10 Bizarre Origins Of Everyday Traditions That Will Blow Your Mind

5. Driving On The Left/Right

The Tradition Today: In most countries in the world, it€™s standard to drive on the right side of the road, but about 35% of countries €“ the UK included €“ still have left-handed traffic, which was actually the original way that traffic flow was managed. These standards are fundamental to manage the flow of traffic and to minimize collisions... Where It Came From: ...But as it turns out, minimizing injury was not even close to the original intent of the rule of the road. Starting from the days of ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome, the keep-left rule was implemented to allow for ample sword-waving and general murdering if hit with a bout of pre-automobile road rage. This was instituted so that if two men riding on horseback wanted to start a fight, they would be able to draw their swords from their right (again, because lefties are devil-spawn and nobody cares about us) and maintain a defensive position. This was so important that it was later codified into law. The widespread change to right-handed traffic has little to do with the receding of humanity€™s collective homicidal tendencies. In Europe, much of it was apparently attributed to Napoleon instating a keep-right rule, but in good ol€™ America, the traffic flow was changed with the modernization of roadside brawls: since travelers kept their guns in the hollows of their left arms, travelling to the right would serve the same purpose as the ancient Romans€™ left-hand rule. This, coupled with wagons requiring drivers to sit towards the left in order to properly wield a right-handed whip, spread the right-hand rule to the colonies.