and that there are few hydrogen and [[fuel cell]] powered LHD vehicles currently undergoing trials in Singapore.

In [[Taiwan]], Article 39 of the Road Traffic Security Rules ([[s:zh:道路交通安全規則|zh:道路交通安全規則]]) require a steering wheel to be on the left side of a vehicle to pass a inspection when registering the vehicle, so RHD vehicles may not be registered in Taiwan.

In [[Trinidad and Tobago]] LHD vehicles are banned except for returning nationals who were resident in a foreign country and are importing a vehicle for personal use.  LHD vehicles are also allowed to be imported for use as [[funeral]] [[hearse]]s.

In [[West Africa]], [[Ghana]] and [[Gambia]] have also banned RHD vehicles.

Most of the above bans on RHD and LHD vehicles apply only to locally-registered vehicles. Countries that have signed the 1968 [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic]] are not allowed to make such restrictions on foreign-registered vehicles. Paragraph 1 of Annex 5 states "All vehicles in international traffic must meet the technical requirements in force in their country of registration when they first entered into service". Therefore all signatory countries and most non-signatory countries allow the temporary import (e.g. by tourists) of foreign-registered vehicles, no matter which side the steering wheel is on. [[Oman]], which has not signed the [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic|convention]]. bans all foreign-registered RHD vehicles. [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386784]

Both RHD and LHD vehicles may generally be registered in any [[European Union]] member state, but there are some restrictions and regulations. [[Slovakia]], despite being a member of the [[European Union]], does not allow the local registration of RHD vehicles [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386757], even if the vehicle is imported from one of the four EU countries that drive on the left (UK, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta). If a LHD vehicle is registered in the [[United Kingdom]], then its headlights must be permanently adjusted to dip to the left, which often involves the lenses being replaced.

Most headlights are manufactured so that when dipped, they are aimed slightly towards the kerb side. In this way, RHD vehicles' headlights dip to the left and LHD vehicles' headlights dip to the right. Within Europe, when driving a RHD vehicle in a country that drives on the right or a LHD vehicle in a country that drives on the left, it is a legal requirement to adjust headlights so that they do not shine towards oncoming vehicles when dipped. This may be achieved by fixing adhesive blackout strips to the part of the lens that deflects light to one side, but an increasing number of vehicles, particularly those with [[xenon]] headlights, can be more simply adjusted by a lever or switch on the back of the headlights, whenever switching sides of the road. However, the requirement to adjust headlights is respected by a decreasing number of drivers, and is now rarely enforced by European police forces. In France, this is probably because, since amber-tinted headlights were abolished in 1993, foreign-registered vehicles have been much less conspicuous at night.

==Trains==
Trains often don't operate on the same side of the road as cars do. In France for instance, trains drive on the left, while cars go on the right. Moreover the exceptions of left or right hand driving are much more common for trains than for cars. Initially, most steam engines had RHD, with the engineer sitting on the right, and the conductor sitting on the left. This was customary in the UK and it spread to the USA and elsewhere in the world. RHD was never converted to LHD even if the trains switched to right-hand running. RHD remains the customary way for operating trains, with the engineer/driver on the right and conductor/assistant, sitting on the left side of the cab. Ironically, some railroads, particularly, the [[London Underground]], switched to LHD with left-hand running.

In countries with trains keeping to the right it is often said that RHD is safer, as it is possible, that something from a train passing on the left track (like opened cargo doors) may hit the train. In such case driver on the right is more safe than if he was sitting to the left.

Countries with trains generally keeping to the right (incomplete list)<ref name="brianlucas">http://www.brianlucas.ca/roadside/</ref>
* Canada 
* Denmark  
* Finland 
* Germany
* Hungary
* Netherlands 
* Norway
* Poland      
* Romania     
* Russia (except between [[Moscow]] and [[Ryazan]])
* USA         

Countries with trains generally keeping to the left (incomplete list)<ref name="brianlucas" />:
* Argentina
* Australia     
* Belgium       
* Denmark       
* France        
* Hong Kong     
* India         
* Ireland       
* Italy         
* Japan         
* Portugal      
* Singapore     
* Sweden        
* Switzerland   
* Taiwan        
* UK

==Boats==
Generally all water traffic keeps to the right. Although there are many exceptions, often indicated on the particular bridge itself.<ref name="brianlucas" />

==Priority==
:''Main article: [[Traffic#Priority|Priority in Traffic]]''

As well as the side of the road, priority rules also differ between countries. In the [[United Kingdom]], priority is always indicated by signs or road markings, in that every junction not governed by traffic lights or a [[roundabout]] has a concept of a major road and minor road. In most of [[Continental Europe]], the default priority is to give way to the right, but this default is overridden by signs or road markings on all but very minor roads. In France, until the 1980s, the "priorité à droite" (give way to the right) rule was employed at most roundabouts, in that traffic already on the roundabout had to give way to traffic entering the roundabout. Most French roundabouts now have give-way signs for traffic entering the roundabout, but there remain some notable exceptions that operate on the old rule, such as the [[Place de l'Étoile]] around the [[Arc de Triomphe]]. Traffic on this particular roundabout is so chaotic that French insurance companies deem any accident on the roundabout to be equal liability. [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Ireland|Irish]] drivers, who are accustomed to having right of way by default unless they are specifically told to give way, are often more confused by the default give-way-to-the-right rule used on minor roads in nearby [[Continental Europe]] than they are by switching sides of the road.

==Lanes==
:''Main article: [[Traffic#Lanes|Lanes in Traffic]]''

When driving on the right:
* The lane designated for faster traffic is on the left
* The lane designated for slower traffic is on the right
* Most [[freeway]] exits are on the right
* Overtaking (passing) is permitted to the left, and sometimes to the right.

When driving on the left:
* The lane designated for faster traffic is on the right
* The lane designated for slower traffic is on the left
* Most [[freeway]] exits are on the left
* Overtaking (passing) is permitted to the right, and sometimes to the left. In the UK "undertaking" (overtaking on the left) is illegal on motorways and dual carriage-ways.

==Places of interest==
=== Australia ===
For many decades Australia inflicted a "give way to the right" rule on its motorists, surprisingly the same rule as used in some countries with right-hand traffic. This rule required vehicles, even on major, multi-lane roads, to give way to another vehicle entering (however abruptly) from a side road and turning right onto the major road. As traffic densities and speeds increased the collision rate became too great and the rule was changed in the early 1980s, with turning movements made much safer by various combinations of line marking, signposting and the introduction of the "T rule". However, the old  rule can still apply in cases such as at unmarked rural crossroads.

This situation compares interestingly with the "give way to the right" rule in most countries of [[Continental Europe]], where a vehicle turning left (onto another road usually of similar hierarchy) can completely stop all traffic in the lane to its left while giving way to traffic on its right and waiting, however long, for a gap to move into.

=== Canada ===
Until the 1920s, the rule of the road in [[Canada]] varied from province to province, with [[British Columbia]], [[New Brunswick]], [[Nova Scotia]], and [[Prince Edward Island]] having cars driving on the left, and the other provinces and territories having motorists driving on the right. Starting with the interior of [[British Columbia]] on [[15 July]] 1920 and ending with [[Prince Edward Island]] on [[1 May]] 1924, these provinces changed to driving on the right. [[Newfoundland]] was not part of [[Canada]] until 1949, and its motorists drove on the left until [[2 January]] 1947.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alts.net/ns1625/automobiles.html#roadrule1923|título=Nova Scotia - Highway Driving Rule Changes Sides.}}</ref>

=== Caribbean ===
In many [[Caribbean]] islands where traffic drives on the left, such as the [[British Virgin Islands]], [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]], the [[Cayman Islands]], the [[Bahamas]] and [[Turks and Caicos Islands]], most passenger cars are LHD, being imported from the [[United States]]. Only government cars and those imported from Asia are RHD. The U.S. Virgin Islands are particularly known for having a high accident rate caused by American tourists from the mainland who are unfamiliar with driving on the left in their rental cars - the confusion from which is obviously compounded by using a LHD vehicle.

=== China (mainland) ===
{{main|Rules of the road in the People's Republic of China}}

Until 1946, driving in [[mainland China]] was mixed, with cars in the northern provinces driving on the right (probably to concur with [[Russia]]n practice, which was "keep right" from 1920), and cars in the southern provinces such as [[Guangdong]] driving on the left, probably a result of their proximity to the British [[crown colony]] of [[#Hong Kong and Macau|Hong Kong]] and the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[enclave]] of [[#Hong Kong and Macau|Macau]].

After 1946, China followed the [[#United States|United States]], by changing to driving on the right, due to political reasons that the [[United States]] helped China to fight against [[Japan|Japanese]] occupation during [[World War II]] and American cars (mostly LHD) were already popular in [[China]].

During the [[Cultural Revolution]] (1966-1976), [[Red Guards]] in some cities considered that to drive on the right side of road was to take the "rightist's route/policy", and they were said to have ordered vehicles to drive on the left side. Some also attempted to reverse the traditional meaning of traffic signals by having the red light mean "go" and the green light "stop". These two changes caused a great deal of confusion and resistance so both were abolished within several months. {{fact}}

=== Gibraltar ===
Although the British overseas territory of [[Gibraltar]] changed to driving on the right on [[16 June]] 1929, in order to avoid accidents involving vehicles from [[Spain]], some public buses until recently were RHD, with a special door allowing passengers to enter on the right hand side. However, most passenger cars are LHD, as in Spain, with the exception of second-hand cars brought in from the UK and [[Japan]] and some vehicles used by the British forces.

=== Guyana and Suriname ===
[[Guyana]] and [[Suriname]] are the only two remaining countries in the mainland [[Americas]] that still drive on the left. As a result of the construction of the [[Pan-American Highway]], four mainland American countries switched to driving on the right between 1943 and 1961, the last of which was [[Belize]]. Both Guyana and Suriname are separated from their neighbours by large rivers, over which no road bridges have yet been built. The inland south of both countries is sparsely populated with very few roads and hence no border crossings. However, in the south west of Guyana near [[Lethem]], work is underway to build the [[Takutu Bridge]] across the [[Takutu river]] into neighbouring [[Brazil]], which drives on the right. Unlike road bridges between other countries that drive on opposite sides of the road, the changeover system will unusually be in the country that drives on the left, i.e. Guyana, where one lane will pass under the other on the bridge's access road. Despite stalling construction in recent years, Brazil is keen to open the bridge, as it will give Brazil access to Caribbean sea ports on the north coast of South America. Brazil intends to limit Guyana registered (RHD) vehicles to no further than the Brazilian border town of [[Bonfim]], but it is expected that Brazilian (LHD) vehicles will be able to drive all the way through Guyana to the coast. Once opened, the Takutu Bridge will be the [[Americas]]' only border crossing where traffic changes sides of the road.

In Suriname most of the privately owned buses are imported from Japan, since they're already made of conform to driving on the left. Most state owned buses, however, are from the US and often the placement of the exits has to be adjusted.

=== Hong Kong and Macau ===
Being a former British [[colony]], [[Hong Kong]] follows the [[United Kingdom]] in driving on the left. [[Macau]], a former Portuguese [[exclave]], follows Hong Kong in driving on the left because most of the RHD cars in Macau are imported through Hong Kong. It is such a separate entity that Macau did not follow either [[Mainland China]] in 1946 or [[Portugal]] in 1928 in switching to driving on the right.

Under the auspices of the [[one country, two systems]] arrangement, traffic continues to move on the left in Hong Kong and Macau, now [[Special Administrative Region]]s of the [[People's Republic of China]], unlike in the [[mainland China|mainland]]. Most vehicles are RHD and even suppliers for the [[People's Liberation Army]] have specially made RHD version vehicles for the garrison to drive in Hong Kong and Macau. LHD exceptions include some buses providing services to and from the mainland. Vehicles registered in [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] are required to have a special number plate issued by the authorities in [[Guangdong]] province to drive legally on the mainland.

There are three road border crossing points between [[mainland China]] and [[Hong Kong]]. The largest and busiest is [[Lok Ma Chau]] ([http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hong+Kong&ll=22.520644,114.068867&spn=0.006694,0.012842&t=h&hl=en view it on Google Maps]), which features two separate changeover systems on the [[mainland China|mainland]] side. The next largest is [[Man Kam To]], where there is no changeover system and the border roads on the [[mainland China|mainland]] side simply intersect as one-way streets with a main road. There are two border crossing points between [[mainland China]] and [[Macau]]. The newer crossing point is the [[Lotus Bridge]], which crosses a narrow channel of sea between the [[mainland China|mainland]] and Macau, and was opened at the end of 1999 ([http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Macau&ll=22.140159,113.546813&spn=0.006712,0.012842&t=h&hl=en see photo on Google Maps]). The [[Lotus Bridge]] was designed to cater for high traffic volumes and features three lanes in each direction as well as a full changeover system on the [[mainland China|mainland]] side, comprising bridges that loop around each other by 360° to swap the direction of the traffic. At the older Macau crossing point, there is no changeover system and the border roads continue with traffic on the left on the mainland side, and simply intersect on to a roundabout. All of these Chinese changeover systems can be viewed in high resolution using [[Google Earth]].

=== Iceland ===
[[Iceland]] followed in switching traffic from left to right at 6am on Sunday, [[May 26]], 1968. The only injury from the changeover was a boy on a bicycle who broke his leg<ref>(''[[New York Times]]'', [[May 28]], 1968, p. 94)</ref>. Numerous buses were also stuck in traffic jams.

=== India ===
India adopted the practice of driving on the left hand side of the road, as a continuation of the colonial past. Drivers on Indian roads tend to disregard road safety in general and one could find the overtaking being done from any side which is relatively free of traffic. This is further exaggerated by the fact that most of the drivers tend to stay in the middle of the road.

=== Italy ===
Ancient Rome drove on the left.<ref name="brianlucas" /> In [[Italy]] the practice of traffic driving on the right first began in the late 1890s, but it was not until the mid 1920s that it became standard throughout the country. There was a long period when traffic in the countryside drove on the right while major cities continued to drive on the left. Rome, for example, did not change from left to right until [[20 October]] 1924. Cars had remained right-hand drive (RHD) until this time. [[Lancia]] did not produce LHD cars until as late as the early 1960s, and stopped making RHD cars altogether in 1994. [[Lancia]] is expected to start manufacturing RHD cars again in 2008.

=== Japan ===
[[Japan]] is one of the few countries outside the former [[British Empire]] to drive on the left. An informal practice of left-side passage dates at least to the [[Edo period]], when [[samurai]] are said to have passed each other to the left in order to avoid knocking swords with each other (as swords were always worn to the left side). During the late 1800s, Japan built its first railways with British technical assistance, and double-tracked railways adopted the British practice of running on the left. However, army troops were ordered to keep to the right while traveling on roads, creating a double standard that was not legally resolved until 1924, when all road travel in Japan switched to the left.<ref>http://www.2pass.co.uk/japan.htm</ref>

After the defeat of [[Japan]] during [[World War II]], [[Okinawa]] was occupied by the [[United States]] and made to drive on the right side. Okinawa changed back to driving on the left when it was returned to Japan. The change took place at 06:00 on [[30 July]] 1978. It is one of very few places to have changed from right to left side driving in the late twentieth century.

In Japan, foreign cars sold locally have traditionally been LHD, which is regarded as exotic or a status symbol. This even applies to British brands (although cars for the British market have the steering wheel on the right), in part because many have been imported via the US. However, some US manufacturers have made RHD models for the Japanese market, though with limited success; and as continental European brands become more popular, the preference is increasingly for LHD models (as all of continental Europe drives on the right, that is, their vehicles are LHD). Many tollbooths in Japan have a special lane for LHD vehicles.

=== Myanmar (Burma) ===
As a former British colony, cars in [[Myanmar]] (formerly [[Burma]]) drove on the left side until 1970, when the military administration of [[Ne Win]] decreed that traffic would drive on the right side of the road. It is alleged that this was because Ne Win had been advised by his soothsayer, who had said "move to the right", although this was in fact a reference to economic policy. In spite of the change, most passenger cars in the country today are RHD, being second-hand vehicles imported from [[Japan]], [[Thailand]], and [[Singapore]]. However, government limousines, imported from [[China]], are LHD. Virtually all vehicles are driven with a passenger in place to watch the oncoming traffic and inform the driver as to whether it is safe to overtake or not, as the driver cannot see this from his RHD position.

=== New Zealand ===
Even though New Zealand drives on the left, drivers must give way to traffic coming from their right at intersections. Thus, the give way rules have more in common with those of countries that drive on the right than of other countries that drive on the left.

=== Russian Federation ===
Although [[Russia]] drives on the right, cheaper [[grey import]] cars from [[Japan]] are more popular than LHD cars of the same class. Russia is estimated to have more than 1.5 million RHD vehicles on its roads. In the far eastern regions, such as [[Vladivostok]] or [[Khabarovsk]], RHD vehicles make up to 90% of the total. This includes not only private cars, but also police cars, ambulances, and many other municipal and governmental vehicles.

Considering that RHD vehicles by far outnumber the LHD ones (better suited to the rules) on the Pacific side of Russia, drivers in those regions have made multiple proposals about switching the sides of the road. However, they were denied by Russian government. During spring 2005, the rumour that RHD vehicles would be completely banned from the roads drove thousands of protestors to the streets everywhere in the country. On [[4 July]] 2005 Russian minister of industry and energy [[Viktor Khristenko]] announced that RHD vehicles would be allowed on the roads but would have to conform to all Russian traffic safety requirements.

=== Sweden ===
[[Archivo:Sweden1967.jpg|derecha|Stockholm on Dagen H]]

[[Sweden]] had left-hand traffic (''Vänstertrafik'' in [[Swedish language|Swedish]]) from approximately 1734, when it changed back from a short period of right-hand traffic starting in 1718. [[Finland]], under Swedish rule until 1809, also drove on the left, and continued to do so as a [[Russia]]n [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] until 1858.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/http://www.vardo.aland.fi/hogertrafik.htm</ref>

This continued well into the 20th century, despite the fact that virtually all the cars on the road in Sweden were LHD. (One argument for this was that it was necessary to keep an eye on the edge of the road, something that was important on the narrow roads in use at the time.) Also, Sweden's neighbours, [[Norway]] and [[Finland]] already drove on the right, leading to confusion at border crossings. 

In 1955 a [[Referenda in Sweden|referendum]] was held on the issue, resulting in an 82.9%-to-15.5% vote against a change to driving on the right. Nevertheless, in 1963 the [[Riksdag|Swedish parliament]] passed legislation ordering the switch to right-hand traffic. The changeover took place at 5am on Sunday, [[September 3]], 1967, which was known in Swedish as ''[[Dagen H]]'' (H-Day), the 'H' being for ''Högertrafik'' or right-hand traffic.

Since Swedish cars were LHD, experts had suggested that changing to driving on the right would be safer, because drivers would have a better view of the road ahead. Indeed, fatal car-to-car and car-to-pedestrian accidents dropped sharply as a result. However, the accident rate rose back to its original position within two years.

=== Finland ===

Although the traffic in Finland has driven on the right-hand side since 1858, and the cars have the steering wheel on the left side, some cars, especially the cars of the Post Office ([[Suomen Posti]]) have the steering wheel on the right side.

=== United Kingdom ===
[[Archivo:Drive-on-the-left-kent-1b.jpg|miniatura|350px|One of many road signs in the English county of [[Kent]] placed on the right hand side of the road]]
* Vehicles within [[United States visiting forces]] bases in the UK drive on the left, even though the US does not provide specific right-hand drive vehicles for their [[green fleet]]. But their [[white fleet]] does have right-hand drive vehicles. This is unlike British practice in Germany where even UK [[green fleet]] vehicles for [[British Forces Germany]] have been left-hand drive.
* On some [[British Army]] training locations, where the army once trained for conflict in Eastern Europe during the [[Cold War]], traffic is meant to travel on the right. Most military bases in the UK though have the normal rule of driving on the left.
* There are several locations in the UK where traffic passes other traffic coming in the opposite direction on the left hand side, but most locations are separated by a barrier (such as on the south side of [[Portman Square]] in [[London]]). In [[Savoy Court]] outside the [[Savoy Hotel]], among other places, however, there is no barrier.
* As a result of [[European Union]] legislation ensuring the free movement of goods, many British consumers exercise their right to buy RHD cars from car dealers in any other EU country, where they are often cheaper, despite originating from the same factories as UK-sourced cars.
* During the [[Lockerbie bombing|Lockerbie bomb]] trial of 2000-02, [[Scottish Court in the Netherlands|Camp Zeist in the Netherlands]] was decreed to be [[United Kingdom|British]] territory subject to [[Scottish law]]. However, [[Dumfries and Galloway]] Police, who were responsible for policing traffic movements within the compound, effected a clause which subjected drivers to the [[Continental Europe]]an practice of driving on the right.
* Although the [[United Kingdom]] is separated from [[Continental Europe]] by the [[English Channel]], the level of cross-Channel traffic is higher than any other place in the world where road traffic changes sides of the road; the [[Channel Tunnel]] alone carries 3.5 million vehicles per year between the UK and France. Most vehicles crossing the [[English Channel]], whether via the [[Channel Tunnel]] or on ferries, are UK-registered RHD vehicles. Relatively few drivers from [[Continental Europe]] take their LHD cars to the [[United Kingdom|UK]], but large numbers of British drivers take their RHD cars to [[Continental Europe]] for holidays and even for one-day shopping trips. It was reported in 2000 that [[Eurotunnel]] wished to build a second Channel Tunnel because the existing rail services are expected to outgrow their capacity by 2025. Unlike the existing rail tunnels, a drive-through road tunnel was planned, comprising a single bore tunnel containing one carriageway on top of the other. Each carriageway would have at least two lanes in each direction and it is likely that the rule of the road would change upon passing through immigration entry controls. When using the existing [[Channel Tunnel]], one passes through immigration entry controls of the destination country before entering the tunnel. This principle would no doubt also be used for a road tunnel, particularly to prevent any queuing of vehicles back into the tunnel. This being the case, vehicles travelling to France would keep to the right and vehicles travelling to the [[United Kingdom|UK]] would keep to the left. Therefore when exiting the tunnel, drivers would continue directly on to the road network in the destination country without stopping. The current status of this project is unclear.

=== United States ===
Since colonial times, traffic in the United States has always been on the right-hand side, which was greatly influenced by France, a "founder" of drive-on-the-right rule, which indirectly supported [[American Independence]] from [[Britain|British]] [[colony|colonial]] rule. There is a common story that this may be due to the construction of [[Conestoga wagon]]s, which had a high driver's seat on the left side. However, the Conestoga wagon does not date all the way back to the colonial period so this story is likely apocryphal. Many imported RHD cars are also found on the road in the U.S., especially [[classic car]]s or other collectors' items.

Today, U.S. motor vehicles are always LHD (except some postal service vehicles, garbage trucks, many parking enforcement vehicles and uncommon specialty vehicles), and motorists always drive on the right and overtake on the left, except in the US Virgin Islands.

American rules of the road sometimes permit [[Traffic#Overtaking|overtaking]] on the right side (multi-[[Traffic#Lane|lane]] [[highway]]s, one-way streets, or when overtaking other vehicles preparing to turn left). The laws vary from state to state.
-->

== Países y territorios en los que se conduce por la izquierda ==

[[Archivo:Peugeot 3008 GT Line (3BA-P845G06) interior.jpg|miniatura|derecha|Interior del [[Peugeot 3008]] con el volante a la derecha.|350px]]

=== África ===
* {{BWA}}
* {{LES}}
* {{KEN}}
* {{MWI}}
* {{MUS}}
* {{MOZ}}
* {{NAM}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{SHN}}
* {{SWZ}}
* {{SEY}}
* {{ZAF}}
* {{TZA}}
* {{UGA}}
* {{ZMB}}
* {{ZWE}}

=== América ===
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{BMU}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{AIA}}
* {{ATG}}
* {{BAH}}
* {{BAR}}
* {{DMA}}
* {{GRN}}
* {{GUY}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{CYM}}
* {{Bandera|GBR}} {{SGS}} 
* {{Bandera|GBR}} {{FLK}} 
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{TCA}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{VGB}}
* {{Bandera|Estados Unidos}} [[Archivo:Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg|21px]] [[Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos]]
* {{JAM}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{MSR}}
* {{SKN}}
* {{VIN}}
* {{LCA}}
* {{SUR}}
* {{TTO}}

=== Asia ===
* {{BGD}}
* {{BRN}}
* {{BHU}}
* {{Bandera|CHN}} {{HKG}}
* {{IND}}
* {{IDN}}
* {{JPN}}
* {{Bandera|CHN}} {{MAC}}
* {{MYS}}
* {{MDV}}
* {{NPL}}
* {{PAK}}
* {{SGP}}
* {{SRI}}
* {{THA}}
* {{TLS}}

=== Europa ===
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} [[Acrotiri y Dhekelia]]
* {{CYP}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} [[Archivo:Flag_of_Guernsey.svg|20px]] [[Bailiazgo de Guernsey]]
* {{IRL}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{IMN}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} [[Archivo:Flag_of_Jersey.svg|20px]] [[Bailiazgo de Jersey]]
* {{MLT}}
* {{UK}}

=== Oceanía ===
* {{AUS}}
* {{FIJ}}
* {{Bandera|NZL}} {{bandera2|Islas Cook}}
* {{Bandera|Reino Unido}} {{PCN}}
* {{SLB}}
* {{KIR}}
* {{NRU}}
* {{Bandera|NZL}} {{bandera2|Niue}}
* {{NZL}}
* {{PNG}}
* {{WSM}}
* {{Bandera|NZL}} {{TKL}}
* {{TON}}
* {{TUV}}

== Véase también ==
* [[Dagen H]]

== Notas y referencias ==
{{listaref}}

== Bibliografía ==
* ''Rule of the Road'', de Peter Kincaid, 239 páginas, publicado por Greenwood Press en 1986 - ISBN 0-313-25249-1.

<!--
==See also==
* [[International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea]]
* [[Road]]
* [[Traffic]]
* [[Hook turn]]

== Enlaces externos ==
* [http://www.brianlucas.ca/roadside/ Which side of the road do they drive on?]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/http://pielkenrood.fol.nl/x/indexri.htm Why Left or Right Traffic?]
* [http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html Why Don't We Drive On The Same Side Of The Road Around The World?]
* [http://www.geocities.com/jusjih/driving-rl.html Road Traffic Driving on the Right or on the Left]
* [http://uk.geocities.com/chris.davison@btinternet.com/Driving.htm  Safety aspects of driving on the left :]
* [http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/02sep/06.htm Federal Highway Administration research into 'wrong-way' accidents on multi-lane roads]
* [http://www.serve.com/CZBrats/Articles/left.htm When Left was Right] (Panama)
* [http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/driving%20on%20the%20left.htm Why do some countries drive on the right and others on the left ?]
* [http://www.tramz.com/py/as.html The Extraordinary Street Railways of Asunción, Paraguay]
-->

{{Control de autoridades}}
[[Categoría:Transporte por carretera]]