Strange Driving Laws From Around The World
Driving abroad can be hard work... Almost everyone else drives on the wrong side of the road for a start – but some countries have different and, in some cases, downright bizarre laws that even the most well-travelled motorist could fall foul of.
With the 2018 World Cup just around the corner, we thought we would take a look at some of the different laws from around the world to prepare you for your next road trip. So, in no particular order, here are some strange driving laws from different countries…
Value your car in under 30 seconds
How far can you get on a pint?
As you may know, drink driving is taken very seriously in the UK; your blood-alcohol concentration mustn’t exceed 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. However, when placing the UK among other countries, we are in the middle of the tolerance scale. Some other countries show zero tolerance and will not allow any levels of alcohol in the system, like Russia, Brazil and the Czech Republic, whereas, some countries have no limit at all.
How fast can you go?
If you love a road trip, knowing the speed limit is pretty important to prevent you from breaking the law and receiving a fine. Particularly in Portugal – police carry around card machines so there are no excuses to get out of paying. Or Austria, where you could be caught for speedin g, not by speed cameras, but by a Policeman’s own judgement. If you’re driving in a 30km/h zone or less they are allowed to decide if someone is speeding by their eyes alone.
The most alarming are the rules in Germany. Once you get on the Autobahn (their version of a motorway) there is no limit. They advise 80mph, but there’s no law stopping you from putting your foot down to go as fast as your car will allow.
How much will it cost you?
Petrol prices are, unsurprisingly, different all around the world. Since even throughout the UK we are charged various prices depending on which petrol station we go to, it is almost expected that they will alter from country to country too. For example, to fill up an average family car that holds 13 Gallons it can cost £57.72 in Japan or £90.09 in Norway. But, some of the differences are extraordinary. Can you imagine filling up your tank and it only cost 39 pence like in Venezuela?
The most bizarre driving laws
Now, here are the really strange laws! The Philippines has a big problem with congestion in the capital, Manila. So, to alleviate the problem, drivers are only allowed to drive on certain days depending on the numbers on their registration plates. For example, motorists with a number plate ending in 1 or 2 can’t drive on a Monday between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm – perfect for anyone who likes a three-day weekend!
If a pedestrian runs out into the road in front of you, what do you do? Slam your foot on the brakes, right? In China, this is illegal. If you want to do the moral thing and do your best not to hit the pedestrian you could face a fine for stopping. The award for the most bizarre law has to go to Denmark, where motorists are required to check for bodies under their car before driving – no, not dead bodies, just children who may be sleeping or hiding under there. Perfectly normal!
