How was traffic handled in Italy and NW Europe 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?
An interesting thought. I've done some searching, but have not found anything conclusive. I think Gordon is right, check with Ron or Brian for their thoughts.
They would conform to the standard of the country in which the are operating. In NW Europe and Italy the British would drive on the right. So there would be no conflict. Also the British and Americans generally operated in different areas. Through a Google search I found a thread on the Armchairgeneral Forum showing a photo of British? trucks apparently from Life Magazine (sorry could not get link to work). The location is not stated. The trucks are right hand drive but operating on the right side of the road so it is likely the photo was taken in Europe. Based on visible marking, one poster said the trucks are from the "2nd Armored Bn. GG, 5th Guards Armored Brigade , British Guards Armored Division, in the ETO 1944-45." another poster identified the truck type as Dodge D60L 4x2 GS trucks. The trucks were used by British and Commonwealth forces and based on the terrain (hedgerows) guesses that they are in Normandy 1944, and adds that some hard to distinguish soldiers on the right side of the photo appear to be in British Battle dress. If the photo was in England they would have been on the left, and the US troops conformed to the left hand drive standard In controlled areas where lots of convoys were run, roads were often designated one way with opposing traffic severely restricted. This was true of the Redball Express routes, so in practice they could run down the middle on those routes or use the full width for traffic in the designated direction.
I spoke with Mr. Sanford yesterday. He drove sparingly in British-controlled areas and occasionally they ventured into US areas. He said he never saw anyone driving on the left side of the road, except in the British Isles. He said not to rely on him as the authority, but he thought the Brits drove on the right-hand side of the road while on the continent.
