Infographic: Weird Laws and Rules of Driving in Canada
Canadians tend to follow some very unusual customs—we are excessively friendly (even to strangers), we use both loonies and toonies, and we have our very own “bacon,” which let’s face it, isn’t really bacon at all. So, it should come as no surprise that our driving laws are quite unique as well. In fact, professionals in automotive careers know that most Canadian provinces have their own separate road rules.
Students pursuing auto mechanic training in Surrey are probably already familiar with most the city’s driving regulations. However, we can bet that there are some laws in British Columbia (as well as a few other Canadian provinces) that would shock even the most patriotic of auto-lovers. Check out this infographic to learn more about some of Canada’s weirdest rules of driving.
- Ontario: Vehicles with “slow moving” signs are actually required to drive more slowly than other cars on the road: their speed is capped at 40km/h
- Ontario: Open-sleigh drivers must have at least two or more bells attached to their sleigh if they plan to drive it on a highway.
- British Columbia: While parked, drivers are forbidden to roll their car windows down any more than the width of their hand.
- Quebec: While not always enforced, it is illegal to have a “for sale” sign in a car while driving.
- Montreal: It’s against the law to block your own driveway with your car. Doing so can earn you a $52 ticket.
- Montreal: It is prohibited for drivers to turn right on a red light in Montreal.
- Alberta: “Distracted driving” is illegal in this province. Being distracted includes texting, feeding babies, reading, watching movies, and hair grooming.
- New Brunswick: There is an old (and strange) provincial law that states “driving on the roads is not allowed.” No one has ever removed this law from the books, so technically it still applies…
- Nova Scotia: According to Halifax’s Regional Municipality Bylaws for Taxis and Limousines, drivers must wear shoes and socks, keep their attire in neat and tidy condition at all times, and cannot wear a t-shirt.
That’s not all—strange driving laws exist even outside of Canada! Here are two particularly weird ones from the US.
- New Jersey: It is illegal for drivers to pump their own gas in New Jersey. In fact, only gas station employees can pump gas. This is because in 1949 (when the law was established) pumping gas was considered too dangerous for the untrained.
- California: The Golden State found it necessary to make a law against drivers shooting at wild game from their moving vehicles.
