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comment by swedishbadgergirl

Haha, Dagen H was hugely succesful and there was less traffic accidents that day because everyone was prepared. It is one of my favorite thing to bring up though because the fact that we switched sides later means we weren't conquered by napoleon.





ButterflyEffect  ·  3162 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Can you expand on how the switch relates to not being conquered by Napolean? Was part of Napoleanic colonialism the implementation of left side roadways? I'm not sure how I would Google that and am interested.

user-inactivated  ·  3162 days ago  ·  link  ·  

From this wiki article...

    In Continental Europe, driving on the right is associated with France and Napoleon Bonaparte. During the French Revolution, a decree of 1792 created a uniform traffic law, requiring traffic to keep to the "common" right. A little later, Napoleon consolidated this position by ordering the military to stay on the right side, even when out of the country, so that everyone who met the French army had to concede the way. In the early 19th century, those countries occupied by or allied to Napoleon – the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain – adopted right-hand traffic. Britain, Sweden, Austria-Hungary and Portugal continued or adopted left-hand traffic.

Maybe this has something to do with it!

swedishbadgergirl  ·  3162 days ago  ·  link  ·  

If I remember correctly it was french army ettiquet to ride on one side because of how they carried weapons back then and because of that the armies in conquered territories had to switch.

Or something like that.

someguyfromcanada  ·  3162 days ago  ·  link  ·  

After I mentioned that I thought I should tag #sweden mostly just to amuse you. :)

swedishbadgergirl  ·  3162 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I am very glad you did. I was very amused.

user-inactivated  ·  3162 days ago  ·  link  ·  

A lot of people in Sweden were already driving LHD cars anyway, right? So really it made sense. No matter where you are in the world, the driver should always be in the middle of the road! (Imported cars and country changes excepted!)

swedishbadgergirl  ·  3162 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It was getting a bit ridicoulous since we have land borders with several countries.

user-inactivated  ·  3162 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Ah yes. That would do it as well... Living on a giant island, I tend to forget all about land borders!