On 3 September 1967, which side of the road did Sweden change to driving on?

On 3 September 1967, Sweden changed to driving on the right-hand side of the road.

The change was called Dagen H, with the H standing for högertrafik, Swedish for “right-hand traffic.” Before the change, Sweden drove on the left even though most neighboring countries drove on the right. The switch was intended to align Sweden with its continental European neighbors and simplify cross-border travel.

At 5:00 a.m. on Dagen H, traffic was temporarily stopped. Vehicles moved carefully to the opposite side, and normal traffic resumed at 6:00 a.m. The government spent years preparing the public with extensive signs, road markings, leaflets, and media campaigns.

A common mix-up is to assume Sweden changed because its cars were mostly right-hand drive. In fact, many Swedish cars already had left-hand steering, making the transition more practical. Dagen H remains one of the most carefully organized traffic-side changes in modern history.