Here’s an interesting query from TheMoose on the Horizons Unlimited forums:

Was pondering today whether there are any countries that share borders but drive on the opposite sides of the road. What happens at the borders?

According to Wikipedia, “about 65% of the world’s population live in countries with right-hand traffic and 35% in countries with left-hand traffic.” With those numbers you might think there would be quite a few potential border lane change issues, but as it so happens many of the left-hand traffic countries are island nations.

And as mark manley points out, more than a few countries that share land borders and drive on opposite sides of the road don’t exactly have traffic jams lined up at the border crossings:

Iran into Pakistan there is so little traffic you just drive on which ever side has least potholes, the same Kenya into Ethiopia. Laos into Thailand there are signs reminding you to switch over. At borders you are usually pottering along at walking pace anyway so changes are made without drama.

This thread is also interesting in that it proves once again the validity of Bowman’s Injunction, which asserts that “as an online discussion about driving grows longer, the probability of an unprovoked attack on the driving habits of people from another region approaches 1.” It’s the lesser known cousin of Godwin’s Law. Much lesser known. Virtually unknown until this very moment, in fact.

g6snl proves the injunction in post #8 with a side swipe at Indian drivers (but you can substitute Boston, Texas, etc and it works just as well):

Does anyone know if India have decided which side they want to drive on yet?

Ever had any particularly interesting/hairy border crossings involving lane changes? Please share in the comments section below.