@DriftxKingGTR Sweden was the only scandinavian country with lefthand traffic, none of the other countries in the area had lefthand traffic, thats why we did change to righthand traffic.
@dadsoldtapes It's about when Sweden changed from driving on the left to driving on the right side. A great deal of resources and coordination were required. After preparations of the roads and installation of new signs, which entailed a short suspension of non-necessary traffic (traffic other than busses, taxis, police vehicules, etc.), the instruction was that at 04:50 am on 3 September 1967 traffic was to stop and drive over to the right side; at 05:00 they could start driving on the new side
@dadsoldtapes The reason Sweden did this was to adapt to the continental traffic system and thereby create a safer traffic environment in Sweden for Europeans driving here and for Swedes driving in the rest of Europe, with the notable exception of the UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta where they have kept left driving; however most Swedes are driving in other European countries. The UK still has to live with safety problems from its left driving, in particular through foreign truckers and tourists.
@johanwinston Most cars in Sweden were also left-hand drive before the change. Also Sweden shares land borders with countries that were already driving on the right. The UK, Ireland Cyprus and Malta share no land borders with other countries. Driving on the left was once much more common in Europe, and yet mainland Europe has standardised on driving on the right rather than the left.
@Myrtone What do you mean "yet mainland Europe has standardised on driving on the right rather than the left"?
Most of mainland Europe drove on the right from the start, including important nations like France and Germany. The British lost this battle for standardisation like they lost to the French metrical system, which naturally makes more sense.
@johanwinston The Austro-Hungarian empire drove on the left and successor countries switched sides. Portugal also drove on the left and different parts of Spain, Poland and Italy drove on different sides. So much easier if France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands had switched to driving on the left, they would have been brought in line with the British Isles as well as Portugal and the Former Austro-Hungarian emprie.
@Myrtone First that doesn't make a majority of countries or people in numbers. But most importantly look at where European infrastructure is most developed today and even more so during the times when this was decided: yes Western continental Europe. France, Germany and Benelux had most horses and congested roads then and still have most cars and congested roads in Europe. To adapt to left-driving would have made no sense whatsoever. So quite naturally the world ended up on the right side :-)
5:30 - whether Christer Pettersson wasn't a 'högertrafik' supporter then...
OttovonEarth 3 months ago
WHY??? left hand driving is soo much better!!
DriftxKingGTR 4 months ago
@DriftxKingGTR Sweden was the only scandinavian country with lefthand traffic, none of the other countries in the area had lefthand traffic, thats why we did change to righthand traffic.
SirJensen1997 4 months ago
@SirJensen1997 oh i see. but i dont get how the cars were left hand steering and still they were going on the left before they changes :S
DriftxKingGTR 4 months ago
@DriftxKingGTR Yeah it must have been pretty complicated, especially when most cars had only rear-view mirror on the right side.
SirJensen1997 4 months ago
I remember the 3rd of Sept 1967 very well! It was when I was born LOL!
mikjon67 4 months ago
@mikjon67 you remember your birth that is kind off disturbing :S
radonas 4 months ago
@radonas I should remember it... I was there!!! I don't remember your birth because I wasn't there! SIMPLE!!!!
mikjon67 4 months ago
I don't speak Swedish, but can you perhaps translate what they are saying in the video?
dadsoldtapes 7 months ago
@dadsoldtapes It's about when Sweden changed from driving on the left to driving on the right side. A great deal of resources and coordination were required. After preparations of the roads and installation of new signs, which entailed a short suspension of non-necessary traffic (traffic other than busses, taxis, police vehicules, etc.), the instruction was that at 04:50 am on 3 September 1967 traffic was to stop and drive over to the right side; at 05:00 they could start driving on the new side
johanwinston 6 months ago
@johanwinston Yeah I knew all about that... I was just looking for a precise translation of the dialogue in the vid.
dadsoldtapes 6 months ago
@dadsoldtapes The reason Sweden did this was to adapt to the continental traffic system and thereby create a safer traffic environment in Sweden for Europeans driving here and for Swedes driving in the rest of Europe, with the notable exception of the UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta where they have kept left driving; however most Swedes are driving in other European countries. The UK still has to live with safety problems from its left driving, in particular through foreign truckers and tourists.
johanwinston 6 months ago
@johanwinston Most cars in Sweden were also left-hand drive before the change. Also Sweden shares land borders with countries that were already driving on the right. The UK, Ireland Cyprus and Malta share no land borders with other countries. Driving on the left was once much more common in Europe, and yet mainland Europe has standardised on driving on the right rather than the left.
Myrtone 5 months ago
@Myrtone What do you mean "yet mainland Europe has standardised on driving on the right rather than the left"?
Most of mainland Europe drove on the right from the start, including important nations like France and Germany. The British lost this battle for standardisation like they lost to the French metrical system, which naturally makes more sense.
johanwinston 5 months ago
@johanwinston The Austro-Hungarian empire drove on the left and successor countries switched sides. Portugal also drove on the left and different parts of Spain, Poland and Italy drove on different sides. So much easier if France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands had switched to driving on the left, they would have been brought in line with the British Isles as well as Portugal and the Former Austro-Hungarian emprie.
Myrtone 5 months ago
@Myrtone First that doesn't make a majority of countries or people in numbers. But most importantly look at where European infrastructure is most developed today and even more so during the times when this was decided: yes Western continental Europe. France, Germany and Benelux had most horses and congested roads then and still have most cars and congested roads in Europe. To adapt to left-driving would have made no sense whatsoever. So quite naturally the world ended up on the right side :-)
johanwinston 5 months ago