To be more precise, most cars in Russia have steering wheels on the left side and drive on the right side of the road, just like in the United States.
Siberia and, specifically, the city of Vladivostok are an exception. Many cars in the largest city in Russia's far east have their steering wheels on the right side of the car, even though Russian drivers drive on the right side of the road.
This phenomenon has its origin in the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russians wanted cars, especially tough, reliable cars that could withstand Siberia's brutal climates. They purchased cheap, second-hand cars from Japan.
Japanese automakers produce left-side cars for export markets. But most Japanese cars made for domestic markets have their steering wheels on the right. Russian customers didn't care, though, and eagerly purchased the old cars, getting over the awkwardness of driving from the right side of the car on the right side of the road.
Many of these old imports are still on the road and are the focus of a thriving subculture of aficionados in Vladivostok. You read more about it and these odd cars at Jalopnik.
Photo: Misha Lanin
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