7060QCA Digital Design ObjectsMaster of Digital Design

Queensland College of ArtGriffith University

Lecturer: David KeaneStudent Name: Nastiti Mayawulan

Student Number: S2822152

Why do we drive on the left?

(and some others are on the right)“Road” is a picture taken by Peter Mazurek. Royalty-free with stardard restriction as stated in stock.xcgh.hu

(www.sxc.hu) terms and conditions. Retrieved from www.sxc.hu on 8th March 2012 at 07.40 am“Drive on Left” sign is a picture taken by Mat Connolley. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribute Share-alike 3.0 with permission to share and adapt the work. Retrieved from wikipedia.org on 8th March 2012 at 10.00 am

Different country, different rules

• Most of the countries in the world drive on the right (the driver is on the left)

• Others, including Australia, drives on the left (the driver is on the right)

“World map” is a picture taken by Robert Proksa. Royalty-free with stardard restriction as stated in stock.xcgh.hu (www.sxc.hu) terms and conditions. Retrieved from www.sxc.hu on 6th March 2012 at 08.00 am. Modified by Nastiti Mayawulan

Traffic in the early years

• Initially, the traffic was on the left.

(Scientific American magazine, November 1, 2001)

• The reason: right-handed trait 70-90% people of the world is right-handed

Traffic in the early years

• Initially, the traffic was on the left.

• United States, after gaining their independence, followed the idea.

18th century; French

Revolution

27 BC

Middle Ages(5th -15th century)

• Evidence: old Roman quarry tracks at Blunsdon Ridge, found by Bryn Walters in 1998 dated back to 27 BC. The ruts on the left side is more shallow than the right side Romans drove left.

• In the Middle Ages, horsemen tend to be on the left so if they met an acquintance, they can hold the reins in their left hand and shook hands with their right. If it was an unfriendly counterpart, they can drew their sword.

27 BC

Middle Ages(5th -15th

century)

Dawn of the right

• The usage of large wagon pulled by several sets of horses in 1700 by people in France and United States.

• No driver seat, so the driver would ride the horse on the left rear to control the horses and keep an eye on people travelling on foot on his left he kept the right side of the road.

18th century; French

Revolution

27 BC

Middle Ages(5th -15th century)

French Revolution and its impact

• Prior to the Revolution, the aristocrats took left for travelling, forcing the peasants to take right for their course. But after the Revolution, the aristocrats wanted to keep it humble and join the common people travelling on the right.

18th century; French

Revolution

27 BC

Middle Ages(5th -15th century)

Napoleon’s influence

• Napoleon imposed on driving right to the country and the majority of European mainland countries he overtook the French, Spanish and Portugese colonies in the different parts of the world were also taking right-side driving.

18th century; French

Revolution

27 BC

Middle Ages(5th -15th century)

• United States, after gaining their independence, followed the idea.

• Canadians used to drive on BOTH sides (teritories that were under French control were driving on the right whilst the British ones were driving on the left). In 1920s they were all switched to the right-side driving.

18th century; French

Revolution

27 BC

Middle Ages(5th -15th century)

British resistence

• Great Britain maintaining the driving on the left big wagons did not fit and never been ruled by France. Therefore, British colonies such as India, sub-Sahara African countries, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand drive left.

18th century; French

Revolution

27 BC

Middle Ages(5th -15th century)

What happen with Asian countries?

• Japan is left-sided because in mid 1800s, Gunboat diplomacy forced the Japanese to open their ports to the British and Sir Rutherford Alcock persuaded them to adopt the keep-left rule. In 1924 the keep-left driving was legalised.

• Korea drives on the right because it has been passed from Japanese colonial to American influence in the end of World War II.

• China was known to drive left in 1100 B.C, as being switched from left-side to right in 1946 since it has closer relationship with US than the British so they can imported American cars.

“Japan flag icon”, “China flag icon”, “Korea flag icon” are made by Nastiti Mayawulan

• Indonesia was introduced to left-side driving by the Dutch during their colonialism in 17th century. But even though The Netherlands then switched to right-side driving, Indonesians keep the left-side as their preference.

What happen with Asian countries?

• Thailand, a country which never experienced colonialism also drives on the left.

“Indonesia flag icon” and “Thailand flag icon” are made by Nastiti Mayawulan

Conclusion

• Initially, the traffic was left-sided, but more and more countries slowly changed to the right.

• Even though this change can be caused by the condition of the vehicle at the time, but it was clear that political situation gave strong influence of the changing.

• Thank you!