Dagen H

Dagen H (, Day H ', H högertrafikomläggningen for swedish, traffic law change ') is the name for the switch to right-hand traffic, which took place on Sunday, September 3, 1967 by 5 clock in Sweden. From this point on, you had to drive on the left instead of the right lane.

History

The first right-hand traffic regulation was adopted in Sweden as early as 1718. However, this regulation was not durable. Already in 1734 it was replaced by a new one which fixed the left-hand traffic. Left-hand traffic in the country prepared any problems before the car began to seriously expand and the traffic is internationalized.

Now there arose the need for adaptation to the dominant in the Western European continent transport system. The road safety was a reason to move on to right-hand traffic. The cars in Sweden had the steering wheel on the left side, making safe overtaking was difficult as today.

In 1927 proposed a committee before the study of the costs of transition to right-hand traffic. New proposals for the introduction of legal relations came on in the years 1934, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1945 and 1953 in the Reichstag. In 1954, a committee suggested clearly and unequivocally that legal relations should be introduced. In October 1961 there was a study of the costs of a transition to the legal relations of Gösta Hall. According to his calculations, the cost of which is valued at 2.7 million Swedish crowns for the money value of 1961, of which 500,000 crowns for information.

The Swedish planning the transition to the legal relations were also observed in other countries. The Nordic Council recommended Sweden the introduction of legal relations and the Advisory Council of Europe adopted a resolution on the desire of a unified transport system.

Plebiscite

1955 a consultative referendum was conducted. It showed that 82.9 %, an overwhelming majority of voters wanted to keep driving on the left, while only 15.5% wanted to move on to the right road. The turnout was 53.2 % of the voters.

Contrary to the results of the referendum, Parliament decided eight years later, on May 10, 1963 with 119 votes to 16, with 4 abstentions ( and 12 deputies absent ) the transition Sweden to the right traffic for the year 1967.

Dama Lige vehicles

Most Swedish cars had traditionally installed the steering wheel on the left. Even the imported British cars were built. In left-hand traffic which resulted because of the relatively poor visibility at a significantly higher risk when overtaking. But the cars were closer to take the steering wheel arranged on the side of the road in the location on the edge of the road, and their drivers were exposed to less glare at night than their counterparts.

Buses had left-hand traffic in the driver's seat right and the entrance on the left.

The Stockholm metro runs to this day continue to the left, as well as the rest of the Swedish rail transport. But some lines were built later, turn right, such as the Stockholm Tvärbanan that must be oriented in its function as the tram traffic.

The biggest victims had to bring the old trams in Sweden: Apart from Gothenburg, Malmö, Norrköping, and two lines in the Stockholm area were nationally set all street railway companies.

Implementation

To prepare a 30 -page brochure was distributed to all households, television and radio news programs were broadcast. Responsible for the change was the "State law Transport Commission " ( Statens Hoeger Tobacco Commission, HTK ).

Four hours before the change and one hour after any private car traffic was forbidden - in some cities even for 24 hours. During this time all traffic signals were converted to right-hand traffic. Besides, many volunteers, including members of the emergency services and military service were used. The speed limit in towns was reduced by 10 km / h to 40 km / h, but gradually raised back to the previous level in the course of a month.

At the roadsides hexagonal plates with a yellow border and a yellow H were on a blue background (see photo) erected which should remind motorists to keep right.

At 4:50 clock on Sunday morning of September 3 had to stop all vehicles on the left side of the road. After a short stop, they changed the cautious side of the road and waited there to 5 clock. The exact time was given over radio nationally known. Then they drove on the right page. About the migration has been reported in the Swedish Radio in a live broadcast.

Following conversion, traffic monitoring has been intensified, about 10,300 policemen and soldiers were sent to. Furthermore, were over 100,000 people - pupils in higher gears, recruits of the army and members of associations - used for traffic control at pedestrian crossings.