34 Weird Driving Laws From Around The World

Driving in another country can be a stressful experience, especially when you are on the left hand side of the car driving on the right side of the road. As if it wasn't enough to be in an unfamiliar driving position, there are some places in the world with some utterly bizarre driving laws that you should definitely be aware of:

Asia

We'll begin our tour of the world's weirdest driving laws by examining some odd rules to abide by in Asian countries​

1. No splashing in Japan. In a traditional display of Japanese courtesy, it is against the law to splash mud or water on a pedestrian.

2. Being a pedestrian is good in Japan, but not so much in China, and Beijing in particular, where it is illegal to stop for pedestrians.

3. Never travel topless in Thailand. This applies to men and women and all motorists whether you're driving a bike, car or tuk-tuk.

4. In Manila, Philippines, you cannot drive on Mondays if your number plate ends in a 1 or 2.

America

The biggest list of weird driving laws comes from America, and because it is such a big country, it is bound to have some bonkers driving rules, a lot of which come from California.

In California it is illegal:

5. To jump from a car at 65mph.

6. For an unoccupied vehicle to exceed 60mph.

7. To buff or dry your car with used underwear, in San Francisco specifically.

8. To drive wearing a dressing gown if you are a woman.

9. To use a road as a bed.

10. Shoot an animal from your car, unless it is a whale (this law is also applicable in Tennessee).

In other American states:

11. In Alaska, you are not allowed to tie a dog to the roof of your vehicle.

12. If an elephant is tied to a parking meter in Florida, the owner must deposit money in the meter.

13. In Massachusetts, it is illegal to drive with a gorilla in the backseat of your car.

14. You can't drive a camel on the highway in Nevada.

15. Crossing state lines with a duck on your head is not permitted in Minnesota

16. The weirdest law has to go to this one from Kentucky where it is illegal to let your pet molest a vehicle!

17. In Montana, you can't leave a sheep unescorted in a truck.

18. It is illegal to drive blindfolded in Alabama, but it is acceptable for you to drive the wrong way down a one-way street as long as you have a lantern attached to the front of your car.

19. You cannot spit from a moving car in Mariette, Georgia, but you can spit from a moving truck.

20. In Evanston, Illinois, it is against the law to change clothes inside a car with drawn curtains except during a fire

21. It is illegal to drive through playgrounds in Georgia.

22. In Maine, you can't park in front of a Dunkin' Donuts.

23. It's against the law in Oklahoma to read a comic book while driving.

24. You also can't sit in the middle of the street reading a newspaper in Michigan.

25. In Denver, Colorado, it is illegal to drive a black car on Sundays.

26. You can't consecutively drive around the town square more than 100 times in Ohio

Europe

As crazy as the rules are in America, there are some strange ones to get your head around on our own continent:

27. Cleanliness is close to Godliness in Moscow where you can be slapped with a fine for having a dirty car.

28. It is a legal requirement in France for you to carry your own breathalyser.

29. In Denmark, the law states that you must check for children that may be hiding underneath your car before setting off on your journey.

30. It is illegal to eat or drink anything while driving in Cyprus.

31. In Switzerland, you can't wash your car on a Sunday.

32. In typical German fashion, your car must be efficient and it is strictly illegal to stop or break down for any reason on the autobahn (which includes being out of fuel).

Rest of the World

These last two come from Africa and the Middle East respectively to round off the crazy road laws that exist in the world:

33. Motorist face stiff fines if they fail to slow down or stop for passing herds of livestock in South Africa.

34. Possibly the most backwards law of all belongs to Saudi Arabia where it is the only country that women are not allowed to drive, but they are permitted to own a car.