Which side of the road do you drive on in Scotland?
In Scotland we drive on the left side of the road, along with the rest of Great Britain and the UK. That’s the opposite side to most of Europe, America and many other parts of the world.
The history of driving on the left
The reasons date back to the days when people travelled on horseback with swords. Swordsmen would wear their sword in a scabbard on their left. Scabbards were rather large and stuck out to the side. Keeping to the left of the road would avoid them hitting passersby. It also meant their right arm was closest to the middle of the road, in case they met an opponent. Almost everyone used the left side of the road in those days. Over time, different countries had their own reasons for switching to the right. The UK, however, has held on to this tradition.
Driving in Scotland and Great Britain
If you are travelling here from a country that drives on the right, bear this in mind when deciding how you will get around here. If you are bringing your own car, your drivers seat will be on the left, closer to the edge of the road than the middle. This can make it more difficult to judge your position in the road. If you hire a car here, the drivers seat will be on the right, which might feel strange. Some travellers are happy and comfortable with the switch and get used to driving on the other side of the road very quickly. Others prefer to use public transport. Scotland is a well connected country with good bus and rail links. If you are travelling to remote areas, always check the transport options in advance.
