​The strangest traffic rules around the world

The strangest traffic rules around the world

In some Australian states, such as New South Wales, the law requires motorists to lock their vehicle immediately after getting out if they intend to move more than 10 feet away from it. They must also protect windows - a term meaning no more than about three-quarters of an inch to be closed or left open. Of course, these laws do not apply to cars without locks or windows, such as the Mini Moke or the Jeep Wrangler without tops.

The Potato Marketing Act, passed in Australia in 1946, prohibits motorists who are not a member of the Potato Marketing Corporation or one of its agents from transporting more than 110 pounds of potatoes. Law enforcement officers do not need to carry scales; they are allowed to estimate the weight by looking at the pile. Those who broke this law in the 1940s faced heavy fines, but there is no evidence that it will still apply in 2019.

Running out of fuel on the German autobahn network is illegal. Authorities see fuel shortages as a preventable problem, but point out that stopping on the side of the road, which often does not have a speed limit, is extremely dangerous. The fine for dry work can be as high as 70 euros (about 60 pounds sterling).

In Switzerland, where what is not illegal is usually compulsory, motorists are not allowed to wash their car in the driveway or in front of the house. The government has nothing against clean cars; the law simply prohibits Swiss citizens from dumping anything that could contaminate the water in the sewer system, including but not limited to the soap used to wash cars. To clean a car in Switzerland, you need to go to the nearest car wash and pay for the use of its equipment.

In America, states and counties have the power to decide whether cars must undergo regular safety and emissions checks. Some exempt certain cars because of their age or body type, while others have opted out of testing altogether. Michigan, Montana and North Dakota are completely free from testing.

Chinese authorities are restricting new car sales by fuel type to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion. In 2019, the Beijing Transportation Commission authorized 60,000 new-energy vehicles (mostly electric vehicles) and 40,000 piston-engine models to enter the city's roads. Motorists participate in a lottery to win the right to purchase a car; the odds of winning are roughly 1 to 500.

French motorists have been required to carry an unused breathalyzer in their car since 2013. Although motorists who chose not to buy it initially risked a € 11 (around £ 10) fine, the sanctions were not included in the final version of the law, so there is no penalty. Traffic control officers are required to say something like "this is the law" and use their own breathalyzer to check alcohol levels.

You are a rebel if you fry rubber in Derby, Kansas. Burnout is prohibited in this city of 25,000, whether it's drag racing in a straight line or donut in a circle. Anyone caught in what Kansas lawmakers call "squealing tires" risks a $ 500 fine or 30 days in prison.