Left-Hand Driving In Afghanistan: A Unique Road Experience

Afghanistan is a country where vehicles drive on the right side of the road. This is different from most former British colonies, which tend to drive on the left. In Afghanistan, some cars have their steering wheels on the left, while others have them on the right. The traffic police view right-hand drive cars as a major cause of accidents, as drivers cannot see far ahead and may swing out into oncoming traffic. In 2006, the Afghan government commissioned a company to convert all right-hand drive cars to left-hand drive, but the work was delayed due to contractual disputes.

Afghanistan was LHT until the 1950s, in line with Pakistan (a former part of British India)

Afghanistan was a left-hand traffic (LHT) country until the 1950s, in line with Pakistan, a former part of British India. In LHT countries, traffic keeps to the left side of the road, and cars usually have the steering wheel on the right.

In Kabul, Afghanistan, there is a curious mix of vehicles with steering wheels on the left and the right. This is because some vehicles are imported from Dubai, which has left-hand drive (LHD) cars, while others are imported from Japan via Pakistan, which has right-hand drive (RHD) cars.

In 2006, the Afghan Traffic Police ordered all cars with right-hand steering to undergo conversion to LHD, as they were deemed a major cause of accidents. The Traffic Department set a deadline of April 2005 for the changeover, but it did not happen. The government then commissioned a company to carry out the modifications, but the work was delayed due to contractual disputes and concerns over safety standards.

In 1955, Kabul adopted right-hand traffic (RHT), which is used in 165 countries and territories, mainly in the Americas, Continental Europe, Northern Africa, and mainland Asia. Historical switches in traffic handedness are often motivated by changes in political administration, a desire for uniformity with neighbouring states, or the availability and affordability of vehicles.

Kabul adopted RHT in 1955

Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, adopted RHT in 1955. This was a significant change for the country, as it had been driving on the left since the 19th century.

In the 19th century, Afghanistan was under the rule of the Sadozai monarchy, which governed the Afghan Durrani Empire. This was considered the founding state of modern Afghanistan. The Sadozai monarchy was followed by the Durrani Empire, which was considered the foundational polity of the modern Afghan nation-state.

During this time, Afghanistan was a buffer state in the Great Game between the British Empire and the Russian Empire. The British attempted to subjugate Afghanistan but were repelled in the First Anglo-Afghan War. However, the Second Anglo-Afghan War saw a British victory, and the successful establishment of British political influence.

Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, Afghanistan became free of foreign political hegemony and emerged as the independent Kingdom of Afghanistan in June 1926 under Amanullah Khan. This monarchy lasted almost half a century, until Zahir Shah was overthrown in 1973, following which the Republic of Afghanistan was established.

Since the late 1970s, Afghanistan's history has been dominated by extensive warfare, including coups, invasions, insurgencies, and civil wars. The conflict began in 1978 when a communist revolution established a socialist state, and subsequent infighting prompted the Soviet Union to invade Afghanistan in 1979.

The adoption of RHT in Kabul in 1955 was likely influenced by the country's political and colonial history, as well as regional practices and decisions.

The majority of vehicles in Afghanistan have their steering wheels on the right

Afghanistan is a right-hand traffic (RHT) country, meaning that vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. In countries where RHT is the norm, the driver's seat is usually on the left-hand side of the car.

In Afghanistan, however, the majority of vehicles have their steering wheels on the right, which is more typical of left-hand traffic (LHT) countries. This anomaly is due to the import of vehicles from neighbouring countries. While cars imported from Dubai's wholesale markets are left-hand drive, those coming from Pakistan are right-hand drive, as they originate from Japan.

The prevalence of right-hand drive cars in Afghanistan has been a cause for concern among the country's traffic police, who view them as a major cause of accidents. Right-hand drive cars restrict the driver's field of vision, making it difficult to see far ahead and potentially causing them to swing out into oncoming traffic. In 2003, Afghanistan's traffic chief, Abdul Shakoor Kherkhawa, claimed that 85% of all traffic accidents were due to right-hand drive vehicles. A deadline was set for April 2005 to convert all cars to left-hand drive, but this was not met.

The Afghan government has since commissioned a company to carry out the modifications, but the work has been delayed due to contractual disputes. The company, Shahin Technical Service, has begun converting Toyota Super Custom vans and plans to expand its operations to other vehicles and cities. The conversion process takes around five hours and costs between $600 and $3,000.

Despite the government's efforts, some drivers remain hesitant to make the change. They cite concerns about the quality of the modifications and the potential for mechanical risks, including steering wheel locks, which could lead to accidents.

The traffic department set a deadline of April 2005 for the changeover to RHT

Afghanistan was a left-hand traffic (LHT) country until the 1950s, when it switched to right-hand traffic (RHT). In September 2003, the traffic police ordered all cars with right-hand steering to undergo conversion, and the traffic department set a deadline of April 2005 for the changeover to RHT.

The changeover was motivated by safety concerns. The head of traffic police in the capital, Kabul, Abdul Sami Nazar, stated that right-hand drive cars were a major cause of accidents, causing three to four accidents every day. Because the drivers of right-hand drive cars cannot see far ahead, they may swing out blindly into oncoming traffic. At the time, Afghanistan's traffic chief, Abdul Shakoor Kherkhawa, said that 85% of all traffic accidents were due to right-hand drive vehicles.

The changeover was not without its challenges, however. More than 50% of the estimated half a million vehicles on the road were right-hand drive, and the company hired to carry out the modifications faced contractual disputes with the government. The conversion process was expected to take five hours and cost owners between $600 and $3,000 per vehicle.

The conversion task will be made easier as Afghanistan's car pool is remarkably homogeneous

Afghanistan has a rich history of international influence, from the Persians and Alexander the Great to the British and Soviet empires. Today, it is officially known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and is landlocked, bordering Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. With a population of around 43 million, it is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 180th on the Human Development Index.

Now, let's delve into the specifics of Afghanistan's car pool and the task of converting vehicles to left-hand drive.

In the mid-20th century, Afghanistan's road network was significantly developed with assistance from the United States and the Soviet Union. However, due to subsequent wars and political turmoil, much of the infrastructure was left in ruin. In recent years, efforts have been made to rebuild and expand the country's roads, resulting in rapid economic growth.

As of 2017, Afghanistan had approximately 34,903 kilometers of roads, including both paved and unpaved sections. The country's vehicle population has also skyrocketed, with an estimated half a million vehicles on the roads in recent years.

Interestingly, Afghanistan was a left-hand drive country until the 1950s, in line with Pakistan, a former part of British India. However, it switched to right-hand drive, and now, the majority of vehicles have their steering wheels on the left side, which aligns with the practice in most countries that drive on the right side of the road.

The conversion task, from right-hand drive to left-hand drive, will be made easier by the relatively homogeneous nature of Afghanistan's car pool. A significant majority of the recent saloon cars are Toyota Corollas, and the minivans used as buses and private transport are generally Toyotas as well. This uniformity in vehicle models simplifies the process of modifying the steering configuration.

The company responsible for the conversion, Shahin Technical Service, has experience in Iran and has invested significantly in the Afghan business, hiring staff in major cities. The conversion process is estimated to take around five hours per vehicle and will cost owners between $600 and $3,000.

While the homogeneous nature of the car pool will facilitate the conversion process, it is important to note that the task still faces challenges due to contractual disputes and concerns over safety standards. Nonetheless, the conversion of Afghanistan's car pool is underway, aiming to enhance road safety and align with international practices.

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