Curiosity Crossing: Unique events you've never heard of!

Sweden made a bold decision to switch from driving on the left side of the road to the right in the 1950s. This change was called “Hogertraffikomlagningen” or “Dagen H.” The decision to switch sides was not made just to shake things up, but rather to address a number of factors. For example, all of the countries surrounding Sweden drove on the right side of the road, which made crossing borders difficult and led to many collisions. Additionally, most cars were equipped for left-side driving, which created a blind spot on the right side of the car. The Swedish Parliament approved the proposal despite the fact that 83% of the population wanted to continue driving on the left. The government launched a four-year educational program managed by the State Right Hand Traffic Commission to help prepare people for the switch. The program featured brochures, flyers, and other materials, as well as trainings for police officers. Logistically, the switch required a lot of work. Thousands of cars needed to be converted for right-hand driving, and approximately 350,000 signs had to be removed or replaced. On Dagen H, not essential traffic was banned from 1 o’clock to 5 o’clock in most areas, and all vehicles were required to stop and switch sides at exactly 4:50. After that, they had to wait until 6 o’clock to resume their travel. Despite initial opposition and logistical challenges, the switch was ultimately successful. Collisions dropped by 40%, and passing on narrow roads became easier due to the right-hand drive steering wheels. While there were 157 accidents and 32 injuries during the switch, this was still considered a huge accomplishment given the scale of the operation. The Swedish government’s decision to switch sides of the road was a bold move that ultimately led to safer and more efficient driving on Sweden’s roads. The change didn’t last though, and the number of accidents returned to its original level quickly.

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