Today I’ve got a guest post from Giles Kirkland that ties in with my silly post about the worst drivers in the world. It’s about the strange, odd and weird road rules and driving laws that differ around the place.
Yes, that’s what governments will do to you. Here it is!
Crazy driving laws from around the world
Driving can be confusing at the best of times. This doubles in complexity when you are driving in a new and previously unexplored country. Road etiquette can vary massively from country to country, but so too can road laws. This can occasionally land unsuspecting visitors in trouble with the authorities…probably not the best travel story you will ever tell the grand kids
In fact, some other countries have pretty crazy laws when it comes to road usage. But worry not. Here are some of the weirdest laws across the world.
No Jumping
In California, it’s illegal to jump from a running car which is moving at over 65 mph. This seems like a relatively sensible law, but then you need to consider whether it’s encouraged to jump from a moving car at say 55 mph?
Reportedly, this law is specifically enforced in the city of Glendale, California. I’d honestly like to know its origins.
Ghost Car
If not jumping from your car at over 65 mph isn’t weird enough, also in California it’s illegal for an unoccupied car to travel at more than 60 mph. Perhaps this law was passed in preparation for autonomous vehicles? Or maybe ghosts are big (but not very competent) road users in California?
Dollars For Dirt
.In Moscow, car owners can be slapped with a hefty fine for having a dirty vehicle. It’s down to the discretion of the officer as to whether the car is deemed to be too dirty or not.
Is there a better place in the world to open a car wash? I think not.
Although general cleanliness of your vehicle is not such an issue in the UK, those driving there can be fined £1000 if their number plate is too dirty to read.
Hunger Drive
In Cyprus, it’s illegal to eat or drink anything whilst driving. I bet Cyprus McDonald’s drive-throughs are a pretty lonely place to be.
Dark Days
In Scandinavia, it’s a legal obligation to drive with your headlights on at all times, even during daylight hours. You can’t say you didn’t see this law coming.
Vino Check
Perhaps fittingly for a wine-loving nation, every motorist in France is obligated by law to carry a breathalyser in their vehicle. In the past, the drivers who failed to present their breathalysing kit could get a fine of €11 from the gendarmerie.
Although this law is still in place, French authorities have recognised problems with drivers sourcing suitable breathalysers and have therefore paused the issue of fines until further notice.
Perhaps this would be equally beneficial in Australia?
…really?
Probably the most bizarre law I came across in my weird road law hunt had luckily been changed in 2018. In Saudi Arabia, it was illegal for women to drive. However, it was still legal for them to own cars…
…well, can anyone explain that?
Making a splash
Traditional of their sense of courtesy, considerate lawmakers in Japan have made it illegal for drivers to splash pedestrians with mud or water. I imagine this should be especially important in the month of June when Japan is often hit by typhoons which probably leave a lot of surface water on the roads.
Keep Your Distance
In Singapore, they like to keep their pedestrians safe and away from cars. In fact, it’s illegal for cars to drive within 50 meters of a pedestrian at any time :O
Dog Drive
Shiny Pants
We all know how much dogs love sticking their head out of the car window. But did you know that in Alaska it’s illegal to tie a dog to your car roof? After all, they would get very cold.
In San Francisco, it’s illegal to buff or dry your vehicle with a pair of used underwear. But I happily discovered that it’s fine to use clean underwear for the same job. The remaining question is who gets the undesirable job of checking whether they’re used or not 😀
More Stuff About Crazy Driving Laws
There are some pretty insane traffic laws when it comes to driving around the world. I’m sure many of these make sense in some very specific situations or in days gone by…but they have really got me scratching my head.
Whenever you’re road tripping in an unfamiliar country it’s worth reading up on the rules and regulations expected of road users both to keep yourself safe and out of trouble.
For more driving related stuff, check out the new female driver sign from the Philippines.
Now I have to go to Singapore to see how this works. Do they not have sidewalks on the side of the road? Is there a special allowance for parking lots? How would this even work?