Which countries drive on the left?
The table lists only countries where an official page, opened on 23 September 2026, states that traffic keeps left. Each row links that page and the most useful local warning it gives, plus our own country guides. Other countries also drive on the left; they are missing here because we did not confirm them today, not because they drive on the right.
| Country | Official statement | Local warning from the same source | Our guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Highway Code rule 160: keep to the left | Speeds in mph, not km/h | Edinburgh rental and driving on the left, North Coast 500, London Congestion Charge and ULEZ |
| Ireland | RSA: traffic drives on the left | Speeds in km/h, unlike Northern Ireland | Renting in Ireland, M50 toll, Wild Atlantic Way |
| Malta | US State Dept: vehicles drive on the left | Narrow, winding roads; poor visibility on bends; flooding | Renting in Malta |
| Cyprus | US State Dept: traffic moves on the left | Southern-zone insurance not valid in the north | Renting in Cyprus |
| Japan | National Police Agency: drive on the left and keep to the left side | Full stop and look both ways at stop signs | Accepted IDPs, Osaka tolls and ETC, Hokkaido winter, Okinawa |
| Australia | US State Dept: left side, all vehicles right-hand drive | Kangaroos and road trains in rural areas | Melbourne hook turns, Sydney tolls, Perth outback |
| New Zealand | US State Dept: all traffic moves on the left | Wrong-side driving is the leading cause of serious injury and death for US travellers there | Renting in Christchurch, Queenstown alpine roads |
| Thailand | US State Dept: traffic moves on the left | — | Renting in Phuket, Police fines in Chiang Mai |
| Malaysia | US State Dept: traffic moves on the left | Motorcyclists weave and ride on pavements | Renting in Malaysia |
| Singapore | US State Dept: driving is on the left | — | — |
| India | US State Dept: traffic moves on the left | — | — |
| Sri Lanka | US State Dept: drive on the left-hand side | Unmarked one-way streets; ox carts and buses share the road | Permits and self-drive |
| Mauritius | US State Dept: cars drive on the left | Narrow roads with deep ditches; unlit cyclists at night | Renting in Mauritius |
| South Africa | US State Dept: traffic drives on the left, steering wheel on the right | Traffic lights often out of order; avoid night driving outside cities | Renting in Cape Town |
| Namibia | US State Dept: traffic drives on the left | Tourist single-vehicle rollovers on gravel | Windhoek 4x4 and gravel roads |
| Botswana | US State Dept: traffic circulates on the left | Free-range livestock on the road | Self-drive safari |
The US State Department pages are written for American travellers, which is why several of them warn that this is "the opposite side" from home. The warnings in the fourth column are what each page stresses, not a full list of risks.
How do roundabouts work when you drive on the left?
You go around them clockwise. In every left-hand country checked here, the rules come down to the same two moves: enter by turning left, and give way to traffic that is already on the roundabout, which is coming from your right.
- UK: Highway Code rule 185 says to give priority to traffic approaching from your right unless signs, markings or lights say otherwise. Rule 186 says to approach in the left lane and signal left for the first exit, and to approach in the right lane and signal right for exits to the right, keeping right on the roundabout until you move over to leave.
- Ireland: the RSA's tourist guide says that by law you enter a roundabout by turning left and give right-of-way to traffic already on it.
- Australia (NSW): Transport for NSW says to give way to all vehicles already in the roundabout, and to signal left when exiting if it is practical.
The instinct to fight is looking left as you arrive. Look right first, because that is where conflicting traffic comes from, then check left for anyone about to leave.
Why is turning right the hardest move?
On the left, the right turn is the one that crosses oncoming traffic, like the left turn at home. It is also the turn where drivers fresh from right-hand countries end up on the wrong side of the new road.
- The UK Highway Code (rules 179 and 180) says to check your mirrors, signal right, and wait for a safe gap in oncoming traffic before you turn.
- Japan's National Police Agency says vehicles going straight or turning left have priority when you turn right, and tells you to wait with your indicator on until pedestrians and oncoming vehicles have passed.
After a right turn, aim for the left-hand lane of the new road. Left turns are short and tight, so keep them that way and do not swing wide into the far lane.
Where do right-side drivers make mistakes?
The table puts the rules together with the local warnings above and what you control, such as rest, timing and the type of car. It shows when you are most likely to slip back into right-hand habits and what to do about it.
| Moment | What your home reflex does | Rule that applies | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaving the rental car park | Pulls into the right lane of an empty road | Keep left (UK rule 160; same in every country above) | Say "left" aloud at every exit; keep the driver's side next to the centre line |
| Roundabout entry | Looks left, turns right | Give way to traffic from the right or already on the roundabout | Look right first; enter turning left |
| Right turn across traffic | Cuts into the right lane of the new road | Give way to oncoming traffic, then turn | Wait for a gap and aim for the left lane |
| Turning at a junction with walkers | Watches cars, not people | Give way to pedestrians crossing the road you turn into (UK rule 170); pedestrians have priority (Japan) | Scan the crossing before you commit to the turn |
| Rural roads at night | Carries on driving after dark | State Dept advice to avoid night driving outside cities in Namibia and South Africa | Plan to arrive before dark, especially on day one |
| Crossing between UK and Ireland | Reads the number on the sign as usual | UK limits in mph; Ireland in km/h | Check your speedometer's unit when you cross the border |
Pedestrians make the same mistake in reverse. Visitors from right-hand countries tend to look left before stepping off the kerb, which is the wrong way on a left-hand road. Expect them to step out from your left, especially near stations and tourist sights.
Worked example: first hour after landing in Dublin
You land after a night flight and have booked a manual car. The trip starts on a motorway where the RSA limit is 120 km/h, and you will meet roundabouts that you enter to the left while giving way to traffic already on them.
- Change the car first. In a right-hand-drive car the gearstick is on your left, so a manual adds a second new habit. Ask for an automatic; availability and price depend on the rental company.
- Change the timing. The same RSA guide says never to fight sleep at the wheel and suggests a coffee plus a nap of about 15 minutes if you are tired. After an overnight flight, it is better to sleep first and pick up the car the next morning.
- Change the route. Choose a first leg with few junctions and practise the right-turn routine on quiet roads before city traffic.
With all three changes, you face each new element once and on its own. Without them, you meet an unfamiliar gearstick, clockwise roundabouts and motorway speeds all in the first hour, while tired.
Adapting in the first days
Licence and permit rules differ by country and are covered in each country guide linked in the table, for example which International Driving Permits Japan accepts.