From left to right
On September 3, 1967, Sweden switched driving from left to right sides of roads. This has been the largest infrastructure project ever conducted in Sweden.
Rationale for the change
Historically, Sweden established its first driving regulation in 1718, which stipulated driving to the right side of roads. However, in 1734, it was overturned for driving to the left side of the roads. Driving on left side of roads was implying that people would cross each other on the left, allowing for their right hand to rapidly take their swords and respond to a threat in case of need. Therefore, left driving was perceived safer in these times...
This did not pose any problems until the traffic became increasingly international as both countries with a land border with Sweden, Finland and Norway, were both driving on the right.
Swedish authorities had long been convinced of the need to switch to righ driving, to the extent that around 90% of the cars in Sweden were equiped with a left-side steering wheel, anticipating the change.
But the change took forever to happen. The implications of a change of side was investigated as early as in 1927. The Swedish Parliament introduced proposals for the change in 1934, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1945 and 1953. However, this project encountered strong resistance from Swedish people. A consultative referendum conducted in 1955 resulted in 82.9% of the voters against the change. But the Nordic Council and the European Council increased the pressure on Sweden for the change and in 1963, the parliament voted with a large majority for the change to take place by 1967.
Preparation for the change
The impact of the change was huge. Road signs (360,000) and traffic lights had to be adapted, bus stops moved to the other side of the roads, traffic lines changed accordingly. Not to mention the changes in the buses (8,000) to allow boarding passengers from the right side. In the months preceding the change, new traffic lights and road signs were installed and hidden until H-day. New traffic lines were painted and hidden under black tape until H-day. Tramways almost disappeared in Stockholm, and buses were in part modified and replaced for the rest, the old one being given to Pakistan and Kenya. Large information campaigns took place, including the production of a song, Håll dig till höger, Svensson (see video) the manufacturing of H-day gloves, to remind drivers of the change.
Overall more than 20,000 staff contributed to the preparation.
H day!
On H-day, 3 September 1967, all non-essential traffic in Sweden was interupted from 1:00 to 6:00 in the morning and 8,000 staff were mobilised. All vehicle already on the road had to come to a complete stop by 4:50 and carefully move to the other side of the road by 5:00 and proceed. However, in the largest cities, the ban was extended from Saturday 15:00 to Sunday 15:00 to allow for the changes in traffic lights and road signs.
Impact
The change resulted in a decreased number of accidents, on the day itself, but significantly for couple of years as well. The number of fatal accident with pedestrians decreased dramatically and overall, the cost for car insurance dropped by 40% in the period following the change. Two years later, in 1969, the situation came back to the level prior to the change. THe modification of the buses to allow embarking passengers from the right represented the highest cost associated with the change.