Left- and right-hand traffic

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Left-hand traffic (LHT) and right-hand traffic (RHT) are the practice, in bidirectional traffic, of keeping to the left side or to the right side of the road, respectively. A fundamental element to traffic flow, it is sometimes referred to as the rule of the road. Many LHT countries were formerly part of the British Empire, although many were not, such as Sweden, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal and Suriname, among others. Conversely, many RHT countries were part of the French colonial empire.

Walter Sandza (born 9 August 1956) is a Puerto Rican alpine skier. He competed in two events at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Walter Sandza

Left-hand traffic (LHT) and right-hand traffic (RHT) are the practice, in bidirectional traffic, of keeping to the left side or to the right side of the road, respectively. A fundamental element to traffic flow, it is sometimes referred to as the rule of the road. RHT is used in 165 countries and territories, with the remaining 75 countries and territories using LHT. Countries that use LHT account for about a sixth of the world's area with about a third of its population and a quarter of its roads. In 1919, 104 of the world's territories were LHT and an equal number were RHT. Between 1919 and 1986, 34 of the LHT territories switched to RHT. Many LHT countries were formerly part of the British Empire, although many were not, such as Sweden, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal and Suriname, among others. Conversely, many RHT countries were part of the French colonial empire. In LHT traffic keeps left, and cars have the steering wheel on the right, putting the driver on the side closest to the centre of the road. Roundabouts circulate clockwise. In RHT everything is reversed: traffic keeps right, the driver sits on the left side of the car, and roundabouts circulate counterclockwise. In most countries rail traffic follows the handedness of the roads, although many of the countries that switched road traffic from LHT to RHT did not switch their trains. Boat traffic on rivers is effectively RHT. Boats are traditionally piloted from the starboard side to facilitate priority to the right.