The rule of ‘steering’ of Indian cars was determined by the grip of the sword! Know the history of ‘right hand drive’!

In India we drive on the left side of the road and our cars have the steering wheel on the right side, called ‘Right Hand Drive’ (RHD). In contrast, in America or Europe, people drive on the right side of the road and there are ‘left hand drive’ (LHD) cars. Why is there a rule of driving on the left side and steering on the right side in India? There is no scientific rule behind this, but centuries old history is hidden.

History of Swordsmanship and Horsemanship

The observance of this rule is directly linked to medieval horsemanship. Most warriors in those days were right-handed. When they traveled on horseback, their right hand was always on the sword to fight the enemy coming from the road. By traveling on the left side, the enemy coming from the front would come within range of their right hand i.e. the sword. So it was considered safer to walk on the left side for protection.

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British Rule and Rule of India

As Britain expanded its empire around the world in the 1700s and 1800s, it applied the same rule of driving on the left in its colonies. In India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, British rule introduced left-hand traffic.

When modern motor cars came on the market, the steering wheel was installed on the right side of cars for left-hand traffic, so that the driver could clearly see oncoming cars in the middle of the road and make overtaking easier.

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What the law of India says?

After independence, India adopted ‘Right Hand Drive’ as the official system of India under the Central Motor Vehicle Act (CMVR). Left hand drive cars do not get registration for general use in India. If such a car is imported from abroad, its steering has to be changed to right hand side within a certain period of time, as Indian road, signal and overtaking rules are designed for right hand steering only.

In short, this historical practice left by the British in India has become one of the most important foundations of our road safety today!