I asked this question over at WW2F but could not get a definitive answer to satisfy me, so I trotted it over here so that y'all could have a look at it: How was traffic handled in NW Europe and Italy during the war? With the British driving one side and pretty much everyone else driving on the other, what was done to accommodate this variance? Did vehicles drive on the left in British controlled areas and on the right everywhere else? If so, how was the change over accomplished? I would think that since the roads were already laid out and signed for right-hand traffic, it would have been easier for the British forces to keep right. Anyone know for certain?
British drove on your side of the road Jeff. A military policeman on traffic duty waves a motorcycle despatch rider through the traffic in Holland, 11 December 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45. © IWM (B 12737)IWM Non Commercial Licence
A convoy of supply lorries moves up through the town of Jurques, 6 August 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944. © IWM (B 8745)IWM Non Commercial Licence
An RAF Lysander flies over a convoy of lorries during the retreat into Egypt, 26 June 1942. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1942. © IWM (E 13767)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Lorries carrying troops of the BEF through Brebieres, 11 September 1939. THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE 1939. © IWM (O 92)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Vehicles including a Royal Signals jeep and trailer and RASC Leyland lorry on 'Pegasus Bridge' over the Caen Canal at Benouville, 9 June 1944. The signallers are fixing telephone lines across the bridge. THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944. © IWM (B 5288)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Lorries carrying supplies to the front make their way through Bayeux, with the cathedral making an imposing backdrop, 25 June 1944 THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944. © IWM (B 5937)IWM Non Commercial Licence
If I recollect correctly, US vehicles used on British roads carried the notice at the nearside rear of the vehicle," LHD No Hand Signals"
The British had plenty of experience in driving on the right. http://www.britishpathe.com/video/british-troops-enter-belgium-1/query/belgium+1940 Of course, we made the Canadians build RHD CMP vehicles that they then had to to take to Europe !
A British jeep passes a sign warning against looting on the outskirts of Ravenna, Italy, 7 December 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1944. © IWM (NA 20577)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Caution Left Hand Drive. A jeep and other vehicles of 3rd Division in La Brèche d'Hermanville, as they move inland from Sword Beach, 6 June 1944. D-DAY - BRITISH FORCES DURING THE INVASION OF NORMANDY 6 JUNE 1944. © IWM (B 5036)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Jeeps passing in the flooded village of Bretteville - L'Orgueilleuse, 21 July 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944. © IWM (B 7799)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Daimler armoured cars and a jeep negotiate a flooded road in Holland, 26 November 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45. © IWM (B 12142)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Has anyone done a serious book-length study of WWII traffic management? Traffic management--or mismanagement--often seems to have been a major factor in operations. I am thinking of Second Alamein, GOODWOOD, and MARKET-GARDEN, among other cases. Critics (including me) may chide this or that general for slowness, but what was actually involved? A single division had hundreds of vehicles, an army thousands, and drawing up the march tables and movement orders for this mass must have been a difficult and exhausting task even when breakthrough and pursuit were not involved.
Sherman tanks pass a column of Churchills as they advance towards Vassy, 4 August 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944. © IWM (B 8599)IWM Non Commercial Licence THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORMANDY 1944. © IWM (B 8600)IWM Non Commercial Licence
good day owen.super moderators,today.10:40pmre:military traffic on the continent during the war,thank you owen for a great collection of photo's #12345678-11-14 16.they seem to be driving on tha right hand side.regards bernard85
Slip, Here's a video from Pegasus Bridge showing them driving on the right. http://www.ina.fr/video/CN00001370056/11-juin-1944-les-planeurs-du-major-howard-pegasus-bridge-video.html Regards ...
Jeff My licence informed me that I should "tear along the dotted line" so my Churchill Tank always drove down the centre of the highways as it was always clear Cheers