document_title: List of This Is Us characters

question_text: who is randall's wife in this is us

question_tokens: who is randall 's wife in this is us

text: List of This Is Us characters

text: Main characters[edit]

text: Family tree[edit]

text: The characters in green have regular roles on the show. Dotted lines indicate a parental relationship through adoption, and dashed lines indicate either divorced, or widowed (or similarly separated), characters.

text:
Jack Pearson

Rebecca Pearson

Miguel Rivas

William Hill

Laurel

Sophie

Kevin Pearson

Kate Pearson

Toby Damon

Randall Pearson

Beth Pearson

Tess Pearson

Annie Pearson

Déjà

text: Jack Pearson[edit]

text: Jack Pearson (August 31, 1944 – January 26, 1998),[2][3] portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia, was Rebecca's first husband (until he died), and the father of Kevin, Kate, and Randall.[4] Jack had a brother named Nick.[5]

text: Jack had a rough childhood because of his abusive, alcoholic father Stanley Pearson, causing them to have a strained relationship. Stanley did not know that Jack was married, so when Jack found out that he and Rebecca were expecting triplets, he went to his father asking for money, citing gambling debts, rather than telling him that he intended to buy a house for his family.[6] When Stanley was in the nursing home dying, he met Rebecca and his granddaughter Kate for the first time. Jack was camping with Kevin and Randall when Rebecca contacted him about his father dying, but Jack refused to see him.[5]

text: Jack was drafted into the Army at age 25; he served in the Vietnam War as a mechanic.[7][8] He served along with his brother Nick, who died in the war.[5][9] (After Jack took Randall to Washington, D.C. on a college tour to Howard University, he took Randall to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and told him about being drafted and how the war affected him; this may have been the first time that Jack shared about his Vietnam experiences to a member of the Pearson family—including Rebecca.)[8][10]

text: After serving in the war, and working as a manual laborer, Jack became a construction foreman. When he wanted to buy the house for his family, he approached his boss and got a raise to $17,000 a year (equivalent to more than $49,000 in 2016), making him the highest paid foreman at the company.[6] He dreamed of opening his own firm, "Big Three Homes", but put his dreams on hold in order to provide a steady income for his children by getting a desk job.[11] However, he later decided to start the business, though the Big Three were about to start college.[12]

text: Two of the triplets (the third triplet was stillborn) and Randall (who was left at a fire station) were all born on Jack's 36th birthday.[4] Jack always wanted to find out who Randall's biological father was, and never knew that Rebecca had found him.[13]

text: Jack struggled with alcoholism while the children were young, but he stopped drinking to focus more on his family.[14] (Sometimes he'd vent his anger on a punching bag to avoid drinking after a tough day.)[15] However, he relapsed into alcoholism when he had a drink after a disagreement and argument with his wife, who wanted to go on tour with a band with a member she'd once dated.[16] His drinking continued for some time until he decided to deal with the problem by attending AA meetings.[15] His sobriety and AA work continued for at least 6 months.[8]

text: Jack died when his children were 17,[2] and Kate keeps his ashes with her.[17][18] On the night of the Super Bowl, Jack, Rebecca, Kate, and Randall go to bed for the night (Kevin was at a party with his girlfriend Sophie). [19] Previously, a smoke alarm was shown to be missing batteries, and thus be inoperable.[12] An old slow cooker given years previous by a neighbor was shown to have a faulty switch, which sparked and flamed, setting a towel and the house ablaze.

text: Jack saved Kate and Randall from the fire by guiding them to his and Rebecca's bedroom. He then hoisted them down from the first story roof. Kate was worried about her dog, so Jack went back inside and got the dog and other family pictures. Jack was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, which caused stress on his heart and eventually caused fatal cardiac arrest.[20]

text: Rebecca Pearson[edit]

text: Rebecca Pearson née Malone (born 1950 or 1951), portrayed by Mandy Moore, is Jack's widow, Miguel Rivas' second wife (after Jack died), and the mother of Kevin, Kate, and Randall.[4]

text: She strives to be a better mother to her children,[21] and has issues with Jack's alcoholism.[14] She has always known that William is Randall's father, but kept them apart as she was afraid that he would try to take Randall back.[13]

text: Rebecca always wanted to be a singer, but gave up on her dreams in order to focus on her family.[22] In the mid 1990s, she had a chance to become a singer again by joining a band with her ex-boyfriend. Jack was upset after finding out about their history, which caused a rift between Rebecca and Jack.[16]

text: When the house caught fire and Jack suffered smoke inhalation, at the hospital, since Jack appeared to be fine, Rebecca was making reservations for hotel rooms—unaware that Jack was coding and staff was rushing to him. After making reservations, Rebecca got a candy bar for her and Jack. Rebecca turned around and the doctor explained the cause of Jack's cardiac arrest. In shock, Rebecca took a bite of the candy bar, refusing to believe Jack was dead. She goes to his room to tell him what the doctor said, only to see him lifeless. She immediately shuts down upon seeing him dead. She then drives to Miguel's and tells him the news, then goes in to talk to Kate and Randall. [3]

text: Since she was out of Jack's room when he died, Rebecca got the Pearsons to the funeral early, because she wanted to be present when the urn with Jack's ashes was brought out. After Jack's funeral, Dr. K let Rebecca know that she had always been strong. This encouragement gave her the strength to let Kevin and Randall know that neither of them needed to be "the man of the house", since they were teenagers and should be dating, and to tell Kate not to blame herself for Jack's death because Jack made his own decisions. She also got the courage to drive across a bridge she had feared, while taking the "Big Three" to a Bruce Springsteen concert that Jack had previously obtained tickets for the night of the funeral.[9]

text: At least 10 years after Jack's death, Rebecca posted pictures of Tess, her first grandchild, on Facebook, then got a message from Jack's best friend, Miguel Rivas.[23] Rebecca later married Miguel.[14]

text: Kevin Pearson[edit]

text: Kevin Pearson (born August 31, 1980), portrayed by Justin Hartley (current day), Logan Shroyer (age 15—17), and Parker Bates (ages 8—10), is Jack and Rebecca's son, and Kate and Randall's brother.[4] He is "Number One" of the "Big Three", being the first of the surviving triplets to be born.[4]

text: Shortly before his tenth birthday, Kevin became attracted to Kate's best friend, Sophie, whom he married when they were older. Kevin and Sophie decided that she would stay in New York and he would move to California to pursue acting, believing that their marriage could handle the distance. Kevin and Sophie later divorced, 12 years prior to season 1, due to the distance and Kevin cheating on her.[18][24]

text: Kevin has always struggled with worrying about what people think of him, which caused him to have a strained relationship with Randall as they grew up.[14] Kevin was visibly envious of Randall, who had always excelled in everything and received more attention from their parents, but he didn't realize that Randall has longed for the same attention from him. In high school he played football, as a quarterback, wearing number twelve one year and number one the next[22][25] (His number one jersey was on display with Kevin's trophies when he visited the high school at age 37, for an alumni celebration.)[25] His goal of a football career ended when his knee was injured from a tackle during a game.[25]

text: Kevin was an actor in Los Angeles, starring as the lead on a long-running sitcom called The Manny, a sitcom in the tradition of Who's the Boss and The Nanny. He abruptly quit that show on his 36th birthday, criticizing the script quality, the producer's reluctance to add nuance to the show, and the audience.[4] After quitting his job, Kevin decided to move to New York to pursue a career as a serious stage actor on Broadway.[26] Upon arriving in New York, he got hired as the lead role, David, in Back of an Egg, opposite a cynical actress named Olivia Maine (who thought Kevin did not have the ability, but that Kevin was hired because his being "The Manny" would sell tickets).[26]

text: When Kevin had trouble connecting with the emotions needed for his role, he began spending time with Olivia, who tried to get him to connect with his feelings.[11] Kevin and Olivia briefly dated, but broke up after she brought her ex-boyfriend to the Pearson family cabin.[13] After his breakup with Olivia, Kevin began dating the writer of the play, Sloane Sandburg, attending Hanukkah with her family and inviting her to the Christmas Eve party at Randall's house.[27]

text: Sloane took over as the lead of the play when Olivia disappeared and the play was at risk. Kevin decided to self-fund the performance, in order to save it.[6] After Kevin and Sloane broke up, he reconnected with Sophie and began a relationship with her again.[18][28]

text: Director Ron Howard saw Kevin's play and had him cast in a war movie.[28] Kevin had trouble with his lines when he could not focus after, when Kate (visiting the set) talked with costar Sylvester Stallone about her dad, Stallone talked to Kevin about his dad. Kevin also reinjured his knee (an old football injury) during an explosion scene on the movie set.[29]

text: As a result of the injury, Kevin became addicted to pain medication and alcohol, and allowed his relationship with Sophie to deteriorate by telling her that he saw a future with her as a nightmare, although he failed to specify that this was due to his alcoholism and drug addition.[30] One day after a brief visit with Randall, Kevin was speeding down a road, unaware that Tess was hiding in the back seat; Kevin was pulled over and charged with DUI, and Randall and Beth became angry with Kevin for endangering Tess.[8] The judge ordered Kevin to go to rehab.[2]

text: As part of Kevin's ongoing efforts to rehabilitate, he was determined to make amends with everyone. He settled things with his mom (who was hurt during the rehab family session, tearfully revealing that Kevin was the first to leave after Jack's death.)[6] Kevin found out from Miguel that the thought of his being in love with Rebecca never crossed his mind while Jack was alive, and Miguel reassured him that he loved Rebecca now and was not going anywhere.[12] When Kevin attempted to make things right with Sophie, she told him to not say anything and to just leave her with the memories of how he was at 10, or 17, or when their marriage was good.[31] Kevin reconciled with Randall by helping him fix up the apartment building William lived in, and the two shared with each other how odd it felt that they could outlive their dad.[31] On Super Bowl Sunday, about 20 years after Jack's death, Kevin visited the memorial tree with some of his dad's ashes, to talk with him, vowing to make him proud.[3] (Kevin was at a party with Sophie when the house caught fire.)[31][3]

text: Kate Pearson[edit]

text: Kate Emily Pearson (born August 31, 1980), portrayed by Chrissy Metz (current day), Hannah Zeile (age 15—17), and Mackenzie Hancsicsak (ages 8—10), is Jack and Rebecca's daughter, and Kevin and Randall's sister.[4] She is "Number Two" of the "Big Three", being the second and last of the surviving triplets to be born.[4]

text: Kate is obese and has struggled with issues of self-esteem her entire life, which she greatly attributes to her strained relationship with her mother and the death of her father.[4][28] Her relationship with her mother led to depression, for which she later took Prozac. She discontinued taking this drug due to the side effect of weight gain.[27]

text: Kate lives in Los Angeles and was her brother, Kevin's, personal assistant.[32] When Kevin decided to move to New York, he fired her in order to allow her to build her own life, apart from him.[26] She is an ardent Pittsburgh Steelers fan and has a routine where she watches the games with her dad's ashes.[17] At nine years old, she had her appendix removed on Christmas Eve.[27]

text: Kate decided to join a weight-loss support group, where she met Toby. Despite saying that she was not going to get involved with a fat person, she fell for Toby.[4] When Toby decided to not continue with his diet, Kate broke up with him and decided to go to Randall's for Thanksgiving. During a turbulent plane ride to New Jersey, Kate had an epiphany and decided to have gastric bypass surgery.[33] After consulting with a doctor, she instead decided to enter a fat camp to attempt to lose the weight without surgery.[18] When Toby surprised Kate by showing up at Randall's house for Christmas, he told her that he can live without pizza and junk food, but that he cannot live without her.[27] Toby collapsed from a heart attack, and was taken to the hospital.

text: After Toby's heart surgery, Kate and Toby decided to get engaged.[6] Kate later found out she was pregnant.[34] Kate and Toby announced their pregnancy to Kevin, and planned to get married at city hall, but then considered a big wedding.[30] But Kate lost the baby in a miscarriage.[35] Despite some struggle in their relationship after the miscarriage, Toby eventually came through for Kate.[35] Kate struggled with eating junk food after the miscarriage, which Toby noticed when a trash bag broke.[2]

text: Kate had said that her father's death was her fault,[28] and has a fear of caring for dogs.[31] (Jack went back inside their burning house to save her dog, causing smoke inhalation which led to his death in the hospital. Afterwards, Kate wanted to give away the dog.)[3] She blames herself even though Rebecca told Kate after Jack's funeral not to blame herself, because Jack made his own decisions.[9] Every year on Super Bowl Sunday, Kate would watch the videotape Jack made of her singing for a Berklee College of Music audition.[3]

text: Randall Pearson[edit]

text: Randall Kenneth Pearson (born August 31, 1980), portrayed by Sterling K. Brown (current day), Niles Fitch (ages 15—17), and Lonnie Chavis (ages 8—10), is Jack and Rebecca's (adopted) son, and Kate and Kevin's brother.[4] He is "Number Three" of the "Big Three", being adopted after Kevin and Kate were born.[4] On his 36th birthday, he found his biological father, William, and invited him to his northern New Jersey home.[4]

text: Randall worked at selling commodity futures based on weather patterns, and was shown to be successful and affluent.[11] However, after a nervous breakdown and some time off, he felt that his firm did not appreciate or respect him, and quit.[16][28]

text: On the day that Randall was born, he was dropped off in front of a firehouse by his biological father, William, and then taken to the hospital, where he was adopted by Jack and Rebecca.[4] Jack and Rebecca originally named him Kyle (the name they had intended for their third child, who was stillborn). Taking William's advice, Rebecca decided to give him his own name, naming him after William's favorite poet, Dudley Randall, although she refused to let William see Randall.[4][32] This allowed them to honor both their stillborn son's memory and Randall, rather than essentially replacing one son with the other.

text: At age nine, Randall’s teacher informed Jack and Rebecca that Randall was a gifted child who was not being challenged enough at his current school. They decided to remove him from public school and send him to Hanes Academy.[11] In high school Randall played football, wearing number 36.[22]

text: Randall and Kevin had an estranged relationship and didn't reconnect until they were 36 years old. At some points, Kevin openly despised Randall.[14] At a high school football game, where they played on opposing teams, they got in a fight.[22] However, there were also some moments when they acted like brothers.[5] When they were teenagers, Kevin was there with Kate to comfort Randall when a woman claimed to be his birth mother as a scam to get money.[29] When they were 36, they got in a fight on the street in New York, but Kevin told onlookers they were brothers.[22] When Randall had his nervous breakdown, Kevin left the theater—when opening day was about to start—to comfort Randall.[16]

text: As an adult, Kevin was hurt that Randall didn't seem to care about his acting career.[22] They began to reconnect when Kevin needed Randall's advice, but Randall coldly told him he shouldn't care what he thinks. Eventually, Kevin moved to Randall's house in New Jersey, but they still had some work to do on building their relationship.[26] He loves Thanksgiving and has his family recreate a specific childhood Thanksgiving every year, including a 3.4 mile hike, watching Police Academy 3: Back in Training, and imitating a hotel owner known as "Pilgrim Rick".[33]

text: In season 2, Randall wanted to adopt a baby (to honor his father's legacy), but decided (with Beth's input) to foster an older child who may need help.[7][19] They fostered a 12-year old girl named Deja, whose mother Shauna was incarcerated. She showed signs of physical abuse, but Randall and Beth started to win her trust and get her to open up.[29][34][5] When the charges against Shauna were dropped, Deja went back home with her (over Randall's initial objections). Randall and Beth planned to try fostering again after some time.[8]

text: Beth Pearson[edit]

text: Beth Pearson, portrayed by Susan Kelechi Watson, is Randall's wife, whom he met in college and later married, circa 1999. The couple has two daughters, Annie and Tess.[14] Their marriage is based on honesty where they make an effort not to have secrets from one another. William revealed to Beth that he had met and communicated with Rebecca. This caused Beth to give Rebecca an ultimatum: to either tell Randall or she would. Growing up, Beth lived in a three-bedroom house with 14 other people.[22] After Randall quit his job, Beth took a job so Randall could be a stay-at-home dad.[19] But after a while, Beth thought Randall was in "outer space", and Beth thought working again would be good for Randall.[12]

text: When Annie's pet lizard "Mr. McGiggles" went missing during a Super Bowl Party, she accidentally stepped on him, killing him.[3]

text: Toby Damon[edit]

text: Toby Damon, portrayed by Chris Sullivan is Kate's fiancé[6] Toby was born in Palm Springs, California.[6] Toby began dating Kate after they met at a weight-loss support group.[4] Toby is confident with his own body although obese, and encourages Kate to have better self-esteem. He was previously married to a woman whom Kate views as beautiful and successful, but who treated him badly. Toby gained 90 pounds in the first year after his divorce.[26]

text: Refusing to take Kate's hesitance about the relationship lightly, Toby has continually come up with sweet gestures to win her over.[32] In the beginning, he felt that he had to compete with Kevin for Kate's attention.[32] Despite breaking his weight-loss goals, Toby decided dieting was not for him and went off his diet, resulting in Kate breaking up with him.[13] He surprised Kate by showing up at Randall's house for Christmas Eve, stating that he could live without pizza and junk food, but that he could not live without her.[27] On Christmas Eve, Toby collapsed and ended up in the hospital with an arrhythmia.[27]

text: After Toby's heart surgery, he and Kate decided to get engaged.[6] Kate became pregnant with Toby's child, but she miscarried; afterwards, despite an initial struggle in their relationship, Toby came through for her.[34][35] Kate, around the 20th anniversary of Jack's death, told Toby he strengthens her and Jack would have loved him.[3]

text: William Hill[edit]

text: William H. "Shakespeare" Hill (died 2017), portrayed by Ron Cephas Jones (recent days) and Jermel Nakia (as a young adult), was Randall's biological father.[32]

text: William was a recovering drug addict who was suffering from terminal stage-four stomach cancer in the present.[26] He grew up in Memphis,[18] and after his mother moved to Pittsburgh he stayed in Memphis to play in his cousin Ricky's band, where he played piano, wrote, and sang.[36] William left the band, with the intention of returning, to care for his dying mother. However, after meeting Randall's mother and becoming a drug addict, he never returned.[36] He got clean after he thought he saw a monkey on the streets, realizing that nothing good comes from a person being on the street at 3:30 am. (He also stayed clean for years after being told by a judge, who offered to help him after his first conviction, to picture the judge's face when he was tempted to do the wrong thing.)[30] William returned to Philadelphia to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, hoping to find and reconnect with his former lover—a man named Jessie.[27]

text: William, who was bisexual, and Jesse never officially broke up. Jessie assumed William had died when he vanished one night—the night William moved in with Randall's family.[27]

text: After leaving Randall at the firehouse, he waited outside the hospital to see him being taken home by Jack and Rebecca. Rebecca realized that William was Randall's father, after seeing him getting onto the bus as she left the hospital. She eventually tracked him down,[14] a secret she kept from everyone, including Randall and Jack.[13]

text: William always wanted to have a relationship with his child,[13] but promised Rebecca he would stay away for Randall's benefit.[32] He accidentally revealed this secret to Beth one night when they got high together,[22] and Randall accidentally found out himself, when he found a letter and photo in William's apartment, from Rebecca, while looking for cassette tapes.[33] (William also told Randall about the second time William saw Rebecca; he took a cab to follow her home, hoping he could be in Randall's life, but when he was outside the house, he thought better of it.)[8]

text: William eventually succumbed to his cancer during a road trip back to Memphis with Randall.[36] Prior to his death he left a letter to Randall's girls, asking them to plan a fun memorial for him. He also sent Beth a postcard from Memphis, saying goodbye and calling her the daughter he never had.[28]

text: Miguel Rivas[edit]

text: Miguel Rivas, portrayed by Jon Huertas, was Jack's best friend and is Rebecca's second husband. Miguel was originally married to Shelly, before they divorced.[24] While it originally seemed that his marriage to Rebecca happened shortly after Jack's death, in season 2 it is clarified that the two did not get together until at least ten years after Jack's passing.[23][2] Miguel was initially disliked by Kevin, until Miguel told Kevin how much he is like his father.[16]

text: Miguel told Beth and Toby one day, when Kevin in rehab was meeting with "immediate family", that he felt like a real outsider compared to them and the Pearson family.[2] When Kevin got out of rehab and stayed with Rebecca, Miguel was protective of her after she was hurt by Kevin's arrest, and by Kevin criticizing her in his rehab session with the family.[12] Kevin asked Miguel if he was in love with Rebecca when Jack was alive; Miguel said that idea never occurred to him because everyone saw Jack and Rebecca as one entity rather than two separate individuals. But he stated that he loves Rebecca now, and is not going anywhere.[12]

text: Sophie[edit]

text: Sophie, portrayed by Alexandra Breckenridge (modern day), Amanda Leighton (ages 15-17), and Sophia Coto (age 10), was Kate's childhood best friend and Kevin's childhood love and his ex-wife. Kevin moved to New York and reconciled with her, after his relationships with Olivia and Sloane ended.[18][28] Their relationship initially survived the distance when Kevin was in his movie in L.A., but Kevin broke up with Sophie, admitting that he couldn't be the man that he wanted to be for her.[30] When Kevin got sober, he tried making amends to Sophie; she just wanted to remember Kevin when they were younger.[3]

text: Tess Pearson[edit]

text: Tess Pearson, portrayed by Eris Baker, is Randall and Beth's older daughter. She was promoted to series regular in season two.[37] She was named after the Tessana ceiling fan Randall was going to purchase when hearing about Beth going into labor.[23] Although not noticed acting out previously, she hid in her uncle Kevin's car (claiming she hates it at her house), when he was pulled over for speeding and charged with DUI;[8] she later claimed she was just unhappy that Deja, the foster child, had to go home.[2] Tess admitted one day (on the 20th anniversary of Jack's death) she had tried to prevent social workers from calling, worried that recent changes meant Randall wanted a "new life"; Randall reassured her that he would always be devoted to her.[3] Tess is shown in the future as an adult, working as a social worker, with an older Randall meeting her for dinner like they have done while Tess was younger.[3]

text: Annie Pearson[edit]

text: Annie Pearson, portrayed by Faithe Herman, is Randall and Beth's younger daughter. She was also promoted to series regular in season two.[37] On William's first night at Randall's family's house, when William wanted to step out, Annie convinced William that he might be happy if he stayed. [29]

text: Recurring characters[edit]

text: Introduced in season one[edit]

text: Gerald McRaney as Dr. Nathan Katowski (aka "Dr. K"): The obstetrician who delivered Kate and Kevin.

tag: ul

text: Janet Montgomery as Olivia Maine: a theatre actress, Kevin's former stage partner and ex-girlfriend.

text: Milana Vayntrub as Sloane Sandburg: Kevin's stage partner and ex-girlfriend.

text: Ryan Michelle Bathe as Yvette: A family friend of the Pearsons.

text: Denis O'Hare as Jessie: William's friend and former lover.[27][6]

text: Adam Bartley as Duke: The stable worker at the weight-loss camp Kate attended.

text: Jill Johnson as Laurie: A member of Toby and Kate's weight-loss support group.[4]

text: Peter Onorati as Stanley Pearson: Jack's father.

text: Hari Dhillon as Sanjay Jahiri: Randall's newer former coworker.

text: Caitlin Thompson as Madison: Member of Toby and Kate's support group.

text: Introduced in season two[edit]

text: Lyric Ross as Deja: Randall and Beth's foster child while her mother was incarcerated.[39]

text: Guest stars[edit]

text: The following is a supplementary list of guest stars, some recurring, who appear in lesser roles. The characters are listed, in alphabetical order by actor, by the season in which they first appeared.

text: Introduced in season one[edit]

text:
Susan Blakely as Anne: Dr. K, a widower, dates and marries Anne.[38][9]
Katie Couric as herself: Kevin had a recurring dream about an interview by Katie Couric going badly.[16]
Wynn Everett as Shelly: Shelly was Miguel's first wife until their divorce.[24]
Brad Garrett as Wes Manning: Wes was the television network president tasked with negotiating Kevin's exit from The Manny.[14]
Jami Gertz as Marin Rosenthal: Marin hired Kate to be an event coordinator.[11]
Ron Howard as himself: After Howard saw Kevin's play, he called Kevin to praise his performance and offered to send him a script for a new movie he was producing.[28]
Mario Lopez as himself: Lopez was hosting a talk show discussing Kevin's on-set meltdown.[4]
Seth Meyers as himself: Meyers saw Kevin and Randall fighting on a New York City sidewalk and approached the pair, recognizing Kevin as a showbiz colleague.[22]
Elizabeth Perkins as Janet Malone: Rebecca's overbearing mother.
Katey Sagal as Lanie Schulz: Kevin's Hollywood agent.[14]
Jimmi Simpson as Andy Fannan: Andy was a co-worker whom Randall talked out of committing suicide on Christmas Eve.[27]
Alan Thicke as himself: Thicke was guest-starring on The Manny when Kevin had his on-set meltdown.[4]

text: Introduced in season two[edit]

text:
Kate Burton as Barbara: Psychologist at Kevin's rehab who facilitates his meeting with the family.[40]
Garrett Morris as Lloyd: A resident living in William's old apartment building.[41]
Debra Jo Rupp as Linda: A social worker who worked with Randall and Beth Pearson when they fostered Deja.[42]
Sylvester Stallone as himself: Actor in a movie Kevin was cast in.[43]


document_title: Texas House of Representatives

question_text: who presides over the texas house of representatives

root

text: Texas House of Representatives

text: Leadership[edit]

text:
Position
Name
Party
Residence
District

Speaker of the House
Joe Straus
Republican
San Antonio
121

Speaker Pro Tempore
Dennis Bonnen
Republican
Angleton
25

Republican Caucus Chair
Tan Parker
Republican
Flower Mound
63

Democratic Caucus Chair
Chris Turner
Democratic
Grand Prairie
101

tag: table

text: The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer and highest-ranking member of the House. The Speaker's duties include maintaining order within the House, recognizing members during debate, ruling on procedural matters, appointing members to the various committees and sending bills for committee review. The Speaker pro tempore is primarily a ceremonial position, but does, by long-standing tradition, preside over the House during its consideration of local and consent bills.

tag: p

text: Unlike other state legislatures, the House rules do not formally recognize majority or minority leaders. The unofficial leaders are the Republican Caucus Chairman and the Democratic House Leader, both of whom are elected by their respective caucuses.

text: Composition[edit]

text:
Affiliation
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)

Total

Republican
Democrat
Ind
Vacant

End 2010
75
73
0
148
2

Begin 2011
101
49
0
150
0

End 2012
48
149
1

Begin 2013
95
55
0
150
0

End 2014

Begin 2015
98
52
0
150
0

End 2016
99
50
1

Begin 2017
95
55
0
150
0

Latest voting share
7001633000000000000♠63.3%
7001367000000000000♠36.7%

text: List of members[edit]

text:
District
Representative
Party
Residence
First elected
County(ies) represented

1
VanDeaver, GaryGary VanDeaver
R
New Boston
2014
Bowie, Franklin, Lamar, Red River

2
Flynn, DanDan Flynn
R
Canton
2003
Hopkins, Hunt, Van Zandt

3
Bell Jr., CecilCecil Bell Jr.
R
Magnolia
2012
Montgomery (part), Waller

4
Gooden, LanceLance Gooden
R
Kaufman
2016
Henderson, Kaufman

5
Hefner, ColeCole Hefner
R
Mineola
2016
Camp, Morris, Rains, Smith, Titus, Wood

6
Schaefer, MattMatt Schaefer
R
Tyler
2012
Smith (part)

7
Dean, JayJay Dean
R
Longview
2016
Gregg, Upshur

8
Cook, ByronByron Cook
R
Corsicana
2002
Anderson, Freestone, Hill, Navarro

9
Paddie, ChrisChris Paddie
R
Marshall
2012
Cass, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Sabine, Shelby

10
Wray, JohnJohn Wray
R
Waxahachie
2014
Ellis, Henderson (part)

11
Clardy, TravisTravis Clardy
R
Jacksonville
2012
Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Rusk

12
Kacal, KyleKyle Kacal
R
Hillister
2012
Brazos (part), Falls, Limestone, McLennan, Robertson

13
Schubert, LeightonLeighton Schubert
R
Brenham
2014
Austin, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Lavaca, Washington

14
Raney, JohnJohn Raney
R
Bryan
2010
Brazos (part)

15
Keough, MarkMark Keough
R
The Woodlands
2012
Montgomery

16
Metcalf, WillWill Metcalf
R
Conroe
2014

17
Cyrier, JohnJohn Cyrier
R
Lockhart
2014
Bastrop, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Lee

18
Bailes, ErnestErnest Bailes
R
Dayton
2016
Liberty, San Jacinto, Walker

19
White, JamesJames White
R
Woodville
2010
Hardin, Jasper, Newton, Polk, Tyler

20
Wilson, TerryTerry Wilson
R
Georgetown
2016
Burnet, Milam, Williamson (part)

21
Phelan, DadeDade Phelan
R
Beaumont
2014
Jefferson (part), Orange

22
Deshotel, JoeJoe Deshotel
D
Port Arthur
1998
Jefferson (part)

23
Faircloth, WayneWayne Faircloth
R
Galveston
2014
Chambers, Galveston (part)

24
Bonnen, GregGreg Bonnen
R
Friendswood
2012
Galveston (part)

25
Bonnen, DennisDennis Bonnen
R
Angleton
1996
Brazoria (part), Matagorda

26
Miller, RickRick Miller
R
Sugar Land
2012
Fort Bend (part)

27
Reynolds, RonRon Reynolds
D
Missouri City
2010

28
Zerwas, John M.John M. Zerwas
R
Katy
2006

29
Thompson, EdEd Thompson
R
Pearland
2012
Brazoria (part)

30
Morrison, GeanieGeanie Morrison
R
Victoria
1998
Aransas, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Refugio

31
Guillen, RyanRyan Guillen
D
Rio Grande City
2002
Atascosa, Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, La Sallae, Live Oak, McMullen, Starr, Willacy

32
Hunter, Todd AmesTodd Ames Hunter
R
Portland
2008
(1989-1997)
Nueces (part)

33
Holland, JustinJustin Holland
R

2016
Collin (part), Rockwall

34
Herrero, AbelAbel Herrero
D
Corpus Christi
2012
Nueces (part)

35
Longoria, OscarOscar Longoria
D
Beeville
2012
Cameron (part) Hidalgo (part)

36
Muñoz, Jr., SergioSergio Muñoz, Jr.
D
Mission
2010
Hidalgo

37
Oliveira, ReneRene Oliveira
D
Brownsville
1981†
Cameron (part)

38
Lucio III, EddieEddie Lucio III
D
San Benito
2006

39
Martinez, ArmandoArmando Martinez
D
Weslaco
2004
Hidalgo (part)

40
Canales, TerryTerry Canales
D
Edinburg
2012

41
Guerra, RobertRobert Guerra
D
McAllen
2012†

42
Raymond, RichardRichard Raymond
D
Laredo
2001†
(1993-1999)
Webb (part)

43
Lozano, J. M.J. M. Lozano
R[1]
Kingsville
2010
Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, San Patricio

44
Kuempel, JohnJohn Kuempel
R
Seguin
2010†
Guadalupe, Wilson

45
Isaac, JasonJason Isaac
R
San Marcos
2010
Blanco, Hays

46
Dukes, DawnnaDawnna Dukes
D
Austin
1994
Travis (part)

47
Workman, Paul D.Paul D. Workman
R
Austin
2010

48
Howard, DonnaDonna Howard
D
Austin
2006†

49
Hinojosa , GinaGina Hinojosa
D
Austin
2016

50
Israel, CeliaCelia Israel
D
Austin
2014†

51
Rodriguez, EddieEddie Rodriguez
D
Austin
2002

52
Gonzales, LarryLarry Gonzales
R
Round Rock
2010
Williamson (part)

53
Murr, AndrewAndrew Murr
R
Kimble County
2014
Bandera, Crockett, Edwards, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, Medina, Menard, Real, Schleicher, Sutton

54
Cosper, ScottScott Cosper
R
Killeen
2016
Bell (part), Lampasas

55
Shine, HughHugh Shine
R
Belton
2016
Bell (part)

56
Anderson, CharlesCharles Anderson
R
Waco
2004
McLennan (part)

57
Ashby, TrentTrent Ashby
R
Lufkin
2012
Angelina, Houston, Leon, Madison, San Augustine, Trinity

58
Burns, DeWayneDeWayne Burns
R
Cleburne
2014
Bosque, Johnson

59
Sheffield, J.D.J.D. Sheffield
R
Gatesville
2012
Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, McCulloch, Mills, San Saba, and Somervell

60
Lang, MikeMike Lang
R
Eastland
2016
Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Eastland, Hood, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Stephens

61
King, PhilPhil King
R
Weatherford
1998
Parker, Wise

62
Phillips, LarryLarry Phillips
R
Sherman
2002
Delta, Grayson, Fannin

63
Parker, TanTan Parker
R
Flower Mound
2006
Denton (part)

64
Stucky, LynnLynn Stucky
R
Lake Dallas
2016

65
Simmons, RonRon Simmons
R
Carrollton
2012
Denton (part)

66
Shaheen, MattMatt Shaheen
R
Plano
2014
Collin (part)

67
Leach, JeffJeff Leach
R
Plano
2012

68
Springer, Jr., DrewDrew Springer, Jr.
R
Vernon
2012
Childress, Collingsworth, Cooke, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Fisher, Floyd, Garza, Hall, Hardeman, Haskell,
Jack, Kent, King, Montague, Motley, Wheeler, Wilbarger, Young

69
Frank, JamesJames Frank
R
Wichita Falls
2012
Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Knox, Wichita

70
Sanford, ScottScott Sanford
R
McKinney
2012
Collin (part)

71
Lambert, StanStan Lambert
R
Abilene
2016
Jones, Nolan, Taylor

72
Darby, DrewDrew Darby
R
San Angelo
2006
Coke, Concho, Howard, Irion, Reagan, Runnels, Sterling, Tom Green,

73
Biedermann, KyleKyle Biedermann
R
Fredericksburg
2016
Comal, Gillespie, Kendall

74
Nevarez, PonchoPoncho Nevarez
D
Eagle Pass
2012
Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Maverick, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Val Verde

75
González, MaryMary González
D
El Paso
2012
El Paso (part)

76
Blanco, CesarCesar Blanco
D
El Paso
2014

77
Ortega, EvelinaEvelina Ortega
D
El Paso
2016

78
Moody, JoeJoe Moody
D
El Paso
2012

79
Pickett, JoeJoe Pickett
D
El Paso
1994

80
King, TracyTracy King
D
Batesville
2005
(1995-2003)
Dimmit, Frio, Webb (part), Uvalde, Zapata, Zavala

81
Landgraf, BrooksBrooks Landgraf
R
Odessa
2014
Andrews, Ector, Ward, Winkler

82
Craddick, TomTom Craddick
R
Midland
1968
Crane, Dawson, Martin, Midland, Upton

83
Burrows, DustinDustin Burrows
R
Lubbock
2014
Borden, Gaines, Lubbock (part), Lynn, Mitchell, Scurry, Terry

84
Frullo, JohnJohn Frullo
R
Lubbock
2010†
Lubbock (part)

85
Stephenson, PhilPhil Stephenson
R
Wharton
2012
Fort Bend (part), Jackson, Wharton

86
Smithee, John T.John T. Smithee
R
Amarillo
1984
Dallam, Deaf Smith, Hartley, Oldham, Parmer, Randall

87
Price, FourFour Price
R
Amarillo
2010
Carson, Hutchinson, Moore, Potter, Sherman

88
King, KenKen King
R
Pampa
2012
Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Donley, Gray, Hale, Hansford, Hemphill, Hockley,
Lamb, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts, Swisher, Yoakum

89
Laubenberg, Jodie AnneJodie Anne Laubenberg
R
Parker
2002
Collin (part)

90
Romero Jr., RamonRamon Romero Jr.
D
Fort Worth
2014
Tarrant (part)

91
Klick, StephanieStephanie Klick
R
Fort Worth
2012

92
Stickland, JonathanJonathan Stickland
R
Bedford
2012

93
Krause, MattMatt Krause
R
Arlington
2012

94
Tinderholt, TonyTony Tinderholt
R
Arlington
2006

95
Collier, NicoleNicole Collier
D
Fort Worth
2012

96
Zedler, BillBill Zedler
R
Arlington
2002

97
Goldman, CraigCraig Goldman
R
Fort Worth
2012

98
Capriglione, GiovanniGiovanni Capriglione
R
Southlake
2012

99
Geren, CharlieCharlie Geren
R
River Oaks
2000

100
Johnson, EricEric Johnson
D
Dallas
2010
Dallas (part)

101
Turner, ChrisChris Turner
D
Grand Prairie
2012
Tarrant (part)

102
Koop, LindaLinda Koop
R
Dallas
2014
Dallas (part)

103
Anchia, RafaelRafael Anchia
D
Dallas
2004

104
Alonzo, Roberto R.Roberto R. Alonzo
D
Dallas
1992

105
Anderson, RodneyRodney Anderson
R
Grand Prairie
2014

106
Fallon, PatPat Fallon
R
Grand Prairie
2012
Denton (part)

107
Neave, VictoriaVictoria Neave
D
Dallas
2016
Dallas (part)

108
Meyer, MorganMorgan Meyer
R
Dallas
2014

109
Giddings, HelenHelen Giddings
D
De Soto
1992

110
Rose, ToniToni Rose
D
Dallas
2012

111
Davis, YvonneYvonne Davis
D
Dallas
1992

112
Button, Angie ChenAngie Chen Button
R
Richardson
2008

113
Burkett, CindyCindy Burkett
R
Garland
2010

114
Villalba, JasonJason Villalba
R
Dallas
2012

115
Rinaldi, MattMatt Rinaldi
R
Irving
2014

116
Arevalo, DianaDiana Arevalo
D
San Antonio
2016
Bexar (part)

117
Cortez, PhilipPhilip Cortez
D
San Antonio
2016

118
Uresti, TomasTomas Uresti
D
San Antonio
2016

119
Gutierrez, RolandRoland Gutierrez
D
San Antonio
2008†

120
Gervin-Hawkins, BarbaraBarbara Gervin-Hawkins
D
San Antonio
2016

121
Straus, JoeJoe Straus
R
San Antonio
2005†

122
Larson, LyleLyle Larson
R
San Antonio
2010

123
Bernal, DiegoDiego Bernal
D
San Antonio
2014†

124
Minjarez, InaIna Minjarez[2]
D
San Antonio
2015†

125
Rodriguez, JustinJustin Rodriguez
D
San Antonio
2012

126
Roberts, KevinKevin Roberts
R
Spring
2016
Harris (part)

127
Huberty, DanDan Huberty
R
Kingwood
2010

128
Cain, BriscoeBriscoe Cain
R
Baytown
2016

129
Paul, DennisDennis Paul
R
Houston
2014

130
Oliverson, TomTom Oliverson
R
Houston
2016

131
Allen, AlmaAlma Allen
D
Houston
2004

132
Schofield, MikeMike Schofield
R
Houston
2014

133
Murphy, JimJim Murphy
R
Houston
2010

134
Davis, SarahSarah Davis
R
Houston
2010

135
Elkins, GaryGary Elkins
R
Houston
1994

136
Dale, TonyTony Dale
R
Cedar Park
2012
Williamson (part)

137
Wu, GeneGene Wu
D
Houston
2012
Harris (part)

138
Bohac, DwayneDwayne Bohac
R
Houston
2002

139
Jarvis Johnson
D
Houston
2016†

140
Walle, ArmandoArmando Walle
D
Houston
2008

141
Thompson, SenfroniaSenfronia Thompson
D
Houston
1972

142
Dutton Jr., HaroldHarold Dutton Jr.
D
Houston
1984

143
Hernandez, AnaAna Hernandez
D
Houston
2005†

144
Perez, Mary AnnMary Ann Perez
D
Houston
2016

145
Alvarado, CarolCarol Alvarado
D
Houston
2008

146
Thierry, ShawnShawn Thierry
D
Houston
2016

147
Coleman, GarnetGarnet Coleman
D
Houston
1991†

148
Farrar, Jessica ChristinaJessica Christina Farrar
D
Houston
1994

149
Vo, HubertHubert Vo
D
Houston
2004

150
Swanson, ValoreeValoree Swanson
R
Houston
2016

text: Notable past members[edit]

text:
Eligio (Kika) De La Garza, II, first Mexican-American to represent his region in the US House and the second Mexican-American from Texas to be elected to Congress (1965 - 1997).[3]
Ray Barnhart, Federal Highway Administrator (1981–1987)
Anita Lee Blair, first blind woman elected to a state legislature
Jack Brooks, U.S. House of Representatives (1953–1995)
Dolph Briscoe, Governor of Texas (1973–1979)
Frank Kell Cahoon, Midland County oilman and representative from 1965 to 1969; only Republican member in 1965 legislative session
Carter Casteel, state House member, 2003-2007; former school board member and county judge in Comal County, lawyer in New Braunfels
Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative (2013–present)
Tom DeLay, U.S. Representative (1985–2006) and House Majority Leader (2003–2005)
John Nance Garner, U.S. Representative (1903–1933), Speaker of the House (1931–1933), and Vice President of the United States (1933–1941)
O.H. "Ike" Harris, Dallas County representative from 1963–1965; state senator (1967–1995)
Sarah T. Hughes, United States district court judge
Robert Dean Hunter, former executive vice president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas
Suzanna Hupp, House of Representatives (1997–2007), survived the Luby's shooting, went on to champion individual gun ownership and carry rights.
Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Senator (1993–2013)
Ray Hutchison, husband of Kay Bailey Hutchison
Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr., father of President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
Dan Kubiak, representative from Rockdale known for his support of public education
Mickey Leland, U.S. House of Representatives (1979–1989), died in a plane crash.
Charles Henry Nimitz (1826–1911) Born in Bremen. In 1852, built the Nimitz Hotel in Fredericksburg, which now houses the National Museum of the Pacific War. Grandfather of United States Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. Elected to the Texas Legislature 1890.
Rick Perry, longest serving Governor of Texas, (2000–2015) and current U.S. Secretary of Energy.
Colonel Alfred P.C. Petsch (1925–1941) Lawyer, legislator, civic leader, and philanthropist. Veteran of both World War I and World War II.
Sam Rayburn, U.S. Representative (1913–1961) and longest served Speaker of the House (1940–1947, 1949-1953, 1955-1961)
Coke R. Stevenson, Governor of Texas (1941–1947)
Sarah Weddington, attorney for "Jane Roe" for the 1973 Roe v. Wade case in the U.S. Supreme Court
Ferdinand C. Weinert, coauthored bill to establish the Pasteur Institute of Texas, authored resolution for humane treatment of state convicts, coauthored the indeterminate sentence and parole law. Also served as Texas Secretary of State
Charles Wilson, U.S. House of Representatives (1973–1996), subject of the book and film Charlie Wilson's War

text: Officials[edit]

text: Speaker of the House[edit]

text: The Speaker of the House of Representatives has duties as a presiding officer as well as administrative duties. As a presiding officer, the Speaker must enforce, apply, and interpret the rules of the House, call House members to order, lay business in order before the House and receive propositions made by members, refer proposed legislation to a committee, preserve order and decorum, recognize people in the gallery, state and hold votes on questions, vote as a member of the House, decide on all questions to order, appoint the Speaker Pro Tempore and Temporary Chair, adjourn the House in the event of an emergency, postpone reconvening in the event of an emergency, and sign all bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions. The administrative duties of the Speaker include having control over the Hall of the House, appointing chair, vice-chair, and members to each standing committee, appointing all conference committees, and directing committees to make interim studies.[4]

text: Chief Clerk[edit]

text: The Chief Clerk is the head of the Chief Clerk's Office which maintains a record of all authors who sign legislation, maintains and distributes membership information to current house members, and forwards copies of legislation to house committee chairs.[5] The Chief Clerk is the primary custodian of all legal documents within House. Additional duties include keeping a record of all progress on a document, attesting all warrants, writs, and subpoenas, receiving and filing all documents received by the house, and maintaining the electronic information and calendar for documents. When there is a considerable update of the electronic source website, the Chief Clerk is also responsible for noticing House members via email.[4]

text: Committees[edit]

text:
Agriculture and Livestock
Appropriations[6]

Subcommittee on Articles I, IV & V
Subcommittee on Article II
Subcommittee on Article III
Subcommittee on Articles VI, VII & VIII
Subcommittee on Budget Transparency & Reform

Business & Industry
Calendars
Corrections
County Affairs
Criminal Jurisprudence
Culture, Recreation, & Tourism
Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Economic & Small Business Development

Subcommittee on Small Business

Elections
Emerging Issues in Texas Law Enforcement (Select)
Energy Resources
Environmental Regulation
General Investigating & Ethics
Higher Education

Subcommittee on Post-Secondary & Workforce Readiness

Homeland Security & Public Safety
House Administration
Human Services
Insurance
International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs
Investments & Financial Services

Subcommittee on Bond Indebtedness

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
Land & Resource Management
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Local & Consent Calendars
Natural Resources

Subcommittee on Special Water Districts

Pensions
Public Education

Subcommittee on Educator Equality

Public Health
Redistricting
Rules & Resolutions
Special Purpose Districts
State Affairs
State & Federal Power & Responsibility (Select)
Transportation
Transportation Planning (Select)

Subcommittee on Long-Term Infrastructure Planning

Urban Affairs
Ways & Means

text: In addition to these committees, there are also six joint committees composed of members of both the State House and Senate:

text:
Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight
Legislative Audit Board
Legislative Budget Board
Legislative Library Board
Sunset Advisory Commission
Texas Legislative Council

text: Notable controversies[edit]

text: House voting controversy[edit]

text: On May 14, 2007, CBS Austin affiliate KEYE reported on multiple voting by representatives during House floor sessions.[7] The report noted how representatives register votes for absent members on the House's automated voting machines. Each representative would vote for the nearest absent members (apparently regardless of party affiliation). This practice was in direct violation of a Rule of the House; however, no representative had ever been disciplined for the practice in the almost 70 years since the rule was adopted. Speaker Craddick, responsible for enforcement of House Rules, issued a statement that discipline for violations of the rule is left to the individual members.

text: Craddick removal controversy[edit]

text: Chaos erupted in the Texas House of Representatives on Friday, May 25, 2007, when Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, attempted to offer a motion to remove Tom Craddick as Speaker and have the House elect a new speaker. Craddick (also a Republican) refused to allow him to make the motion.[8] The attempts to oust Craddick continued through the weekend as other Republicans made additional motions, which were also disallowed.

text: The last time a Texas House speaker was removed by a vote of his fellow members was in 1871, when the House adopted a resolution removing Speaker Ira Evans. The Republican House majority removed Evans because he was seen as cooperating too much with Democrats on an elections bill.[8] While Craddick's close allies say the 2007 attempt to remove Craddick was just an effort by Democrats to gain greater control of the Legislature before the legislative and congressional redistricting process of 2011,[8] Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, says the fight was about Craddick consolidating power with lobbyists and using campaign contributions to maintain control in the House: "This is about the convergence of money and power and influence," Cook said.[8]

text: In January 2009, Craddick lost the Speaker's chair after a challenge from Joe Straus.

text: Cook committee hearing closure controversy (2013)[edit]

text: On June 20, 2013 Byron Cook served as chairman of the House State Affairs Committee hearing on Texas State House Bill 60. Cook's stance was for the passing of the bill and during the hearing he interrupted a testimony, saying "Some of us do (adopt children)." At 12:00 AM on June 21, Cook decided to close the hearing prematurely.[9] Cook's explanation for breaching Texas State Legislature operating procedures was that the testimonies being heard had become repetitive. Twenty-four minutes later, Cook became personally offended by a testimony, ordering the cameras to be shut off and leaving the room of committee members and witnesses. Approximately 20 minutes afterwards, Cook was persuaded by colleagues to resume the hearing and continued listening to testimonies until he prematurely closed the hearing at 1:30 AM.[10]


document_title: Left- and right-hand traffic

question_text: does the us drive on the right or left

question_tokens: does the us drive on the right or left

text: Left- and right-hand traffic

text: History[edit]

text: Ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Roman troops kept to the left when marching.[7] In 1998, archaeologists found a well-preserved double track leading to a Roman quarry near Swindon, in southern England. The grooves in the road on the left side (viewed facing down the track away from the quarry) were much deeper than those on the right side, suggesting LHT, at least at this location, since carts would exit the quarry heavily loaded, and enter it empty.[8]

text: The first reference in English law to an order for LHT was in 1756, with regard to London Bridge.[9]

text: Some historians, such as C. Northcote Parkinson, believed that ancient travellers on horseback or on foot generally kept to the left, since most people were right handed. If two men riding on horseback were to start a fight, each would edge toward the left.[7] In the year 1300, Pope Boniface VIII directed pilgrims to keep left.[7]

text: In the late 1700s, traffic in the United States was RHT based on teamsters' use of large freight wagons pulled by several pairs of horses. The wagons had no driver's seat, so the (typically right-handed) postilion held his whip in his right hand and thus sat on the left rear horse. Seated on the left, the driver preferred that other wagons pass him on the left so that he could be sure to keep clear of the wheels of oncoming wagons.[10]

text: In France, traditionally foot traffic had kept right, while carriage traffic kept left. Following the French Revolution, all traffic kept right.[9] Following the Napoleonic Wars, the French imposed RHT on parts of Europe. During the colonial period, RHT was introduced by the French in New France, French West Africa, the Maghreb, French Indochina, the West Indies, French Guiana and the Réunion, among others.

text: Meanwhile, LHT was introduced by the British in parts of Canada (Atlantic Canada and British Columbia), Australia, New Zealand, the East Africa Protectorate (now Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda), British India, Rhodesia and the Cape Colony (now Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa), British Malaya (now Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore), British Guiana, and British Hong Kong. LHT was also introduced by the Portuguese Empire in Portuguese Macau, Colonial Brazil, Portuguese Timor, Portuguese Mozambique, and Portuguese Angola.

text: The first keep-right law for driving in the United States was passed in 1792 and applied to the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike.[11] New York formalized RHT in 1804, New Jersey in 1813 and Massachusetts in 1821.[12]

text: In the early 1900s some countries including Canada, Spain, and Brazil had different rules in different parts of the country. During the 1900s many countries standardised within their jurisdictions, and changed from LHT to RHT, mostly to conform with regional custom. Currently nearly all countries use one side or the other throughout their entire territory. Most exceptions are due to historical considerations and/or involve islands with no road connection to the main part of a country. China is RHT except the Special Administrative Regions of China of Hong Kong and Macau. The United States is RHT except the United States Virgin Islands.[13] The United Kingdom is LHT, but its overseas territories of Gibraltar and British Indian Ocean Territory are RHT.

text: Changing sides[edit]

text: Europe[edit]

text: Influential in Europe was the 1920 Paris Convention, which advised driving on the right-hand side of the road, in order to harmonise traffic across a continent with many borders. This was despite the fact that left-hand traffic was still widespread: in 1915 for example, LHT was introduced everywhere in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.[14] However, three years later the Empire was split up into several countries, and they all changed eventually to RHT, notably including when Nazi Germany introduced RHT with almost immediate effect in Czechoslovakia in 1938-39.[15]

text: Sweden was LHT from about 1734 to 1967,[16] despite having land borders with RHT countries, and approximately 90 percent of cars being left-hand drive (LHD) vehicles.[17] A referendum was held in 1955, with an overwhelming majority voting against a change to RHT. Nevertheless, some years later the government ordered a conversion, which took place at 5 am on Sunday, 3 September 1967. The accident rate dropped sharply after the change,[18] but soon rose back to near its original level.[19] The day was known as Dagen H ("H-Day"), the 'H' being for Högertrafik ("right traffic"). When Iceland switched the following year, it was known as H-dagurinn, again meaning "H-Day".[20]

text: In the late 1960s, the UK Department for Transport considered switching to RHT, but declared it unsafe and too costly for such a built-up nation.[21] Road building standards, for motorways in particular, allow asymmetrically designed road junctions, where merge and diverge lanes differ in length.[22]

text: Asia and the Pacific[edit]

text: China adopted RHT in 1946. Taiwan changed to driving on the right at the same time. Hong Kong and Macau continue to be LHT.

text: Both North Korea and South Korea switched to RHT in September 1945 after liberation from Japan which was defeated and surrendered by the Allies.

text: Myanmar switched to RHT in 1970.[23]

text: Samoa, a former German colony, had been RHT for more than a century. It switched to LHT in 2009,[24] being the first territory in almost 30 years to switch.[25] The move was legislated in 2008 to allow Samoans to use cheaper right hand drive (RHD) vehicles--which are better suited for left hand traffic--imported from Australia, New Zealand or Japan, and to harmonise with other South Pacific nations. A political party, The People's Party, was formed to try to protest against the change, a protest group which launched a legal challenge,[26] and an estimated 18,000 people attending demonstrations against it.[27] The motor industry was also opposed, as 14,000 of Samoa's 18,000 vehicles are designed for RHT and the government has refused to meet the cost of conversion.[25] After months of preparation, the switch from right to left happened in an atmosphere of national celebration. There were no reported incidents.[2] At 05:50 local time, Monday 7 September, a radio announcement halted traffic, and an announcement at 6:00 ordered traffic to switch to LHT.[24] The change coincided with more restrictive enforcement of speeding and seat-belt laws.[28] That day and the following day were declared public holidays, to reduce traffic.[29] The change included a three-day ban on alcohol sales, while police mounted dozens of checkpoints, warning drivers to drive slowly.[2]

text: The Philippines was mostly LHT during its Spanish[30] and American colonial periods,[31][32] as well as during the Commonwealth era.[33] During the Japanese occupation the Philippines remained LHT,[34] also because LHT had been required by the Japanese;[35] but during the Battle of Manila the liberating American forces drove their tanks to the right for easier facilitation of movement. RHT was formally finalised by Executive Order No. 34 signed by President Sergio Osmeña on 10 March 1945.[36]

text: Africa[edit]

text: A number of non-contiguous former British colonies in West Africa originally drove LHT and switched to RHT in the early 1970s to match the surrounding countries. Sierra Leone switched to RHT in 1971, Nigeria in 1972 and Ghana in 1974. Before this period The Gambia, a country entirely contained within RHT Senegal, had officially switched to RHT in 1965.[37]

text: Rwanda, a former Belgian colony in central Africa, is RHT but is considering switching to LHT, to bring the country in line with other members of the East African Community (EAC).[38] A survey, carried out in 2009, indicated that 54% of Rwandans were in favour of the switch. Reasons cited were the perceived lower costs of RHD vehicles as opposed to LHD versions of the same model, easier maintenance and the political benefit of harmonisation of traffic regulations with other EAC countries. The same survey also indicated that RHD cars are 16 to 49 per cent cheaper than their LHD equivalents.[39] In 2014 an internal report from consultants to the Ministry of Infrastructure recommended a switch to LHT.[40] In 2015, the ban on RHD vehicles was lifted; RHD trucks from neighbouring countries cost $1000 less than LHD models imported from Europe.[41][42]

text: Road deaths[edit]

text: In right-hand traffic, the dominant (usually right) hand of the driver is on the gearstick instead of on the steering wheel. Conversely, in left-hand traffic the dominant (right) hand is on the steering wheel. The eyes are also affected differently: researchers have concluded that left-hand traffic is safer especially for elderly drivers,[43] since humans are more commonly right-eye dominant than left-eye dominant.[44] The following table shows road death statistics in comparable pairs of European countries.

text:
Country
L/R
traffic

Road deaths
per 100.000
inhabitants
per year[45]
Road deaths
per 100.000
vehicles[45]
Road deaths
per 1 billion
vehicle km[46][45]
Deaths in
most recent year
(acc. to
WHO data)[45]
Year, Source
(Main source:
WHO 2015,[47]
Data from 2013)

 Cyprus
L
5.2
9.2
n.a.
59
2013

 Greece
R
9.1
12.6
n.a.
1013
2013

 United Kingdom
L
2.9
5.1
3.6
1827
2013

 Germany
R
4.3
6.8
4.9
3540
2013

text: Changing sides at borders[edit]

text: Although many LHT jurisdictions are on islands, there are cases where vehicles may be driven from LHT across a border into a RHT area. The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic regulates the use of foreign registered vehicles in the 74 countries that have ratified it.

text: LHT Thailand has three RHT neighbours: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar. Most of its borders use a simple traffic light to do the switch, but there are also interchanges which enable the switch while keeping up a continuous flow of traffic.[48]

text: There are four road border crossing points between Hong Kong and Mainland China. In 2006, the daily average number of vehicle trips recorded at Lok Ma Chau was 31,100.[49] The next largest is Man Kam To, where there is no changeover system and the border roads on the mainland side Wenjindu intersect as one-way streets with a main road.

text: The Takutu River Bridge (which links LHT Guyana and RHT Brazil[50]) is the only border in the Americas where traffic changes sides.

text: Although the United Kingdom is separated from Continental Europe by the English Channel, the level of cross-Channel traffic is very high; the Channel Tunnel alone carries 3.5 million vehicles per year, by rail, between the UK and France.

text: Road vehicle configurations[edit]

text: Driver seating position[edit]

text: In RHT jurisdictions, vehicles are configured with LHD, with the driver sitting on the left side. In LHT jurisdictions, the reverse is true. The driver's side, the side closest to the centre of the road, is sometimes called the offside, while the passenger side, the side closest to the side of the road, is sometimes called the nearside.[51]

text: Historically there was less consistency in the relationship of the position of the driver to the handedness of traffic. Most American cars produced before 1910 were RHD.[11] In 1908 Henry Ford standardised the Model T as LHD in RHT America,[11] arguing that with RHD and RHT, the passenger was obliged to "get out on the street side and walk around the car" and that with steering from the left, the driver "is able to see even the wheels of the other car and easily avoids danger."[52] By 1915 other manufacturers followed Ford's lead, due to the popularity of the Model T.[11]

text: In specialised cases, the driver will sit on the nearside, or kerbside. Examples include:

text:
Where the driver needs a good view of the nearside, e.g. street sweepers, or vehicles driven along unstable road edges.[53]
Where it is more convenient for the driver to be on the nearside, e.g. delivery vehicles. The Grumman LLV postal delivery truck is widely used with RHD configurations in RHT North America. Some Unimogs are designed to switch between LHD and RHD to permit operators to work on the more convenient side of the truck.

text: Generally, the convention is to mount a motorcycle on the left,[54] and kickstands are usually on the left[55] which makes it more convenient to mount on the safer kerbside[55] as is the case in LHT. Some jurisdictions prohibit fitting a sidecar to a motorcycle's offside.[56][57]

text: Headlamps and other lighting equipment[edit]

text: Most low-beam headlamps produce an asymmetrical light suitable for use on only one side of the road. Low beam headlamps in LHT jurisdictions throw most of their light forward-leftward; those for RHT throw most of their light forward-rightward, thus illuminating obstacles and road signs while minimising glare for oncoming traffic.

text: In Europe, headlamps approved for use on one side of the road must be adaptable to produce adequate illumination with controlled glare for temporarily driving on the other side of the road,[58]:p.13 ¶5.8. This may be achieved by affixing masking strips or prismatic lenses to a part of the lens or by moving all or part of the headlamp optic so all or part of the beam is shifted or the asymmetrical portion is occluded.[58]:p.13 ¶5.8.1 Some varieties of the projector-type headlamp can be fully adjusted to produce a proper LHT or RHT beam by shifting a lever or other movable element in or on the lamp assembly.[58]:p.12 ¶5.4 Some vehicles adjust the headlamps automatically when the car's GPS detects that the vehicle has moved from LHT to RHT and vice versa.[citation needed]

text: Because blackout strips and adhesive prismatic lenses reduce the safety performance of the headlamps, most countries require all vehicles registered or used on a permanent or semi-permanent basis within the country to be equipped with headlamps designed for the correct traffic-handedness.[citation needed]

text: Without sidecars attached, motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds, and bicycles are almost symmetric with their handlebars in the centre. However, motorcycles are often equipped with automotive-type asymmetrical-beam headlamps that likewise require adjustments or replacement when brought into a country with opposite traffic-handedness.[citation needed]

text: Rear fog lamps[edit]

text: In the European Union, vehicles must be equipped with one or two red rear fog lamps. A single rear fog lamp must be located between the vehicle's longitudinal centreline and the outer extent of the driver's side of the vehicle.[59][not in citation given]

text: Crash testing differences[edit]

text: An Australian news source reports that some RHD cars imported to that country perform less well on crash tests than the LHD versions, although the cause is unknown, and may be due to differences in testing methodology.[60]

text: Worldwide distribution by country[edit]

text: Of the 193 countries currently recognised by the United Nations (and the unrecognised Palestine), 140 use RHT and 54 use LHT. A country and its territories and dependencies is counted once.

text:
Country
Road traffic
Road switched sides
Multi-track rail traffic generally
Notes

 Afghanistan
RHT

RHT/LHT
Was LHT until the 1950s, in line with neighbouring British Raj and later Pakistan.[61]

 Albania
RHT[62]

RHT

 Algeria
RHT[62]

RHT

 Andorra
RHT[62]

 Angola
RHT[62]
1928

 Antigua and Barbuda
LHT[62]

 Argentina
RHT
10 June 1945
LHT
The anniversary on 10 June is still observed each year as Día de la Seguridad Vial (road safety day).[63]
The Premetro and Metrotranvía Mendoza use RHT.

 Armenia
RHT[62]

RHT

 Australia
LHT[64]

LHT
Commonwealth. Includes  Christmas Island,  Cocos Islands,  Norfolk Island

 Austria
RHT
1921–1938
RHT[65]
Originally LHT, like most of former Austria-Hungary. Switched sides in 1921 in Vorarlberg, 1930 in North Tyrol, 1935 in Carinthia and East Tyrol, and in 1938 in the rest of the country.

 Azerbaijan
RHT[62]

RHT

 Bahamas
LHT[62]

In Bahamas LHD vehicles are common due to the import of used cars from the United States.[66]

 Bahrain
RHT
1967

Former British protectorate. Switched to same side as neighbours.[67]

 Bangladesh
LHT[62]

LHT

 Barbados
LHT

 Belgium
RHT[62]
1899
LHT
The Brussels Metro is nominally RHT, with LHT on the circle line west of Halle Gate. This was done to enable unidirectional vehicles to use island platforms.

 Belarus
RHT[62]

RHT

 Belize
RHT
1961[1]

Former British colony. Switched to same side as neighbours.

 Benin
RHT[62]

 Bhutan
LHT[62]

Under British protection before 1949.

 Bolivia
RHT[62]

 Botswana
LHT[62]

 Brazil
RHT
1928[62]
RHT
A Portuguese colony until the early 19th century as LHT and retained following independence, switched most states to RHT in 1928 like Portugal.[68][69] While some areas in present-day Brazil formerly belonged to Bolivia were already in RHT.

 Brunei
LHT[62]

 Bosnia and Herzegovina
RHT[62]
1918
RHT[70]
Switched sides after the collapse of Austria-Hungary.

 Bulgaria
RHT[62]

RHT

 Burkina Faso
RHT[62]

 Burundi
RHT

Considering switching to LHT[71] in line with neighbours Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

 Cambodia
RHT

RHT implemented while part of French Indochina. RHD cars, many of which were smuggled from Thailand, were banned from 2001, even though they accounted for 80% of vehicles in the country.[72]

 Cameroon
RHT[62]
1961

 Cape Verde
RHT[62]
1928

 Central African Republic
RHT[62]

 Chad
RHT[62]

 Chile
RHT[62]
1920s
LHT
The Santiago Metro uses RHT.

 China
RHT
1946
RHT/LHT
At one time, northern provinces were RHT due to American influence, while southern provinces were LHT due to British influence. LHT was uniform in the 1930s.  Hong Kong and  Macau are all on LHT. Most metro systems use RHT, except for the Hong Kong MTR and the Macau LRT.

 Colombia
RHT[62]

RHT

 Comoros
RHT[62]

 Congo
RHT[62]

 Democratic Republic of Congo
RHT[62]

 Costa Rica
RHT[62]

 Côte d'Ivoire
RHT[62]

 Croatia
RHT[62]

RHT
Istria and Dalmatia were RHT, while Croatia-Slavonia was LHT when Croatia was part of Austria-Hungary [73]. The LHT regions switched to RHT on joining the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

 Cuba
RHT[62]

 Cyprus
LHT[62]

Former British colony.

 Czech Republic
RHT[62]
1939
RHT
Was LHT, like most of former Austria-Hungary, switched during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia.

 Denmark
RHT

RHT[74]
Includes  Faroe Islands and  Greenland

 Djibouti
RHT[62]

 Dominica
LHT[62]

Former British colony.

 Dominican Republic
RHT[62]

 East Timor
LHT
1976

Originally LHT, like its colonial power Portugal. Switched to RHT with Portugal in 1928.[1] Under the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, changed back to LHT in 1976.

 Ecuador
RHT[62]

LHT
The Quito Metro and Cuenca tram system will use RHT.

 Egypt
RHT[62]

LHT
Road vehicles are RHT due to French influence, but railway system was built by British companies.

 El Salvador
RHT[62]

 Equatorial Guinea
RHT[62]

 Eritrea
RHT[62]
1964

 Estonia
RHT[62]

RHT

 Ethiopia
RHT[62]
1964
LHT
The Addis Ababa Light Rail uses RHT.

 Fiji
LHT

 Finland
RHT
1858
RHT/LHT
Formerly ruled by LHT Sweden, switched to RHT as the Grand Duchy of Finland by Russian decree.[75] Most of the Helsinki commuter rail lines use LHT, but the Helsinki Metro uses RHT.

 France
RHT
1792
LHT[76]/RHT
Includes  French Polynesia,  New Caledonia,  Saint Pierre and Miquelon,  Wallis and Futuna,  French Guiana,  Réunion,  Saint Barthélemy,  Collectivity of Saint Martin,  Guadeloupe,  Mayotte.
Railways in Alsace and Moselle use RHT as a former part of German Empire. CDGVAL uses RHT. Most metro systems use RHT, except for the Lyon Metro.

 Gabon
RHT[62]

 Gambia
RHT
1965[37]

 Georgia
RHT[62]

RHT
About 40% vehicles in Georgia are RHD due to low cost of used cars from Japan[77]. The Batumi Ropeway uses LHT.

 Germany
RHT[78]

RHT

 Ghana
RHT
1974[79]

Former British colony. When changing to RHT, a Twi language slogan was "Nifa, Nifa Enan" or "Right, Right, Fourth".[80]

 Greece
RHT[62]

RHT

 Grenada
LHT[62]

 Guatemala
RHT[62]

 Guinea
RHT[62]

 Guinea-Bissau
RHT[62]
1928

 Guyana
LHT[62]

 Haiti
RHT[62]

 Honduras
RHT[62]

 Hungary
RHT[62]
1941
RHT
Originally LHT, like most of Austria-Hungary.

 Iceland
RHT
1968

The day of the switch was known as H-dagurinn. Most passenger cars were already LHD.

 Iran
RHT[62]

RHT

 Iraq
RHT[62]

LHT

 India
LHT[62]

LHT
Former British colony.

 Indonesia
LHT[64]

RHT[81]
Roads were built by British, but railways are RHT due to Netherlands influence. The Jakarta MRT will also use RHT.

 Ireland
LHT[62]

LHT
Part of the United Kingdom until 1922.

 Israel
RHT[62]

LHT
The Jerusalem Light Rail uses RHT.

 Italy
RHT
1920s
LHT
Until 1927 the countryside was RHT while cities were LHT.[82] Rome changed to RHT in 1924 and Milan in 1926. Alfa Romeo and Lancia did not produce LHD cars until as late as 1950 and 1953 respectively, as many drivers favoured the RHD layout even in RHT as this offered the driver a clearer view of the edge of the road in mountainous regions at a time when many such roads lacked barriers or walls.[83]
The metro systems in Brescia, Genoa, Milan, and Turin use RHT, as well as all tram systems.

 Jamaica
LHT[62]

 Japan
LHT[84]

LHT
Post-World War II  Okinawa was ruled by the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands and was RHT. It was returned to Japan in 1972 but did not convert back to LHT until 1978.[85] The conversion operation was known as 730 (Nana-San-Maru, which means Nana(7)-San(3)-Maru(0)). Okinawa is one of few places to have changed from RHT to LHT in the late 20th century. The Hakone Ropeway uses RHT.

 Jordan
RHT[62]

RHT, despite the Mandate for Palestine and the Transjordan memorandum being under British rule till 1946.

 Kazakhstan
RHT[62]

RHT

 Kenya
LHT[86]

British colony until 1963.

 Kiribati
LHT[62]

 North Korea
RHT
1946
LHT/RHT
Korea had been LHT because of the influence of Japan in the 1900s. Switched to RHT under Soviet and American occupation after 1945.
The metro system in Pyongyang uses a mixture of RHT and LHT.

 South Korea
RHT
1946
LHT/RHT
Korea had been LHT because of the influence of Japan in the 1900s. Switched to RHT under Soviet and American occupation after 1945.
Most metro systems in South Korea use RHT (exceptions include lines 1 and 4 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, the Bundang Line, and the Shinbundang Line).

 Kuwait
RHT[62]

 Kyrgyzstan
RHT

RHT
Former part of RHT Soviet Union. In 2012, over 20,000 cheaper used RHD cars were imported from Japan.[87]

 Laos
RHT[62]

LHT
RHT implemented while part of French Indochina.

 Latvia
RHT[62]

RHT

 Lebanon
RHT[62]

Former French mandate.

 Lesotho
LHT[62]

 Liberia
RHT[62]

 Libya
RHT[62]

 Liechtenstein
RHT[62]

RHT

 Lithuania
RHT[62]

RHT

 Luxembourg
RHT[62]

RHT

 Macedonia
RHT[62]

RHT

 Madagascar
RHT[62]

 Malawi
LHT[62]

 Malaysia
LHT[62]

LHT
Former British colony.

 Maldives
LHT[62]

 Mali
RHT[62]

 Malta
LHT[62]

British colony until 1964.

 Marshall Islands
RHT[62]

 Mauritania
RHT

Mining roads between Fdérik and Zouérat are LHT.[88]

 Mauritius
LHT[62]

Former British colony. Island nation.

RHT
1920s
RHT
Territories now in Canada have always been RHT, except British Columbia, which changed to RHT in stages from 1920 to 1923,[89][90] and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island which changed in 1922, 1923, and 1924 respectively.[91] Newfoundland and Labrador changed to RHT in 1947 while still a dominion of the British Empire, two years before joining Canada.[92]
 Mexico
RHT[62]
 United States
RHT
LHT
(U.S. Virgin Islands)

 Micronesia
RHT [62]

 Moldova
RHT[62]

RHT

 Monaco
RHT[62]

LHT

 Mongolia
RHT[62]

RHT

 Montenegro
RHT[62]

RHT

 Morocco
RHT[62]

RHT

 Mozambique
LHT[93]

LHT

 Myanmar
RHT
1970
LHT
Much of infrastructure still geared to LHT, most cars are pre-owned RHD vehicles, imported from Japan.[94]

 Netherlands
RHT
1906[95]
RHT
Rotterdam was LHT until 1917.[96] Includes  Curaçao,  Sint Maarten, and  Aruba

 Namibia
LHT
1918

RHT as a German colony. After South Africa occupied German South-West Africa during World War I, switched to LHT.[1] South-West Africa was made a South African mandate by the League of Nations, and the new rule of the road was established in law.[97]

 Nauru
LHT[62]
1918

   Nepal
LHT[98]

 New Zealand
LHT[64]

LHT
Includes territories  Niue and  Cook Islands

 Nicaragua
RHT[62]

 Niger
RHT[62]

 Nigeria
RHT
1972[99]
LHT
Former British colony. Switched to RHT as it is surrounded by former French RHT colonies.

 Norway
RHT[62]

RHT

 Oman
RHT

Not a party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and bans all foreign-registered RHD vehicles.[100]

 Palau
RHT[62]

RHT

 Palestine
RHT[62]

 Pakistan
LHT[62]

LHT

 Panama
RHT
1943[101]
RHT

 Papua New Guinea
LHT[62]

 Paraguay
RHT
1945[102]

 Peru
RHT[62]

LHT

 Philippines
RHT
1946[36]
RHT
Was LHT during the Spanish and American colonial periods. Switched to RHT during Battle of Manila in 1945.

 Poland
RHT

RHT
Partitions of Poland belonging to the German Empire and the Russian Empire were RHT. Partitions that were part of Austria-Hungary were LHT and changed to RHT in the 1920s.[103]

 Portugal
RHT[64]
1928
LHT
Colonies Goa, Macau and Mozambique, which had land borders with LHT countries, did not switch and continue to drive on the left.[93] The Porto Metro uses RHT.

 Qatar
RHT[62]

 Romania
RHT[62]

RHT
Transylvania was LHT like most of former Austria-Hungary, while Wallachia and Moldavia were already RHT.

 Russia
RHT[62]

RHT
In the Russian Far East RHD vehicles are common due to the import of used cars from nearby Japan.[104] Railway between Moscow and Ryazan is LHT. Sormovskaya line in Nizhny Novgorod Metro also uses LHT.

 Rwanda
RHT[71]

Former Belgian mandate. Considering switching to LHT[71][105] like its neighbours Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

 Saint Kitts and Nevis
LHT

 Saint Lucia
LHT

 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
LHT

 Samoa
LHT
2009

Switched to LHT to allow the import of cars more cheaply from Australia, New Zealand and Japan.[64]

 San Marino
RHT[62]

 São Tomé and Príncipe
RHT[62]
1928

 Saudi Arabia
RHT[62]

LHT
The Makkah Metro and the Riyadh Metro use RHT.

 Senegal
RHT[62]

 Serbia
RHT[62]

RHT
Vojvodina was LHT while part of Austria-Hungary.

 Seychelles
LHT[62]

 Sierra Leone
RHT
1971[106]

Importation of RHD vehicles was banned in 2013.[107]

 Singapore
LHT[62]

LHT
Former British colony.

 Slovakia
RHT[62]
1939–41
RHT
Was LHT like most of former Austria-Hungary. Switched to RHT when it became a client state of Nazi Germany.

 Slovenia
RHT[62]

LHT
Was LHT like most of Austria-Hungary. Switched to RHT to unite with Croatia-Slavonia, Dalmatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro to form with Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

 Solomon Islands
LHT[62]

 Somalia
RHT
1968[108]

 South Africa
LHT[109][110]

LHT
Former British colony.

 South Sudan
RHT
1973

Was LHT during the period of British colonial rule. Split from Sudan in 2011 after the majority of the population voted for independence.

 Spain
RHT
1924
RHT
Up to the 1920s Barcelona was RHT, and Madrid was LHT until 1924. The Madrid and Bilbao metro systems use LHT.[111]

 Sri Lanka
LHT[62]

LHT
Former British colony.

 Sudan
RHT[62]
1973

Former British colony.

 Suriname
LHT[62]

 Swaziland
LHT[62]

 Sweden
RHT[62]
3 September 1967
LHT
The day of the switch was known as Dagen H. Most passenger cars were already LHD. The tram systems in Gothenburg (except for a short part) and Norrköping and Stockholm are RHT.[112] The railways in Malmö use RHT due to the connection to Denmark.

  Switzerland
RHT[62]

LHT
The tram system in Zurich and the Lausanne Metro use RHT.

 Syria
RHT[62]

 Taiwan
RHT
1946
LHT
Was LHT during the period of Japanese rule. The government of the Republic of China changed Taiwan to RHT in 1946 along with the rest of China.[113] Most metro systems use RHT.

 Tajikistan
RHT[62]

RHT

 Tanzania
LHT[62]

 Thailand
LHT[64]

LHT
One of the few LHT countries not a former British colony. Shares long land border with RHT Laos and Cambodia.

 Togo
RHT[62]

 Tonga
LHT[62]

 Trinidad and Tobago
LHT[114]

Former British colony.

 Tunisia
RHT[62]

LHT
French RHT was enforced in the French protectorate of Tunisia from 1881.

 Turkey
RHT[62]

RHT

 Turkmenistan
RHT[62]

RHT

 Tuvalu
LHT[62]

 Uganda
LHT[62]

 Ukraine
RHT
1922[103]
RHT
West Ukraine was LHT, like most of former Austria-Hungary. Carpathian Ruthenia remained LHT as part of Czechoslovakia before switching in 1941 as part of Hungary. The rest of Ukraine, having been part of the Russian Empire, already drove on the right.
Some sections of Kryvyi Rih Metrotram use LHT due to tramcars have doors only on right side, which makes it impossible to use RHT at stations with island platforms.[115]

 United Arab Emirates
RHT[62]

RHT

 United Kingdom
LHT
(Mainland UK)
RHT
(Gibraltar)
1929
(in Gibraltar)
LHT
Includes Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories  Isle of Man,  Guernsey,  Jersey,  Anguilla,  Bermuda,  British Virgin Islands,  Cayman Islands,  Falkland Islands,  Montserrat,  Pitcairn Islands,  Turks and Caicos Islands,  Saint Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha are all left hand drive.
 Gibraltar has been RHT since 1929 because of its land border with Spain.[116] The Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) drove on the right under German occupation until their liberation in 1945.[117] The Falkland Islands similarly drove on the right during their occupation by Argentina in 1982.[118] The PRT system at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 uses RHT.

RHT/LHT[119]
Includes  American Samoa,  Guam,  Northern Mariana Islands,  Puerto Rico.  U.S. Virgin Islands is LHT, like much of the Caribbean.

 Uruguay
RHT[102]
1945
LHT
Became LHT in 1918, but as in some other countries in South America, changed to RHT on 2 September 1945. A speed limit of 30 km/h (19 mph) was observed until 30 September for safety.

 Uzbekistan
RHT[62]

RHT

 Vanuatu
RHT[120]

 Venezuela
RHT[62]

LHT
The Caracas Metro uses RHT.

 Vietnam
RHT[62]

LHT
Became RHT as French Indochina.

 Yemen
RHT
1977[1]

South Yemen, formerly the British colony of Aden, changed to RHT 1977. A series of postage stamps commemorating the event was issued.[121] North Yemen was already RHT.

 Zambia
LHT[62]

 Zimbabwe
LHT

LHT
Former British colony. In 2010 the government attempted to ban LHD vehicles.[122]

text: Traffic rules[edit]

text:
Manoeuvre
LHT
RHT

Unless overtaking stay on the
left
right

In roundabouts traffic rotates
clockwise
anti-clockwise

Oncoming traffic is seen coming from the
right
left

Traffic must cross oncoming traffic when turning
right
left

Most traffic signs are on the
left
right

Pedestrians crossing a two-way road look first for traffic from their
right
left

Dual carriageway ramps are on the
left
right

After stopping at a red light it may be legal to turn
left
right

text: Rail traffic[edit]

text: Several states in Europe have RHT for roads but LHT for trains. France has mainly LHT for trains, except in Alsace-Lorraine, an eastern French territory which belonged to Germany for much of its history.

text: Gallery[edit]

text:
Gibraltar has been RHT (since 1929)

A sign reminding motorists to keep left in Australia

Vehicles entering and leaving Macau cross over each other at the Lotus Bridge.

Sign reminding motorists to drive on the left in Ireland


document_title: DNA-binding domain

question_text: where do gene regulators bind on the dna double helix

text: DNA-binding domain

text: Function[edit]

text: One or more DNA-binding domains are often part of a larger protein consisting of further protein domains with differing function. The extra domains often regulate the activity of the DNA-binding domain. The function of DNA binding is either structural or involves transcription regulation, with the two roles sometimes overlapping.

text: DNA-binding domains with functions involving DNA structure have biological roles in DNA replication, repair, storage, and modification, such as methylation.

text: Many proteins involved in the regulation of gene expression contain DNA-binding domains. For example, proteins that regulate transcription by binding DNA are called transcription factors. The final output of most cellular signaling cascades is gene regulation.

text: The DBD interacts with the nucleotides of DNA in a DNA sequence-specific or non-sequence-specific manner, but even non-sequence-specific recognition involves some sort of molecular complementarity between protein and DNA. DNA recognition by the DBD can occur at the major or minor groove of DNA, or at the sugar-phosphate DNA backbone (see the structure of DNA). Each specific type of DNA recognition is tailored to the protein's function. For example, the DNA-cutting enzyme DNAse I cuts DNA almost randomly and so must bind to DNA in a non-sequence-specific manner. But, even so, DNAse I recognizes a certain 3-D DNA structure, yielding a somewhat specific DNA cleavage pattern that can be useful for studying DNA recognition by a technique called DNA footprinting.

text: Many DNA-binding domains must recognize specific DNA sequences, such as DBDs of transcription factors that activate specific genes, or those of enzymes that modify DNA at specific sites, like restriction enzymes and telomerase. The hydrogen bonding pattern in the DNA major groove is less degenerate than that of the DNA minor groove, providing a more attractive site for sequence-specific DNA recognition.

text: The specificity of DNA-binding proteins can be studied using many biochemical and biophysical techniques, such as gel electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, calorimetry, DNA mutation, protein structure mutation or modification, nuclear magnetic resonance, x-ray crystallography, surface plasmon resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance, cross-linking and microscale thermophoresis (MST).

text: DNA-binding protein in genomes[edit]

text: A large fraction of genes in each genome encodes DNA-binding proteins (see Table). However, only a rather small number of protein families are DNA-binding. For instance, more than 2000 of the ~20,000 human proteins are "DNA-binding", including about 750 Zinc-finger proteins.[3]

text:
Species
DNA-binding proteins[4]
DNA-binding families[4]

Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress)
4471
300

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast)
720
243

Caenorhabditis elegans (worm)
2028
271

Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly)
2620
283

text: Types[edit]

text: Helix-turn-helix[edit]

text: Originally discovered in bacteria, the helix-turn-helix motif is commonly found in repressor proteins and is about 20 amino acids long. In eukaryotes, the homeodomain comprises 2 helices, one of which recognizes the DNA (aka recognition helix). They are common in proteins that regulate developmental processes (PROSITE HTH).

text: Zinc finger[edit]

text: The zinc finger domain is generally between 23 and 28 amino acids long and is stabilized by coordinating zinc ions with regularly spaced zinc-coordinating residues (either histidines or cysteines). The most common class of zinc finger (Cys2His2) coordinates a single zinc ion and consists of a recognition helix and a 2-strand beta-sheet.[5] In transcription factors these domains are often found in arrays (usually separated by short linker sequences) and adjacent fingers are spaced at 3 basepair intervals when bound to DNA.

text: Leucine zipper[edit]

text: The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) domain contains an alpha helix with a leucine at every 7th amino acid. If two such helices find one another, the leucines can interact as the teeth in a zipper, allowing dimerization of two proteins. When binding to the DNA, basic amino acid residues bind to the sugar-phosphate backbone while the helices sit in the major grooves. It regulates gene expression.

text: Winged helix[edit]

text: Consisting of about 110 amino acids, the winged helix (WH) domain has four helices and a two-strand beta-sheet.

text: Winged helix turn helix[edit]

text: The winged helix-turn-helix (wHTH) domain SCOP 46785 is typically 85-90 amino acids long. It is formed by a 3-helical bundle and a 4-strand beta-sheet (wing).

text: Helix-loop-helix[edit]

text: The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain is found in some transcription factors and is characterized by two alpha helices (α-helixes) connected by a loop. One helix is typically smaller and due to the flexibility of the loop, allows dimerization by folding and packing against another helix. The larger helix typically contains the DNA-binding regions.

text: HMG-box[edit]

text: HMG-box domains are found in high mobility group proteins which are involved in a variety of DNA-dependent processes like replication and transcription. They also alter the flexibility of the DNA by inducing bends.[6][7] The domain consists of three alpha helices separated by loops.

text: Wor3 domain[edit]

text: Wor3 domains, named after the White–Opaque Regulator 3 (Wor3) in Candida albicans arose more recently in evolutionary time than most previously described DNA-binding domains and are restricted to a small number of fungi.[8]

text: OB-fold domain[edit]

text: The OB-fold is a small structural motif originally named for its oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding properties. OB-fold domains range between 70 and 150 amino acids in length.[9] OB-folds bind single-stranded DNA, and hence are single-stranded binding proteins.[9]

text: OB-fold proteins have been identified as critical for DNA replication, DNA recombination, DNA repair, transcription, translation, cold shock response, and telomere maintenance.[10]

text: Unusual[edit]

text: Immunoglobulin fold[edit]

text: The immunoglobulin domain (InterPro: IPR013783) consists of a beta-sheet structure with large connecting loops, which serve to recognize either DNA major grooves or antigens. Usually found in immunoglobulin proteins, they are also present in Stat proteins of the cytokine pathway. This is likely because the cytokine pathway evolved relatively recently and has made use of systems that were already functional, rather than creating its own.

text: B3 domain[edit]

text: The B3 DBD (InterPro: IPR003340, SCOP 117343) is found exclusively in transcription factors from higher plants and restriction endonucleases EcoRII and BfiI and typically consists of 100-120 residues. It includes seven beta sheets and two alpha helices, which form a DNA-binding pseudobarrel protein fold.

text: TAL effector[edit]

text: TAL effectors are found in bacterial plant pathogens of the genus Xanthomonas and are involved in regulating the genes of the host plant in order to facilitate bacterial virulence, proliferation, and dissemination.[11] They contain a central region of tandem 33-35 residue repeats and each repeat region encodes a single DNA base in the TALE's binding site.[12][13] Within the repeat it is residue 13 alone that directly contacts the DNA base, determining sequence specificity, while other positions make contacts with the DNA backbone, stabilising the DNA-binding interaction.[14] Each repeat within the array takes the form of paired alpha-helices, while the whole repeat array forms a right-handed superhelix, wrapping around the DNA-double helix. TAL effector repeat arrays have been shown to contract upon DNA binding and a two-state search mechanism has been proposed whereby the elongated TALE begins to contract around the DNA beginning with a successful Thymine recognition from a unique repeat unit N-terminal of the core TAL-effector repeat array.[15] Related proteins are found in bacterial plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum,[16] the fungal endosymbiont Burkholderia rhizoxinica[17] and two as-yet unidentified marine-microorganisms.[18] The DNA binding code and the structure of the repeat array is conserved between these groups, referred to collectively as the TALE-likes.

text: RNA-guided[edit]

text: The CRISPR/Cas system of Streptococcus pyogenes can be programmed to direct both activation[19] and repression to natural and artificial eukaryotic promoters through the simple engineering of guide RNAs with base-pairing complementarity to target DNA sites.[20] Cas9 can be used as a customizable RNA-guided DNA-binding platform. Domain Cas9 can be functionalized with regulatory domains of interest (e.g., activation, repression, or epigenetic eﬀector) or with endonuclease domain as a versatile tool for genome engineering biology.[21][22] and then be targeted to multiple loci using different guide RNAs.