Weird Driving Rules From Around the World
In many countries around the world, there are countless strange driving rules and regulations that you may never have known about.
Around the world, there are a variety of strange, annoying, and even absurd driving rules that leave car owners scratching their heads.
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Around the world, there are countless strange driving rules and regulations that you may never have known about. |
Philippines: License plates dictate which days of the week drivers can drive
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, has a very large population of about 14 million people. With such a large population, the streets are often congested everywhere.
The local government's solution, which has been in place since 1995, is to restrict vehicles from entering the road at certain times based on the last digit of their registration plate.
Specifically, license plates ending in 1 and 2 will not be allowed on certain roads on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays...
The restrictions come into effect between 7am and 8pm, meaning that journeys need to be planned very carefully to avoid falling foul of the rules.
Autobahn in Germany: It's illegal to run out of fuel
Germany's road network is admired around the world. About 50% of its motorways have no speed limit - meaning drivers can travel at any speed they like.
There is a rather strange rule that applies on the Autobahn: cars are not allowed to stop except in an unavoidable emergency. Interestingly, stopping because the car runs out of fuel is not considered an 'emergency' and the driver can be fined.
There are no young drivers in Niger.
Niger is one of the least developed countries in the world. There are some special road rules, the most specific of which is that no one under the age of 23 is allowed to drive.
Tourists of this age find it difficult to drive on Niger's roads. They must ensure they report to the police in whatever town they arrive in to avoid a fine.
Cyprus: Do not eat or drink while driving
We all know that texting or browsing on a smartphone while driving is dangerous. But thousands of drivers continue to do it. So special penalties have been introduced in Cyprus. It is illegal to drive without both hands on the wheel – even eating and drinking are banned.
If you are caught, you face a fine of 85 Euros and two to four points on your driving licence.
Thailand: No shirtless driving
A word of warning for those considering driving in Thailand: don’t go shirtless behind the wheel. While average temperatures in Bangkok during the hottest part of the year can exceed 30 degrees Celsius, drivers should still keep their cool. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to 500 baht.
Some other controversial rules:
The past few years have seen some of the more controversial and ridiculous rules in countries. However, it was also welcomed when Saudi Arabia finally allowed women to drive in June 2018 – the last country in the world to do so.
Last year, Russian and Belarusian women were also allowed to take part in international transport operations; previously the work was considered 'too complicated'.
Meanwhile, a more bizarre law was finally repealed in Western Australia in May 2021, which made it illegal to carry more than 50kg of potatoes in the boot of your car.
