Commonwealth Day

Monday 9 March 2015 marks the annual tradition of Commonwealth Day. It is a day that all fifty-four member countries are able to take the opportunity to celebrate their connection to one-another. We at Geoffrey Miller Solicitors specialise in motoring law so we thought this to be a perfect opportunity to explore some of the more interesting driving laws of fellow Commonwealth states:

Did you know that in the state of Queensland it is illegal to drive a cab WITHOUT a bale of hay in the boot? Apparently this law is a throwback to the days of horse and cart and it has never been repealed. It does beg the question if this law is actually enforced and if there are any taxi driver’s dotted around Queensland hoping not to be pulled over for daring to drive without hay in their boot. Airport fares must be a nightmare.

Our Commonwealth friends in the “Great White North” are no strangers to weird driving laws. In 2003 a law prohibiting drivers from turning right on a red light at any time was repealed, however it does still remain in force in Montreal. This must be rather inconvenient for those driving through Canada’s second city. It is apparently also illegal to drag a horse down Yonge Street in Toronto on a Sunday. This which probably won’t have TOO MUCH of an effect on Toronto residents’ weekend travel plans.

Cyprus has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1961. The laws that govern the road in England and Wales differ slightly Cypriot laws. It is an offence to eat and/or drink whilst driving in Cyprus, if caught doing so a driver will be fined €85. Eating or drinking whilst driving in England and Wales could be deemed careless driving but it does not carry a uniform fine.

The paradise island of Barbados has no prescribed blood alcohol limit. There is, of course a recommendation that drivers DON’T decide to drink and drive but there is no law preventing them from doing so. It is also common for motorists to honk their horns to signal a friendly hello to other road users rather than a signal of disapproval/incredulous rage as is so common on UK roads.

The nations mentioned in this blog offer an interesting insight in to how other Commonwealth states manage and enforce their laws of the road. We have clients from all over the globe and from many a Commonwealth so we will be happily celebrating Commonwealth Day come 9 March.