How did left-hand and right-hand traffic arise?

12.09.2016

In many Western countries, it is customary to drive on the right side of the road, which is in accordance with the traffic rules established there. However, some states hold different views. Driving on the left is practiced there. The list of “leftists” includes Great Britain, Japan, Australia and a number of other countries. It is not easy to explain such an unusual order of things, but there is an opinion that it all started with England.

Experts believe that in distant Foggy Albion, right-hand traffic on the roads was not accepted for the reason that ships then sailed exclusively on the left side relative to each other. Whether this is true or just another misconception is difficult to say for sure, but the fact remains that people are accustomed to driving cars according to the rules of both left-hand and right-hand traffic.

Steering wheel location in different countries

In European countries where only right-hand traffic is accepted, the steering wheel of the vehicle was initially located on the right side. This was also reflected in the layout of the engine. The carburetor and magneto were installed closer to the right side, which made it possible to reduce the length of the traction elements. However, with the advent of heavy traffic on the roads, the issue of safe maneuver when overtaking has become acute.

So that the driver could control the movement of oncoming cars, it was more convenient to position the steering wheel on the left side. Ford engineers were able to come to this conclusion and bring the idea to life. The first car with a new steering wheel design was the world-famous Model T, which was put into production in 1908.

Following the savvy Americans, Europeans also began to change the position of the steering wheel. However, some manufacturers of high-speed cars abandoned innovations for personal reasons.

Backhand

True, there is an assumption that it is not entirely correct to consider the root cause only convenience for soldiers, since the majority was still the civilian population. Military units could move on the left side, and ordinary people, giving way to them, stuck to the right - this made it possible to notice the detachment earlier.

According to another version, the habit of driving on the left was established thanks to another rule of etiquette. In horse-drawn carriages the driver sat at the top. Most people are right-handed. While driving the horses with a whip in his right hand, the coachman could accidentally hit passers-by. To avoid this, it was logical to drive on the left. This rule was established in the country in 1756, when the British Parliament passed the London Bridge Traffic Bill.

Countries with left-hand traffic

The situation with choosing the optimal travel option was radically different in different countries. World statistics show that the majority of Western European countries adhered to right-hand traffic. In Sweden, England, and also partially in Austria and Hungary, left-hand traffic was introduced. In Italy, each city had its own rules.

Today, in addition to England, it is customary to drive on the left side in Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. Driving on the left is most popular in Asian countries: Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Maldives. The hot African continent also has countries that drive on the left. These include South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

If you conduct a global analysis of the situation on the roads, the statistics are impressive. Despite the fact that right-hand traffic is considered prevalent, the total number of supporters of “left-wing” rules is about 34%.

Tokyo is not Moscow

A few numbers. It seems that the Russian and Japanese capitals are similar in many respects. Both megacities have historically developed a radial-ring structure; they are approximately equal in area. According to official data, the population of Moscow is almost 12 million people (in reality - more), the population of Tokyo is about 15 million. The population density in Moscow is 4,770 people per 1 km², and in Tokyo - 5,966 people.

The Japanese capital's vehicle fleet numbers 5.5 million vehicles; There are 4 million cars registered in Moscow, but over 1 million more come to the city every day from the Moscow region and other regions. This is where the similarities end, the differences begin. Because in Tokyo today there are 28 thousand km of roads, of which 2.8 thousand are expressways, and in the Russian capital the length of the entire road network is only 3.6 thousand km.

In the next three years, the Moscow mayor's office plans to build and reconstruct as many as 400 km of roads... In Tokyo, new roads are also being built all the time, but at a much faster pace. However, such wide highways as our Leningradka or MKAD are not being built there; new highways are a maximum of three lanes in each direction (usually two). The emphasis is on the versatility and length of new roads. That is, it is better to have two or three narrow roads that are moving than one grand highway that always stops.

The taxi driver must ask the passenger which road he prefers to take. The lower one is cheaper, the upper one is faster

Chinese cars: driving principle

Depending on the adopted travel option, the design features of modern cars may differ. When driving on the right side, the driver's seat and steering wheel are predominantly on the left. For left-hand traffic, the picture is completely mirrored.

In China, driving on the right is accepted, so Chinese cars are equipped with a steering wheel that is located on the left. Throughout the country, traffic rules apply on the right side with left-hand overtaking. However, unlike many European countries, when performing a maneuver in China, you not only need to turn on the turn signal, but also notify other drivers with a sound signal.

You can always buy high-quality Chinese cars of various models at an affordable price. We also provide warranty repairs for Chery, Geely and other Chinese-made cars.

Bus-san

Most workers in Tokyo commute to their skyscrapers by public transport. They have an extensive metro network at their disposal; Several lines belong to the state, but there are also private ones. There are many routes of city trains; they run on the ground or overpasses. A separate, rather large network has a monorail, which also began to be developed back in the 60s of the last century, before the Olympics. By the way, everywhere in the morning and evening it can be quite crowded; During peak hours, special metro employees even pack passengers into carriages. Therefore, on some lines you will find first class carriages and special carriages for women.

And how can we not mention the famous Tokyo taxi! A yellow and black Toyota Crown or Nissan Cedric will drive anywhere at any time of the day. But the passengers are increasingly foreigners: the locals think it’s expensive. This is probably true, but I still drove through the city at night in a taxi. Beauty! And the price... You know, no more than in Moscow.

The city is expanding due to the bulk islands. The modern Odaiba district is one of these, connected to other parts of the metropolis by several bridges and tunnels. Five minutes and you are in the very center of the capital.

In general, Tokyo through the eyes of Rousseau tourist is a city where the traffic problem has been solved. True, at what cost! It’s expensive to have a personal car in this city, but if you dare, you’ll go. Exactly. And no problem. Moreover, they were solved primarily not at the cost of restrictions, but through large-scale road construction. Plus high-tech intelligent motion control systems, but that comes later. All the largest megacities in Asia, primarily Chinese, are now trying to solve traffic problems using similar methods.

Russia is taking a different path - European cities are taken as a model. But they started solving these problems about fifty years ago, and we are tinkering with their old patterns and hoping that they will work in the 21st century. Alas. Meanwhile, the capital's mayor's office decided to reduce the highway construction budget by one and a half times, focusing on the reconstruction of existing ones. Plus paid parking.

Japanese policeman! Traffic in Japan

Speed Limit

You are not allowed to exceed the speed limit here—what’s on the sign is what’s on the speedometer.

For speeding by less than 20 km/h, the fine is 40 euros.

Another thing is that all their cameras are marked with large, visible signs, and the police do not measure speed or do so very rarely. Locals travel as they please.

Speed limit signs on highways

Speed limits in Greece are as follows (if there are no signs):

populated area - 50 km/h
outside populated areas - 90 km/h
motorways - 120 km/h

There are a lot of speed limit signs in Greece, most likely you will always know at what speed you can drive in a given area.

They say that everyone here is speeding. Many, but not all.

Everything here is like ours, some are dragging and some are rushing. There are crazy drivers in Audis and young people in old Peugeots, there are old guys in Mercedes, and girls in small three-door cars. Everyone drives differently. But, basically, everything is very cultural.

Features of road traffic and their difference from Russian rules

The fundamental difference and peculiarity of Japanese automobile traffic is that it is left-hand drive. That is, when making a right turn, you must give way to those driving straight ahead and to those turning left.

There are no differences in the operation of traffic lights in Russia and Japan.

But it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the speed limit in more detail:

up to 100 km per hour on toll roads;
up to 80 km per hour on expressways;
up to 40 km per hour in large cities;
up to 30 km per hour on non-main lanes and streets:
up to 60 km per hour on roads not equipped with speed limit signs.

You should always pay close attention to road signs. Many of them correspond to signs in the Russian Federation. However, you should be prepared that the duplicate inscription in English will only be in cities

In villages, all signs will be in the local language.

Important! The stop sign will look like a red triangle with the point down and written in Japanese.

Mandatory stops are required at the following locations:

on the stop sign line;
at a prohibitory (red) traffic light;
before the railway crossing.

Parking rules are identical to Russian rules, namely, only in specially designated areas. Appropriate road markings can easily help with this - they provide excellent guidance. In addition, multi-level parking lots have begun to appear in Japan, which significantly solves the problem of congestion and blocking the movement of incorrectly parked cars on the roadway. You don’t have to look for paid parking in the center of large cities - they are ubiquitous.

Important! For leaving a vehicle in a prohibited place, the driver will have to pay a substantial fine.

And, perhaps, the main rule. It is prohibited to drive while intoxicated. This rule is true for both Japan and Russia. Irreversible consequences cannot be avoided if this particularly important point is neglected.

You should familiarize yourself with all the peculiarities of the road traffic and start preparing the necessary documents for the trip in advance. And then your vacation will not only be full of new and vivid impressions, but there will also be no need to adjust plans due to the lack of any important permits.

Speed limits

Typical speed limits are 80 - 100 km/h on expressways, 40 km/h in urban areas, 30 km/h in side streets and 50 - 60 km/h elsewhere.

Drivers generally exceed the speed limit by no more than 10 km/h: Japanese drivers on the roads are generally very careful and law-abiding.

A huge headache for Japanese drivers is parking. The place is very difficult to find and the car parks are very expensive. Rent for dedicated parking spaces can cost as much as an apartment. Even then, cars are parked on special elevators. Supermarkets and large discount stores have their own rooftop parking lots.

Israel

But in Israel, even posing a danger to others, you can avoid having to pay fines when it comes to speeding. In this country, speeding is the same serious offense as in other countries, with the exception that speeding here can simply be explained to the police by saying that you were moving at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

The police will most likely release the driver after such a confession. After all, for Israelis the number 120 is considered a wish for long life, and spoiling the mood of the person who wished you long life with a fine is somehow indecent.