[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/5-bizarre-european-driving-laws\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/5-bizarre-european-driving-laws\/","headline":"5 Bizarre European Driving Laws","name":"5 Bizarre European Driving Laws","description":"Despite Britain\u2019s vote to leave the EU, nothing has actually changed yet; at least nothing that stops you from enjoying a European road trip. But before you load up the car and cross the channel, you could do with knowing about some of Europe\u2019s more peculiar motoring laws. Of course, you don\u2019t have to drive to Europe to drive in Europe, so this list is equally handy if you\u2019re planning to rent a car during your break away\u2026 Bring your […]","datePublished":"2016-08-11","dateModified":"2016-08-12","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/feature-24.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/feature-24.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/5-bizarre-european-driving-laws\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":708,"keywords":["bizzare driving laws","Cyprus","france","Iceland","scandinavia","Spain"],"articleBody":"Despite Britain\u2019s vote to leave the EU, nothing has actually changed yet; at least nothing that stops you from enjoying a European road trip. But before you load up the car and cross the channel, you could do with knowing about some of Europe\u2019s more peculiar motoring laws.Of course, you don\u2019t have to drive to Europe to drive in Europe, so this list is equally handy if you\u2019re planning to rent a car during your break away\u2026Bring your breathalyser to FranceThe country which most cross-channel motorists will encounter on their Euro drive is France so you should know that you\u2019re legally obliged to always carry a valid breathalyser in your car.Obviously, single-use breathalysers need to be unused, but they also have to carry the French \u2018NF\u2019 mark of quality certification and they only have a 12-month period of validity, so they need replacing every year.Although it is technically illegal to drive in France without a breathalyser on-board, there is no actual penalty. There was supposed to be a \u20ac11 fine when the law was originally brought in, but it was postponed indefinitely so the police are powerless to dish out anything more severe than a disapproving look.Never drink (nor eat) and drive in CyprusSure, it\u2019s tough to think of any country where it is okay to drink and drive, but in Cyprus, they don\u2019t want you putting anything in your mouth whilst behind the wheel ever.Considering that temperatures regularly and easily exceed 30\u00b0C, it seems pretty unreasonable that a quick swig of water on-the-go could potentially land you in a spot of bother with the rozzers.If you do need to rehydrate whilst driving, the best course of action would be to pull over for a minute before continuing your drive. Unless you don\u2019t mind risking a \u20ac85 fine and four licence points.It\u2019s pretty audacious for Brits to mock the Cyprians here, because British police have a previous history of penalising motorists for the same thing. In 2007, a Merseyside man was fined \u00a360 after taking a bite of his sandwich whilst driving.All day and all of the night in ScandinaviaIn Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, there really is a light that never goes out, and it\u2019s on your car.Throughout Scandinavia, motorists are required by law to have their car\u2019s headlights on constantly whilst driving, regardless of what time of day it is. Bright midday summer sunshine? Keep them beams-a-beaming, boyo.This law stems from the fact that the northern Norway town of Troms\u00f8 has 60 days of solid darkness in the winter, from late November to mid January.On-road only in IcelandIceland\u2019s notoriously harsh weather means that vegetation takes so long to grow here, so the government made it illegal to drive off-road apart from in designated areas, or if there is a significant layer of ice and snow on the ground.It makes sense because tyre marks on moss-covered areas can last for up to 50 years. Failing to abide by this law can result in a hefty fine.Spain\u2019s parking palavaParking only allowed on one side of the road between the 1st and 15th of the month, switching to the other side of the road for the latter half of the month.One foolproof way of staying on the right side of the law is to just do what the locals do.If you\u2019re not heading to any of the countries mentioned so far, maybe you are destined for one of these\u2026Denmark: Danish law states that motorists must check for children hiding beneath their car before setting off.Germany: Almost everyone knows that \u2018ze autobahn\u2019 has no speed limit, permitting motorists to test their car\u2019s top speed. But less well known is that it is illegal to stop or break down for any reason, even if your car runs out of fuel.Russia: Okay not strictly Europe but they were in Eurovision so we\u2019ll allow it. In Moscow, police can fine anyone driving a dirty car, and it\u2019s up to the officer just what constitutes \u2018dirty\u2019, so schedule regular car washes if you\u2019re staying for a long time."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"5 Bizarre European Driving Laws","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/5-bizarre-european-driving-laws\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]