Different countries have varying driving rules, with the most common example being on which side of the lane you drive. Most countries drive on the right side, but there are some exceptions, such as the UK, Japan, or India, where you drive on the left. Anyone who has attempted to drive in a place where they drive on the opposite side to what they're used to knows how challenging it is to adapt. However, Sweden was able to shift its entire population overnight to change the side of the road they drive on.
This happened on September 3, 1967, or "H Day." This day marked the day Sweden switched from driving on the left side of the road to the right. But the preparation took many years, after long debates. By the mid-20th century, most of Sweden's neighboring countries drove on the right, and the majority of vehicles in Sweden were left-hand drives. This made aligning with the rest of continental Europe safer and more practical. The government first put up a public vote on the change, but most Swedes rejected it. The government decided to go forward with the plan, against the will of the people.
To achieve this, they created a campaign to promote "H Day" The campaign included widespread media efforts, such as catchy songs and slogans by top Swedish pop bands, as well as minor trial and road marking changes. Special "H Day" kits were given to all vehicle owners, containing items like headlamp converters and stickers to remind drivers of the change. On H Day, at precisely 5:00 AM, all traffic in Sweden stopped for one hour. During this time, vehicles were carefully directed to switch from the left to the right side of the road. At 6:00 AM, Sweden officially began driving on the right.
It's surprising to note that the changeover resulted in a temporary decrease in accidents, which is contrary to what many people had feared. The success of H Day highlights society's capacity to adapt to significant changes through proper planning and cooperation. It is an incredible example of how, with enough determination and coordination, it is possible to change the traditional ways of doing things in a very short time.
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