Have you ever wondered what it’s like to drive in other countries around the world? If you’ve ever traveled outside of the United States, you’ve certainly noticed it’s a whole different experience! From driving on the opposite side of the car to confusing street signs, other countries may leave you feeling like you need to go back to Drivers Ed. So I decided to do a fun series about what it’s like to drive in different places around the world. First up: Russia!
I was first curious to learn about Russian driving culture after hearing about Russian dash cams. Apparently everyone in the country drives with a camera on their car’s dashboard to protect themselves in the case of a car accident. Because traffic laws are very lax and the law enforcement does not often treat drivers fairly, people drive with dash cams to show evidence of what really happens out on the road. Crazy! Here are some other fun facts about driving in Russia:
- Russian parking: Parking in Russia is free pretty much everywhere you go — even in big cities. The Russian government tried to enforce paid parking several years ago, and the people fought back! In turn, the government removed the enforcement, and people park anywhere they want. Even in crazy spots that seem like they could never fit a car.
- They’ve got your back: Although Russians are known for being crazy drivers, they also look out for each other when they have a common enemy: the police! Russians have developed special codes like flashing lights or switching signals to warn fellow drivers of speed traps. They also let each other know if they see a car with tire troubles or wanting to pass ahead of a slow truck.
- Aggressive jaywalkers: If you watch any videos from the Russian dash cams on YouTube, you’ll see that they are often filled with jaywalkers. Russian pedestrians are very confident and aggressive when it comes to getting in between cars on the road, meaning they’ll walk slowly and calmly through speeding traffic!
- Driving age: Though the other laws may seem lax, the driving age is actually higher than in the United States. Russians aren’t able to get a license until they are 18.
- Finding your way: Even Russians will admit that it’s very hard to get around their country, especially if you end up on a country road. There are very few road signs outside of major cities. (And very few bathrooms as well!) So you’ll want to make sure you have a GPS or a sure plan of what to do if you get lost.
- Climate troubles: The extremely harsh winters and warm summers sure do a number on the Russian roads. The asphalt often cracks in the winter and melts in the summer, and the government hasn’t found a way of fixing the problem. Many Russians simply avoiding driving in certain seasons, and when they get back out on the road, their unpolished driving skills just add to the chaos!
- Car accidents: Like the secret code to warn about police, Russians look out for each other in the case of a car accident. Whenever a car pulls off to the side of the road in trouble, another driver will usually pull off within a few minutes to lend a helping hand.
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