The steering wheel can be located on either the left or right side of a vehicle. These two configurations are known as left-hand drive (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD).
What Is Left-Hand Drive?
In a left-hand drive (LHD) vehicle, the steering wheel is on the left side of the cabin.LHD vehicles are mainly used in countries where traffic drives on the right side of the road, such as the United States, Canada, and most European countries.
What Is Right-Hand Drive?
In a right-hand drive (RHD) vehicle, the steering wheel is on the right side of the cabin.RHD vehicles are mainly used in countries where traffic drives on the left side of the road, such as the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia.
Left-Hand Drive vs. Right-Hand Drive
| Feature | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | Right-Hand Drive (RHD) |
|---|---|---|
| Steering wheel | Left side | Right side |
| Driver’s position | Left side | Right side |
| Traffic direction | Right-hand traffic | Left-hand traffic |
| Common examples | United States, Canada, most of Europe | UK, Japan, Australia |
The position of the steering wheel is mainly designed to match the local traffic system. This arrangement helps provide better visibility and control during normal driving and overtaking.
Why Do Cars Have Different Steering Wheel Positions?
The main reason is that countries follow different traffic systems. Countries that drive on the right side of the road generally use LHD vehicles, while countries that drive on the left side generally use RHD vehicles.
