Don’t drive blindfolded!
USA: In the Californian city of San Francisco it’s illegal to dry your car with used underwear, while in Alaska tying a dog to the roof of your car isn’t allowed. In Alabama, driving your car while wearing a blindfold is banned, surprisingly.
JAPAN: Many of us will have been drenched by a passing vehicle on a rainy day, but in Japan it’s illegal to splash puddles on pedestrians. In June, the country sees typhoons that cause surface water, and this means the law is more strongly enforced.
SWITZERLAND: Under
Swiss law, you are not allowed to wash your car on Sundays.
GERMANY: The same law is enforced in Germany, but it’s modified so washing cars is allowed on Sundays after midday – so it doesn’t disturb your church-going time.
But you can’t do this yourself on the street, even if it’s your own property. The Germans also have a law that says it’s illegal to stop your car on the Autobahn even if you run out of fuel.
LUXEMBOURG: Here, it’s unlawful to drive without windscreen wipers... but driving without a windscreen is totally fine.
THAILAND: Bad news for blokes who like to go topless in hot weather – if you’re driving in Thailand it’s illegal to do so while shirtless. This applies to men and women and all motorists whether they are steering a car, bike or tuk-tuk.
BELARUS: In this country, driving a dirty car is banned. The same rule applies in the cities of Moscow and Chelyabinsk in Russia.
COSTA RICA: It’s OK to drink alcohol behind the wheel in Costa Rica... so long as you stop consuming the alcohol beverage before you actually get drunk.
SPAIN: Motorists in Spain can be fined for wearing flip-flops, or washing their vehicles on a public road.
SOUTH AFRICA: If you fail to slow down or stop for critters crossing the road in South Africa, whether it’s a cow or a lion, you’ll be slapped with a hefty fine.
THE PHILIPPINES: To avoid heavy traffic in the capital Manila, there’s a bizarre scheme that bans Filipino drivers with certain number plates using main roads on particular days. For example, cars with a number plate ending in a one or two are banned from driving in the centre on Mondays from 7am to 8pm.
CYPRUS: Motorists in Cyprus are banned from eating or drinking anything at the wheel of their cars, including water. If caught, they face a fine of £75.