Random Rules of the Road Revisited

I'm not sure if this a rule or a custom, but in Scotland on single track roads the person going up hill has the right of way.

How abour curb colours! In California, a yellow-painted curb means loading zone....in Oregon it means no parking. In Italy, the blue curb means ticketed parking....in California, it means disabled permit parking. Yikes!

In Europe, motorcycle riders wiggle their foot to say thanks or hi, they do not take their hands off the handle bar to wave their hand (too dangerous). Cars move to the outside of the lane to let motorcycles ride the center line and cars stop back away from the stop sign/light to let motorcycles pull to the fount. How is that for living? Joanne

Oh dear, I couldn't resist jumping in on this one. At least in Europe the rules are consistent within a country. Here they vary from state to state. And you all know, of course, that you are required to acquaint yourself with and obey the laws of any state in which you are driving. Why would anyone think differently about driving in a foreign country? Re the law about no kids under 10 in the front: we have almost the same law in California, except it's those under a certain weight. It's a safety measure in the event of an airbag deployment.

Not only difference state by state in the US, often rules are different in a county depending on whether you are inside city limits or not.

The nice thing about driving in Europe is when you plead ignorance, it's not a lame excuse.

I was driving in Amsterdam and looking for a place to turn around. I noticed a taxi head down a side road and followed him. Within seconds the taxi pulled off. I continued down the road, still looking for a place to turn around. I had probably not gone 500 feet when a pair of bicycle cops pulled me over. It turned out the road I was on was a bus only road.

They were really nice though, they told me where I could turn around and didn't give me a ticket. My wife still makes fun of me getting pulled over by bicycles.

I doubt that it's an official rule of the road, but in Italy, the Vespas always have permission to do whatever they want. And they sure are random...

And in Austria, you need to have a permit and a reflective vest (to keep in the trunk in case of emergencies) to drive on the highways. You can get both of these at most gas stations.