#Great molasses flood facts driver

All the countries in the British Empire followed this same rule. They made it official and mandatory in 1835. The United Kingdom persevered throughout it all and kept their left-side road driving. Only the countries that had denied Napoleon’s attacks kept their left side of the road rules. As he conquered different countries, they were forced to adopt the right-side rule. Napoleon spread driving on the right further. Denmark was the next major country to follow and adopted the right-side rule in 1793.

Later on, the aristocracy began using the right side of the road to blend in with the peasants, thus cementing France’s drive to the right. Before the revolution, the aristocracy traveled on the left side of the road, forcing peasants to the right. There was an interesting reason for this change.

An official rule for right-side driving was made in Paris in 1794. The practice became more widespread in 1789 during the French Revolution. In 1752, Empress Elizabeth of Russia officially declared that traffic must keep to the right, as was the custom for the country at the time.

#Great molasses flood facts driver

It also allowed the driver of the team to make sure he didn’t run into other wagons. This allowed him to drive the team with his right arm while keeping an eye out as people passed on the left. The products were carried in large wagons, and the driver would ride the rear horse on the left. The shift can be traced back to the 1700s when teams would haul farm products to market pulled by several horses. A rider could mount their horse on the left side of the road instead of in the middle where they could clog up traffic and make the peasant folk angry. In addition, a horse is easier to mount from the left side for a right-handed person. This enabled the swordsman to keep their right arm close to an opponent and their sword away from them on the left side of their body. Anyone with a sword preferred the left side of the road. It had to do with safety and security, and the avoidance of getting killed. In medieval days, most people used the left side of the road. What is the origin of driving on the left side of the road, and is it right or wrong?Ĭountries that continue to drive on the left side of the road are mainly those places that used to be British colonies. About 65% of the world drives on the right side of the road.