Here at Enjuris, we tend to pick on the weird laws that get passed by legislatures across the United States:
- 10 Most Unusual Laws in Florida
- 10 Strangest Laws in Indiana
- 10 Weirdest Laws in Arizona
- 10 Strangest Laws in Georgia
- 10 Weirdest Laws in Colorado
But the fact of the matter is, weird laws exist in every country of the world because... well, because there are weird people all over the world!
Let’s look at the 10 strangest traffic laws across the globe.
10. It’s illegal to drive without a shirt on in Thailand
Criminal Code BE 2499 (1956) stipulates that any person who performs the “shameful” act of removing their shirt while driving shall be fined 500 baht (about $15). We imagine this law is a lot harder to follow during the hot season between March and May when temperatures regularly exceed 105 degrees.
9. It’s illegal for a driver to stick their limbs out of their vehicle in Australia
If you’ve seen the film The Hand, you probably already keep your limbs inside your vehicle while driving. In the 1981 film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Michael Caine, the protagonist sticks his arm out of his window to wave down a truck. Before he can pull his arm back inside the cab, his vehicle is sideswiped, and his hand is severed.
"Drivers and passengers need to apply common sense,” said the Australian National Roads and Motorists' Association's Dimitra Vlahomitros. “It’s not only illegal but downright dangerous, and that's because you could risk losing a limb.”
8. It’s illegal to drive a dirty car in Russia
We know a lot of Americans who would have a hard time complying with this Russian law. Fortunately, if you’re caught driving a dirty car in Russia, you’ll only be fined $2,000 ruble (about $34).
7. It’s illegal to drive without your headlights on in Sweden
In America, most states have passed laws requiring you to turn on your headlights from dusk until dawn. But if you decide to visit Sweden, you’ll need to make sure your headlights are always on. Drivers in Sweden are required to have their headlights on no matter what time of day it is—even in June, when the sun never sets in certain parts of the country.
6. It’s illegal to drive on Mondays in the Phillippines if your license plate ends in the number 1 or 2
In the Philippines, it's illegal to drive on Mondays if your license plate ends with a 1 or 2.
“Number coding,” as it’s known in the Republic of the Philippines, attempts to alleviate traffic congestion by restricting which vehicles can drive on public roads based on their license plates.
Here are the restrictions, which apply in most cities from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM:
- License plates ending with 1 or 2 are banned on Mondays.
- License plates ending with 3 or 4 are banned on Tuesdays.
- License plates ending with 5 or 6 are banned on Wednesdays.
- License plates ending with 7 or 8 are banned on Thursdays.
- License Plates ending with 9 or 0 are banned on Fridays.
5. All drivers must carry fire extinguishers in Bulgaria
Don’t excuse Bulgarians of not being prepared in case of an accident. All drivers are required by law to carry a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and warning triangle in the trunk of their car at all times. A kit including all of these items can be purchased for about 30 BGN ($15).
4. It’s illegal to drink water or eat food while driving in Cyprus
Distracted driving is a huge problem in the United States. Distracted drivers are 5.36 times more likely to cause car crashes than non-distracted drivers, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah.
In Cyprus, lawmakers have attempted to reduce the number of distracted driving accidents by prohibiting drivers from drinking water or eating food while driving. Although the law was passed in the interest of safety, the prohibition on drinking water while driving seems particularly cruel during the long, hot summers in Cyprus.
3. It’s illegal to stop for any reason on the Autobahn in Germany
German people have a reputation for being efficient. It’s therefore not surprising that German law prohibits drivers from stopping on the Autobahn (the federally-controlled highway system in Germany that does not have a speed limit) for ANY reason.
It’s a good idea to make sure your vehicle is in good condition before getting on the Autobahn, as you risk receiving a citation if your car breaks down or you run out of gas.
2. It’s illegal to slam your car door in Switzerland
Switzerland is consistently ranked the happiest country in the world (receiving an 8.84 on the Subjective Happiness scale developed by researchers in 1999).
Although we won’t claim to know all the reasons the Swiss people are so happy, we can say for certain that they don’t have to listen to the sound of slamming car doors as frequently as we do in the United States.
1. You’re allowed to drink and drive in Costa Rica (just don’t get drunk)
If you’re driving in Costa Rica, feel free to roll down your window, turn up your music, and take a sip of beer. It’s perfectly legal to drink and drive in Costa Rica. However, it’s illegal to be intoxicated behind the wheel.
If you’re caught with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than 0.05 percent in Costa Rica, you may be fined up to $410 or receive up to 3 years in prison.
