linksverkehr

Linksverkehr, or left-hand traffic, is a road traffic system in which vehicles travel on the left side of the road. In countries that use linksverkehr, the driver sits on the right side of the vehicle (right-hand drive) to improve visibility of oncoming traffic and to position the vehicle toward the road center when overtaking or turning.

Globally, left-hand traffic is used by a significant portion of the world’s population, though the majority of countries drive on the right. It is common in the United Kingdom and Ireland, in many former British colonies in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Pacific, as well as in Japan and several overseas territories. Examples include Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Cyprus, Malta, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Seychelles, and numerous African nations such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda.

History and development: The practice dates to ancient and medieval transportation, with various local conventions for which side of the road to use. The modern distribution of left-hand traffic owes much to the British Empire, which standardized left-side travel in many colonies. In the 20th century, several countries with left-hand traffic faced pressures to harmonize with_right-hand_ traffic for cross-border traffic and vehicle standardization. Notable switches include Sweden in 1967 (Dagen H) and Iceland in 1968; these are often cited as the most significant recent changes.

Infrastructure and vehicles: In left-hand traffic systems, roads, traffic signs, and signals are designed accordingly, and most vehicles are right-hand drive. Changing from left to right involves substantial costs, including road redesign, sign changes, and a fleet transition.