Can you imagine that overnight Spain changed the direction of traffic and started driving on the left instead of on the right? There is no doubt that no matter how much education had been done on this measure, drivers would be plunged into a situation of unprecedented confusion and chaos. An event like this underlines the complexity that drivers in Sweden had to face when the historic transition to right-hand traffic took place in the early hours of September 3, 1967 in an attempt by the Government to reduce traffic accidents. traffic.
At 05:00 on Dagen H or Högertrafikomläggningen (lane change day), which is how the date of September 3, 1967 is officially known in Sweden, the direction of traffic was changed on all roads in the country. At that time, drivers had to start driving on their right and abandon the practice of driving on the left, a modality that is currently only maintained in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus in Europe.
The idea of ??diverting traffic to the right arose from the Government to improve road safety in Sweden and standardize traffic rules in Europe. Its proximity to Norway and Finland meant that the arrival of drivers from these countries generated situations of confusion and risk on Swedish roads, where the majority of Swedish cars, manufactured for export, had left-hand drive.
This caused a greater propensity for accidents and dangerous situations as drivers had a less clear view of the road and other vehicles when overtaking.
Although only 17% of the Swedish population had voted in favor of the change in a referendum held in 1955, the Swedish Government made the decision to change the direction of traffic in 1963 and put it into practice in 1967. For four For years, drivers were informed through educational campaigns and awareness programs were carried out to carry out the transition to the new traffic regulations.
In order for motorists to get used to the change that they were going to experience on the Dagen H, the Government carried out a large information campaign. It distributed 12 million information brochures and designed a logo on changing the direction of traffic that was incorporated into posters, food products and even underwear.
Likewise, the obligation was established to register new cars with a sticker placed on the left headlight, which limited visibility in this lane. These actions were aimed at gradually preparing the driver’s eye to become accustomed to the right lane, thus contributing to a smoother transition to the new direction of traffic.
In the early morning of September 3, 1967, around 8,000 police officers and more than 150,000 volunteers were mobilized to guarantee the success of the diversion of traffic throughout the country. In addition to their presence on the streets to direct traffic and assist drivers, information centers and control points were established at strategic points on the road network.
At the same time, some 360,000 traffic signs were changed and traffic lights were covered. The road markings on the ground, until then yellow, were painted white to reflect the new direction of travel and guarantee a fluid and safe transition.
Starting at one in the morning, circulation on the roads was prohibited, allowing only essential service vehicles to pass through, in order to guarantee that everything was ready for 5:00 a.m. Despite it being Sunday, thousands of drivers rang their alarm clocks on September 3, 1967 as if it were a weekday. They wanted to be the first to face the new traffic rules and make sure they were prepared to face the challenge.
The Government’s decision bore fruit and the results were notable. Despite the high cost of the operation, which amounted to more than 600 million Swedish crowns, the equivalent of more than 57 million euros at the time, the accident rate on the roads decreased significantly.
The implementation of right-hand driving in 1967 marked a notable reduction in tragic road accidents. From a figure of 1,313 people killed and another 23,618 injured in traffic accidents in 1965, it went to 1,077 deaths and 21,001 injured in 1967, which from then on decreased periodically.
