Sweden's 1967 Switch to Right-Hand Traffic

Country A requires all vehicles to drive on the left side of the road, while Country B requires all vehicles to drive on the right. Both countries have safe and efficient road networks. What does this comparison primarily reveal about the nature of such rules?

The fact that some countries mandate driving on the left while others mandate driving on the right is primarily because one side has been proven to be inherently safer and more efficient than the other.

Establishing a New Traffic Convention

Match each country to its mandated side of the road for driving, based on common traffic conventions.

The Importance of Traffic Conventions

The Rationale for Uniform Driving Conventions

While specific driving-side rules vary globally—for instance, on the left in the United Kingdom and on the right in France—the essential function of any such government-mandated rule is to establish a single, predictable ____ that all drivers must follow to ensure safety and order.

A newly formed, isolated community begins using automobiles for the first time. However, no official rule has been established regarding which side of the road to drive on. As a result, individual drivers choose a side based on their own judgment in the moment. What is the most direct and critical economic problem this community will face?

Evaluating a Change in Traffic Convention

A major highway connects two countries: Country L, where the rule is to drive on the left, and Country R, where the rule is to drive on the right. To ensure a safe and orderly flow of traffic across the border, what is the most critical piece of infrastructure needed at the crossing point?