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When did Sweden switch to driving on the right?

The date of Dagen H and the decision behind it.

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Short answer

Sweden switched from left-hand to right-hand traffic on Sunday 3 September 1967, a day known as Dagen H. According to Stockholmskällan, all buses, cars and bicycles in Stockholm changed sides at 05.00. Parliament had decided on the change in 1963, after a 1955 referendum in which a large majority voted to keep driving on the left.

Driving and road rules in Sweden Illustration of a car on a forest road with a moose warning sign and a car key

Why

  1. Stockholmskällan says that on 3 September 1967 at 05.00 all buses, cars and bicycles in Stockholm changed sides, and Sweden went from left-hand to right-hand traffic.
  2. According to Nationalencyklopedin, an advisory referendum was held on 16 October 1955 in which 82.9 per cent of voters wanted to keep left-hand traffic.
  3. Nationalencyklopedin says that despite the clear result the Riksdag decided in 1963 on the change to right-hand traffic, which took place on 3 September 1967.

Details

According to Wikipedia, non-essential traffic was banned from the roads between 01:00 and 06:00 that Sunday, and vehicles still on the road had to stop at 04:50 and change sides. The day is known as Dagen H. For other road rules, see driving and road rules in Sweden, and for planning a drive, road trips in Sweden.

Tip

For the story of the day itself, read Stockholmskällan's page on the 1967 change and Nationalencyklopedin's entry on the 1955 referendum, both listed under the sources.

What may differ

The 1955 referendum was advisory, which is why the Riksdag could decide otherwise in 1963, according to Stockholmskällan and Nationalencyklopedin.

People also ask

  • When did Sweden start driving on the right?
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Sources

Information checked on 28 October 2026.

Driving and road rules in Sweden
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