“I’ve noticed that cars in Spain have the steering wheel on the left side, while in the UK it’s on the right side. Why is that? Is it just because of the way the country drives, or is there a specific reason for this difference?” Why Do Spanish Cars Have the Steering Wheel on the Opposite Side (Compared to the British)?
The reason why Spanish cars (and most cars in Europe) have the steering wheel on the left side while in the UK, it’s on the right, is rooted in the driving system that each country follows, as well as historical and cultural influences. Let’s explore the background behind this difference.
1. The Driving System: Right Side vs. Left Side
The main factor behind where the steering wheel is placed in a car is the side of the road that a country drives on. Most of Europe, including Spain, drives on the right side of the road, which means the steering wheel is on the left side of the car. In contrast, the UK, Japan, and some other countries drive on the left side of the road, so the steering wheel is on the right side.
2. The Historical Influence of Napoleon and the French Revolution
The reason Spain drives on the right side of the road has its roots in Napoleon’s era, as we mentioned earlier. During the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte spread the practice of driving on the right side of the road across much of Europe.
This shift was largely practical: most people are right-handed, and it was easier for right-handed individuals to drive on the right side, where they would have the dominant hand closer to the center of the road, making it easier to control the vehicle.
Spain, like many other European countries, adopted this system during Napoleon’s rule and continued using it even after his empire fell. As a result, Spanish cars have the steering wheel on the left side, aligning with the rest of mainland Europe.
3. The UK’s Different Historical Path
On the other hand, the United Kingdom retained a different system, where people drive on the left side of the road. This tradition dates back to the days of horse-drawn carriages, and it was a time when people generally preferred to travel on the left side so that their right hand (the dominant hand for most people) was free to defend themselves if necessary. British knights and soldiers also carried their swords on the left side, and traveling on the left allowed them to keep their sword-hand ready.
The UK kept this left-side driving system, and as motor vehicles became more common, the tradition carried over into the design of cars. In the UK, cars are therefore designed with the steering wheel on the right so that the driver is positioned on the left side of the road, making it easier to navigate and turn.
4. Modern Car Manufacturing
When cars are manufactured for countries with right-side driving (like Spain), the steering wheel is always placed on the left side. For countries with left-side driving (like the UK), the steering wheel is placed on the right.
Car manufacturers produce different models depending on the driving system of each country. For example, a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf made for Spain will have the steering wheel on the left, while the same model sold in the UK will have it on the right.
5. Other Factors: Safety and Convenience
The position of the steering wheel is also related to visibility and safety. In right-side driving countries (like Spain), the driver sits on the left side of the car to ensure they have better visibility of oncoming traffic and pedestrians when making turns, especially to the right. The same applies in left-side driving countries like the UK, where sitting on the right side of the car helps with visibility and maneuvering in traffic.
Why Do Spanish Cars Have the Steering Wheel on the Left?
In Spain, as in most of Europe, cars have the steering wheel on the left side because Spain drives on the right side of the road. This practice dates back to the early 19th century when Napoleon Bonaparte spread the right-side driving system across much of Europe. The UK, in contrast, drives on the left side of the road, and cars in the UK are therefore designed with the steering wheel on the right to match the local driving customs.
So, while it may seem strange if you’re used to driving in a left-side driving country, it’s simply a result of the country’s driving system and the historical evolution of driving norms.