Crazy Worldwide Driving Laws

One of the things that world has in common is crazy driving laws.  They’re everywhere.  Some of these make you think….what were they thinking?!  With the help of Magic 95.9 and DMVAmerica.com, here are some of the craziest we could find.

Worldwide

1. In South Africa shepherds have the right of way.  Not pedestrians mind you, but specifically shepherds.  

2. In Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, traffic is so bad that you cannot drive on days that match the last digit of your license plate.  

3. Are you hungry in the U.K.?  Don’t eat while driving, because you will be ticketed. 

4.  Dirty cars in Moscow can be fined.  This totally surprises me, because I’ve seen pictures of Moscow and I’m not saying it’s dirty, but Moscow is certainly not the most scenic city in the world.  

5.  Feeling a little hot?  Don’t drive shirtless in Thailand then, because that’s illegal for both men and women. 

6. And finally, here are two diametrically opposed drinking and driving laws.  In France, all drivers must carry a portable Breathalyzer at all times.  But in Costa Rica…it’s legal to drink and drive.  I’m thinkin’ I’d rather travel in France.

Meanwhile in the U.S., here are some our crazy, ridiculous, “where did they come from” driving laws. 

1. In Alabama…the lawmakers somehow found it necessary to ban driving while blindfolded.  

2.  New Jersey…they don’t just block lanes of traffic over bridges, but also pass some odd driving laws as well.  In Blairstown, New Jersey, it’ illegal to plant trees in the middle of the street.  I can come up with absolutely no reason why you would need to pass a law regarding this, even if some drunk frat boys did it as a prank once.  

3. In Massachusetts, we’re gonna blame the following law on the cold.  It’s illegal to drive in Massachusetts with a gorilla in the back seat. 

4. In the same vein as Massachusetts, Alaska found it necessary to pass an animal and driving law, but this one is a bit different.  In Alaska, you cannot in any way tether/tie a dog to the roof of your vehicle.  I assume this applies even if you have a luggage/dog rack.  (I’m joking…there’s no such thing as a dog rack.  Right?)  

I’m also blaming this law on drunken frat boys.

5.  In what I think is the oddest driving law of all, in Missouri it’s illegal to honk the born of someone else’s car.  Yes, you read that right.  Why on earth would you need to pass a law of that nature?  I’m thinking that if that’s a problem, you need to impose a curfew on the citizenry.

6.  Oh Dunn, North Carolina....you must have some not-so-smart ones down there.  First, they felt compelled to pass a law banning people from playing in traffic.  Apparently so.  

Then, they passed a law making it illegal to drive through a cemetery if you’re not there to bury someone…or to dig the grave.  Does this mean that it’s illegal to visit a gravesite?  And how boring is this town that one of the citizens’ hobbies is hanging out in a cemetery? 

Still think they’re not a bit odd?  Lawmakers found a need to pass a law banning driving on sidewalks.  My only explanation for this is that they must film a lot of Fast and Furious movies down there.

7. Another animal and driving law.  In Montana your sheep cannot ride with you unless there is a chaperone.  Odd at first glance, but Montana is big farm and ranch country, so maybe there was a need for this.  

8.  Think Maryland escaped?…Think again.  When in Rockville, imagine you’re on the set of “Leave it to Beaver,” because swearing from your vehicle is a misdemeanor.  

We recommend one golden rule of driving…hey, be safe out there. 

Auto Insurance Basics

To be honest with you, there are many ways to structure an “auto insurance basics” article.  Our goal with this one is to provide some insight into how an insurance company works; the difference between an insurance company and an insurance agency; and some things to keep in mind when you have a need for their services.

1. What’s the difference between an insurance company and an agency?

This confuses the brightest of people, but it’s really quite simple.  Nationwide, Safeco, The Hartford etc.  These are companies.  They are the ones that will actually pay for damages in the event that you have a claim. 

How about MAIF (Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund)?  It’s a company that happens to be owned by the state of Maryland.  If you are insured by MAIF, you purchased your insurance from an agent.

An insurance agency sells you the insurance and in many cases will service the policy too.  Many people take full advantage of agents because they want a “go-to guy” (or gal), when they have a question or need to make changes.  You will probably find that over the years you will get to know your agent, but rarely will you have the opportunity to meet your company other than through an 800#. 

2. Your rates are based on facts.  When you take out a new auto insurance policy, your rates are based on a set of factors including, but not limited to where you live, your age, your driving record and the type of car you have.  

Your renewal rates (rates you are charged after your first year with the company) are affected by your payment record (don’t be late), driving record (don’t have an accident for two to three years and you may reap the benefits of lower rates) and the financial stability of your company.

You see, insurance companies gather a ton of information about us.  They survive by identifying risk levels and placing a price on those risks.  In the case of auto insurance, they have identified certain age groups, zip codes and cars that when combined, make up a profile.  This profile determines the rate.  To lower yours, pay on time and drive safely.  This means no tickets, no accidents and no late payments. 

3. Insurance company rates do differ. Not all companies have the same rates, which is great, but, and there is a “but.”  If you have a less than perfect driving record and/or have been cancelled for lack of payment, there may be some variation in rates, but know that all of them will be high. 

But it does pay to get rates from different companies to make sure you’re getting the lowest rates you can.

4. Ask for all applicable discounts.  Don’t use your car for work?  Great, that could result in lower rates; drive 5,000 or fewer miles per year? (Answer honestly, they will check.) That’s great news, because that could help to lower your rate.  Do you have an alarm system in your car?  This also could result in a discount.  There are other discounts that might also apply to you; make sure you ask your agent for all applicable discounts.

5. If you have an accident or another type of claim keep accurate records.  You would be surprised how beneficial organizational skills can be.  In the case of an accident, record the other driver’s information and put it in a place where you will not lose it.  Take pictures if you have a smartphone or camera. 

When it comes time to repair your vehicle, work closely with the appraiser to make sure that you receive quality replacement parts.  The appraiser is trying to save the insurance company that he/she works for money, so it’s your job to look out for you.

Here is how to help yourself when it comes to auto insurance.  Do your research by comparing rates, pay your bills on time and drive carefully.  If you do these things consistently, in a year or two you will see lower rates.

Thanks for the CNN Money column for the inspiration for this article.