There are over 200 million drivers in America. Cars get us to work and to school; they take us on vacations and around town. But how much do you know about driving? Here are 40 fun facts about driving that you may not know.

Strange Driving Laws

• In Alabama, it’s illegal to drive while blindfolded.
• It is illegal to jump from a car at 65 mph in Glendale, California.
• A law in Dublin, Georgia, forbids driving through playgrounds.
• Drivers in Derby, Kansas, can go to jail for screeching their tires while driving.
• In Rockville, Maryland, swearing from a car is a misdemeanor.
• It is illegal to honk someone else’s car horn in University City, Missouri.
• A law in New Jersey requires drivers to honk before passing.
• In Dunn, North Carolina, it is illegal to play in traffic.
• It is illegal to store trash in your car in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
• A law in West Virginia says it is perfectly legal to scavenge road kill.

Fuel Efficient Driving

• Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and five percent around town.
• An extra 100 pounds in your car can lower gas mileage by up to two percent.
• Most cars become less fuel efficient at speeds over 60 mph.
• Using cruise control on the highway often increases fuel efficiency.
• Keeping your tires properly inflated can increase fuel efficiency by about three percent.
• Using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil can increase gas mileage by up to two percent.
• Loading your car’s roof rack can lower your fuel efficiency by up to five percent.
• Regular tune-ups prevent problems that can significantly reduce fuel efficiency.
• Combining errands into one longer trip can use about half the fuel needed to make several short trips.
• Urban areas often have High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes for cars with multiple passengers.

National Interstate System

• The Interstate System is officially named: Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
• As of 2004, the Interstate System covered 46,837 miles.
• Spanning 3,020.54 miles from Seattle, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts, I-90 is the longest Interstate.
• The shortest interstate, I-73, runs 12.27 miles from Emery to Greensboro, North Carolina.
• Route I-95 crosses through the most states: 16, including Washington D.C.
• Only five state capitals are not served by the Interstate System: Juneau, Alaska; Dover, Delaware; Jefferson City, Missouri; Carson City, Nevada; and Pierre, South Dakota.
• As of 2004, there were approximately 14,750 interchanges in the Interstate System.
• New York has 29 Interstate routes, which is more than any other state.
• Texas has the most Interstate miles: 3,233.45 spread over 17 different routes.
• There are seven North-South transcontinental interstates: I-5, I-15, I-35, I-55, I-65, I-75, and I-95.

License Plates

• The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) was founded in 1954.
• Some states only require rear license plates.
• From 1903 to 1905, Connecticut issued license numbers, but not plates.
• In 1918, Florida was the last state to issue state-wide license plates.
• The 1941 Georgia license plate was the first to be reflective.
• During World War II, several states issued fiberglass license plates.
• Arizona is the only state to have ever made copper license plates.
• In 1942, Delaware was the last state to use porcelain license plates.
• Idaho license plates first read “World Famous Potatoes” in 1948.
• In 1992, New Jersey was the last state to switch to reflective license plates.

Sources:

Strange driving laws: http://www.dmv.org/fun-stuff/bizarre-driving-laws.php

Fuel efficient driving facts: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml

Interstate facts: http://www.modot.mo.gov/interstate/InterstateFunFacts.htm

License plate facts: http://www.dmv.org/fun-stuff/interesting-license-plates.php, http://www.alpca.org/faq/trivia/