10 Most Unusual Traffic Laws in the World

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.

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.”

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.