You’re probably familiar with Nigerian driving laws but we’ve decided to take a look at some of the weirdest driving laws around the world that you probably never knew existed.
For instance, did you know that in Denmark, you are required by law to check under your car for people before you drive a car? Let’s get right to it. Below are some of the weirdest driving laws around the world.
Driving a Dirty Car is Illegal in Russia
The internet is awash with claims that it is illegal to drive a dirty car in Russia. This, however, is not entirely true. What is true is that in Russia, it is an offence to drive with a dirty number plate/license plate. Does this come as a shock to you?
Drivers in Costa Rica Can Drink While Driving But Can’t Get Drunk
There are several articles on the internet claiming that drivers in Costa Rica are allowed to drink while driving so long as they do not get drunk. This is not true and we can officially tell you that drinking while driving is an offence in Costa Rica just as it is in many countries of the world.
If you’re still in doubt, we should add here that in 2018, during a joint press conference, German Marin (head of the Transit Police) explained that the institutional criterion is that if a person is going to drive, their consumption of liquor should be zero.
“What we want is to safeguard the physical integrity of ourselves or of others. The driver must be in optimal conditions,” he added.
It is an Offence to be in a Car Driven by a Drunk Driver in Japan
In Japan, you will be charged to have committed an offence and fined if you are found in a car being driven by a drunk driver. In other words, it is an offence if the driver of your car is drunk and you risk getting prosecuted for it.
The laws that regulate the drinking while driving in Japan are very strict. This means that you cannot allow someone to drink while driving a car that you are riding in.
If such legislation were to be passed into law in Nigeria, what would you do if the driver of the car you are in decides to have a drink or two while driving?
Women Are Not Allowed to Drive in Saudi Arabia
Don’t be fooled by internet reports claiming women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive. This is not true. What is true is that it is a highly controversial subject. In fact, it is controversial enough to have a certain school of thought advocating for against permitting women to drive.
However, the fact remains that there is no law in Saudi Arabia that prohibits women from driving.
In 2017, King Salman of Saudi Arabia ordered that women be allowed to drive. With this decree, he lifted the controversial ban on women drivers in Saudi Arabia.
Drivers in South Africa Must Stop For Animals Crossing the Road
You’ve probably come across one of those articles that claim that drivers in South Africa are mandated to stop their cars for crossing animals. Such reports even go on to add that erring drivers will be fined if caught breaching this law
However, there is no evidence of such a law in the country’s constitution. What we, however, find is that common sense necessitates that drivers should stop when large animals are crossing the road. Failure to stop could actually put your life and the lives of other occupants of the car at risk.
It is Illegal to Tie a Dog to the Roof of Your Car in Alaska
You’re probably wondering why anyone would want to tie their dog to the roof of their car. We did too but it is true and the law also encompasses tying your dog to the bed of your pickup as well
This driving law is actually designed to prevent drivers who might want to fasten a crate containing their dog to the roof rack of their cars. Let us put this into perspective. During a 1983 family vacation, Mitt Romney (American politician, businessman and former presidential candidate) drove 12 hours with his dog on top of the car in a windshield-equipped carrier. This incident became the subject of negative media attention and political attacks on Romney in both the 2008 and the 2012 presidential elections.
Drivers Are Not Allowed to Give Gorillas Lifts
The internet is rife with claims about the illegality of giving a gorilla a lift in your car in Massachusetts. However, there is no specific law prohibiting drivers from giving gorillas lifts in their cars.
However, we all know that the idea of giving a gorilla a lift does not come across as an intelligent thing to do. If you’ve seen what a gorilla looks like in real life, you’d probably understand why riding with one could easily become a life-threatening experience.
Final Thoughts on Weirdest Driving Laws
We decided to go the extra mile of separating the truth from the unconfirmed claims in our list of of the weirdest driving laws around the world. The idea is to give you a clear picture of what constitutes a traffic offence and what doesn’t.
Perhaps, we should add here that in Japan, it is illegal to splash a pedestrian with water whilst you are driving. June in Japan is known for its typhoons, which tend to leave a lot of surface water around. This is the month that marks a rise in the enforcement of this particular law.
Are there other weird driving laws you’d like to share with us? Kindly let us know in the comment section below.