* Early carriage design: The position of the driver in horse-drawn carriages influenced early automobile design. In some countries, drivers sat on the left, while in others, they sat on the right.
* Agricultural practices: In countries with predominantly right-handed populations, it was more convenient for drivers to be able to mount their horses and carriages from the left-hand side, allowing easier access to a whip held in their right hand. This led to a prevalence of left-hand driving in some regions.
* Passing on the road: As automobiles became more common, the need for a consistent system of passing became crucial. Countries that already had established patterns of left-side or right-side driving were naturally inclined to stick with their convention to minimize confusion and accidents.
* National standardization: Over time, governments began to legislate which side of the road traffic should keep to, influencing steering wheel placement.
In short, the placement of the steering wheel is a result of a confluence of historical, practical, and legislative factors, not a single decision by any one person or entity.
