10 Craziest Driving Laws in the World
Have a Beer While Driving in Costa Rica
Don't Eat While Driving in Cyprus
Keep Your Car Clean in Russia
Don't Run Out of Gas on Germany's Autobahn
Carry an Extra Pair of Glasses While Driving in Spain
Use Your Headlights 24 Hours a Day in Sweden
BYOB (Bring Your Own Breathalyzer) in France
Don't Ride with a Drunk Driver in Japan
Don't Shake Your First at Other Drivers in Cyprus
Don't Drive Blindfolded In Alabama
Driving on the left side of the road or converting the speed limit from kilometers to miles per hour is challenging enough. But in some places, you have a whole host of weird traffic laws to contend with, too. Here are 10 crazy laws that could really drive you mad!
In Costa Rica, you can drink an alcoholic beverage while driving—as long as you don't get drunk. Sipping a beer with one hand and navigating the windy and treacherous roads of Costa Rica with the other? Totally legal. Driving with a blood-alcohol level of more than 0.75 percent? You're going to jail. We'll stick to water while we're behind the wheel, thanks.
In Cyprus, eating or drinking (even water) while driving is illegal. That's right, grabbing a quick snack at a drive-through and chowing down while driving with your knees will net you an €85 fine. And don't even think about taking a sip of that soda!
Better keep your car looking shiny and clean if you're in Russia, as driving a dirty car can get you fined up to 2,000 rubles (about $57 according to XE.com).
Make sure you have enough fuel in your tank to accommodate your inner speed demon on the world-famous Autobahn. If you run out of gas and have to pull over, you're breaking the law. It's illegal to stop unnecessarily on the Autobahn, and running out of fuel is considered unnecessary, since it could have been avoided.
Anyone with a Mr. Magoo-esque prescription for thick spectacles will understand the reasoning behind this law. In Spain, those who require vision-correcting glasses in order to drive must keep a spare set in their car at all times.
When in Sweden, don't honk at passing motorists whose headlights are on in broad daylight—they're legally required to keep them on 24 hours a day. Yes, even in the month of June when, in certain parts of the country, the sun never sets.
Did that last drink at the bar put you over the limit for driving home? If you're following the law in France, you should be able to find out easily—drivers are required to carry a breathalyzer kit in their vehicle (or motorcycle). Originally, drivers who didn't have one were required to pay a fine of €11, but enforcement has been delayed indefinitely.
If you're sober, why would you ever get in a car that has an intoxicated driver behind the wheel? In Japan, besides risking your life, you're also risking legal trouble—sober passengers in the car with a drunk driver can be punished under the law.
As tempting as it is to flip off or shake your fist at an annoying driver, you'd better keep both hands on the wheel in Cyprus. Drivers who unnecessarily raise a hand from the steering wheel can face fines—although we argue that making obscene gestures at bad drivers is sometimes required for our mental health.
We'd love to hear the story around why this law was created. In Alabama, it's illegal for people to drive while blindfolded. So much for proving you know your route so well you could get there blindfolded!
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