Weird and wonderful driving rules from around the world

4:04 pm on 10 January 2025
Drivers in Cuba must pick up hitchhikers.

Drivers in Cuba must pick up hitchhikers. Photo: Unsplash

If you are driving in Illinois it is mandated your car must have a steering wheel, on Christmas Island the crabs get right of way and in Alabama legislators felt it necessary to prohibit driving while blindfolded.

Autotrader in the UK has put together a map of global driving etiquette in 180 countries, and Laura McNally from Autotrader UK joined Summer Times for a trip around the world's driving etiquette.

The US, perhaps unsurprisingly, has some of the oddest rules, she said.

"In Alaska, for example, it's illegal to tether a dog to your car while driving. it's just curious that things like that have to be written into the law.

"Also, driving blindfolded is prohibited in Alabama. Another one is driving without a steering wheel is explicitly illegal in Illinois.

"And In the State of Wyoming is illegal to ski while being towed behind a vehicle."

Animals are kings of the road elsewhere, she said.

"While in other countries around the world require drivers to give way to animals. On Christmas Island, they really go one step further.

"So, during crab migration season, roads on the island are completely closed and drivers are legally obliged to wait for the crabs to pass before continuing with their journey."

Here in New Zealand, of course, we must give way to sheep, she said.

Africa has its share of legal oddities too.

"Some of the more random driving laws in that continent include it being illegal to reverse for more than 50 meters In Ethiopia.

"In Rwanda, there's no driving on Sundays."

Thailand, meanwhile, takes a dim view of Buddha iconography.

"It's illegal to disrespectfully transport Buddha statues or images there. So, it would be considered offensive to have a miniature Buddha statue decorate the interior of your car."

Driving a dirty car in Aman is illegal, you can be fined for it, also the case in Kazakhstan, Iran and Azerbaijan, she said.

Luxury car drivers in Jordan get a free ride, however.

"Luxury cars are exempt from many rules … drivers of the luxury cars there don't even need to drive with a license plate, which is a legal requirement for everyone else."

Politeness is mandated in Cuba, she said.

"Drivers are expected to pick up hitchhikers, it's common courtesy to do that there."

In South America, Paraguay and Brazil insist on well shod drivers.

"In Paraguay, they you're not allowed to drive without wearing shoes. In Brazil as well, it's illegal to drive wearing flip flops, which I'd imagine would, be a point of contention in many other countries where that's the daily footwear."

French and Slovakian drivers must have a breathalyser on board she said, while Cypriots are forbidden from drinking water or soft drinks while driving.

Eating on the move is also prohibited in New Zealand, she said.

"You're not allowed to eat in the vehicle or hold a person or package or animal in your lap or arms."

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