Is there a specific english law that says you must drive on the left hand side of the road?

Question

To settle an discussion(/argument) - is there such a law, if so what is it called?

Answer 1

Driving on the left first became law when the Highways Bill of 1835 was passed, following an earlier recommendation of the General Highways Act 1773, doubtless both of which have been added to by succesive Road Traffic Acts in more recent years to replace 'horse drawn carriage' with the word 'motor vehicle' instead.

As the first answerer rightly states, driving on the right would be classed as Dangerous Driving, and doubtless what you would be charged under.

Answer 2

It's part of the road traffic act.

Answer 3

No, course there aint. Go on the other side for a while. It'll make a change, wont it?

Answer 4

The Highway Code.

Answer 5

In England and Wales it is the Highways Act 1835 (sorry, I cannot remember the title of the Scottish equivalent Act)

(Please note that the respondent who quoted the Highways Bill 1835 is incorrect. A "Bill" is draft legislation being considered by Parliament - when it becomes law, it is called an "Act")

Answer 6

Yes there is. It's called the Road Traffic Act 1988.

If you read your copy of the Highway Code you will see that it refers to the Act at every opportunity.

Answer 7

"The Road Traffic Act 1988".  Read it!

Answer 8

I've no idea but you would soon come a cropper if you didn't!!

Answer 9

that would be driving against traffic.

Answer 10

To get back to answering your question - no.

The basic law of the road is -

When two vehicles approach each other from opposite directions, they must pass each other right side to right side (of the car, not the road).

There is no specific law preventing you from driving on the right at any other time.

Even a solid white line in the middle of the road doesn't prevent you from driving on the right - it only prohibits you from crossing it in order to overtake.

Of course, driving on the right (with nothing coming the other way) could be considered as dangerous driving, but that's not what you asked.

Answer 11

rules of the road ya silly sausage

Answer 12

as a muslim i feel it my duty to drive on the wrong side of the road.;

Answer 13

dangerous driving

Answer 14

Isn't it sad that there are so many people out there who give such asinine (similar to an @ss) for those of you who do not have the intelligence, answers to serious questions.

It actually became law in the Highway Bill of 1835, and the Highway code, a lot of which is law, states that driving on the left is the first rule of the road in the UK.

My source will give you more information.

Answer 15

Read the highway code,most road traffic acts/laws are in it