Eli5: If we drive on the right, the driver sits on the left; if we drive on the left, the driver sits on the right. Is there a reason/advantage for this?

Question

Recently back to Canada from Dublin, and driving here after taking a week to get used to opposite-land got me wondering.

In: 4

Answer 1

Driver is always closest to oncoming traffic. Presumably the driver can judge distances & directions best on the side they are closest too; by making that the side closest to oncoming traffic you apply that ability to the situations that are most likely to be fatal.