World's Strangest Traffic Laws

Making Hook Turns, Australia

As if it weren’t hair-raising enough driving on the wrong side of the road down under, Melbourne offers an extra wrinkle—the hook turn. When making a right turn, you’d normally be in the right lane. But if you see a sign for a hook turn, get into the far left lane. Enter the intersection far enough to make the turn, then cut a hard right across the entire intersection. The maneuver, designed to prevent cars from blocking the trams that still ply Melbourne’s central business district, is mandatory at a number of the city’s intersections.

Penalty: If you make a normal right turn at one of those intersections, you can expect a fine of about $75 for blocking the intersection.