Each country has specific rules for uniform road traffic flow.  A country either follows left-hand traffic (LHT) rule in which traffic keeps to the left side of the road, or right-hand traffic (RHT) rule in which traffic keeps to the right of the road. Botswana implements LHT rule for its traffic.

The majority of countries now drive on the right, using left hand drive (LHD) vehicles. This includes most of the major automobile manufacturers, with the notable exceptions being Japan and UK. Globally, about 35% of the population drives on the left, and the countries that do are mostly former British or Portuguese colonies. Since Botswana was a former British colony, it still drives on the left.

In Africa, only 14 countries practice left-hand traffic (LHT) for their roads, while 41 countries and territories implement right-hand traffic (RHT). 

LHT countries almost always use RHD vehicles. The steering wheels of these cars are located on the right-hand side, and hence they are known as right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles. The driver here sits on the right side of the car, and uses the left hand to shift the gears. Cars go around roundabouts in clockwise direction. Overtaking is usually done from the right, and it is not permitted to stop on the right-hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic. Most traffic signs facing motorists are on the left side of the road in these countries.

Conversely, RHT countries usually use LHD vehicles, in which the steering wheel is on the left hand side. The driver sits on the left and uses the right hand to change gears. People go around the roundabouts in anticlockwise direction in such countries. 

For a wide selection of affordable RHD vehicles, visit Motorokara.com – Botswana’s leading online automotive portal. The site offers not just vehicles, but also insurance, loans and spares for your vehicles at pocket-friendly prices. So, the next time you think of cars, bikes, or trucks, visit Motorokara.com for the best deals from the comfort of your home!

Below is a list of African countries and the side of the road on which they drive.    

Countries that follow LHT in Africa:

1    Botswana
2    Eswatini (Swaziland)
3    Kenya
4    Lesotho
5    Malawi
6    Mauritius
7    Mozambique
8    Namibia
9    Seychelles
10    South Africa
11    Tanzania
12    Uganda
13    Zambia
14    Zimbabwe

Countries that follow RHT in Africa:

1    Algeria
2    Angola
3    Benin
4    Burkina Faso
5    Burundi
6    Cameroon
7    Cape Verde
8    Central African Republic
9    Chad
10    Comoros
11    Côte D'Ivoire
12    Democratic Republic Of Congo
13    Djibouti
14    Egypt
15    Equatorial Guinea
16    Eritrea
17    Ethiopia
18    Gabon
19    Gambia
20    Ghana
21    Guinea
22    Guinea-Bissau
23    Liberia
24    Libya
25    Madagascar
26    Mali
27    Mauritania
28    Morocco
29    Niger
30    Nigeria
31    Republic Of Congo
32    Rwanda
33    Senegal
34    Sierra Leone
35    Somalia
36    South Sudan
37    Sudan
38    São Tomé And Príncipe
39    Togo
40    Tunisia
41    Western Sahara