The Weirdest Traffic Laws in the World
There are several traffic laws like the basic street signs that are applied and followed universally. They are standardized by a body so that anywhere you go in the world, no one is excused about the ignorance of these basic traffic laws.
But each country has a government with the freedom to formulate and implement special laws according to national conditions. These vary from country to country but perhaps the following are the weirdest from all over the world.
Asia
- In Russia, you are not allowed to drive a dirty car or else you will be fined with about $34.
- Eating or drinking anything while driving is not allowed by law in Cyprus.
- There is no specific law prohibiting women in Saudi Arabia to get local driving licenses but they are never issued with one anyway.
- China often ignore pedestrian crossings and signals, drivers are fined for stopping too long at a pedestrian crossing.
- Trying to bribe traffic officers in South Korea? They got that all recorded as prescribed by law.
- Drivers in Japan are extra careful in driving so not to splash pedestrian with water or mud. Make that mistake and they are fined with about $65.
- There is a regulation in the Philippines that prohibits cars from driving one day a week based on the last number of their license plates. For example, plates ending in 1 or 2 are banned on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, etc.
Africa
- Nobody is allowed to paint their car with color “army green” in Nigeria because it is illegal.
- In Zimbabwe, victims of a crime are sometimes required to drive the accused to court. That’s due to the economic crises and fuel shortages.
- Animals and herders have a right of way in South Africa.
- Meanwhile in Madagascar, passing a police officer on the road if his back is turned to you is prohibited by law.
North America
- Canada gives tickets to drivers who text in drive-throughs – except in Ontario and Quebec.
- Crossing solid lines in Ontario in Canada is not really illegal.
- Also in Canada in Prince Edward Island, drivers are required to give a quick honk or two to another passing vehicle.
- In the state of Missouri in the USA, it is prohibited by law for anyone to honk someone else’s car horn.
- It is illegal to shoot as passing animals from a car in Tennessee. Except when you are shooting at a whale. Hmmm.
- There is a specific law in Alabama that says it is illegal to drive barefoot or blindfolded.
South America
- It is priority to perform a Breathalyzer test on any accident in Brazil, even when the driver dies on the spot in an accident to discover who was at fault.
Europe
- Drivers with prescription glasses are required to have a second pair as backup when in the roads of Spain.
- The law requires all cars in Luxembourg to have functional windshield wipers but not necessarily an actual windshield.
- Drivers in France must have a Breathalyzer with them at all times.
- Switzerland observes a strict no carwash day every Sunday.
- No smoking is ever allowed for drivers in Greece.
Oceania
- No one is allowed to leave their car keys inside an unattended vehicle in Australia.
- Goats and dogs are prohibited to be attached or harnessed to a car in Melbourne.
- Until 1980, taxis in Melbourne were required to carry a bale of hay in their trunk.
- Drivers in Queensland must pull over and turn their engines off for any passing restive horses.
- In New South Wales, drivers with flammable or dangerous goods are not allowed over railroad tracks.
Source: Title Pro
