I\u2019m going to admit to doing something wrong. I drove on an American driver\u2019s license in Sweden longer than I should have. Technically you\u2019re only allowed to do that for about a year. I know, I know, I\u2019m an awful person. I justified it by saying that I left to go back to the US enough that it was ok. It probably wasn\u2019t. But I have repented and have not driven in this country for quite some time.<\/p>\n
But this isn\u2019t some sort of weird mea culpa. I mean it is, but there\u2019s a point. The point being that there is actually a reason that Sweden wants you to get a Swedish driver\u2019s license. Some signs differ from American ones. Some markings differ. Some units of measurement differ. Most importantly though, some laws differ. One in particular that always threw me off. Turning right on red.<\/p>\n
In the US, turning right on red is a wonderful way to keep traffic moving. Maybe even save a little gas by avoiding idling. In fact, UPS saved millions<\/a> by working out routes in which drivers minimized left turns and maximized right hand turns so they would not sit idly at red lights waiting to turn left. In Sweden though, turning right on red is a wonderful way to break the law. Because it is against the law.<\/p>\n That may change though. The Swedish Minister of Infrastructure Catharina Elms\u00e4ter-Sv\u00e4rd recently said \u201cBilar b\u00f6r f\u00e5 h\u00f6gersv\u00e4nga mot r\u00f6tt<\/a>.\u201d Essentially, cars should be allowed to turn right on red. We\u2019ll see what happens, but in the meantime if you find yourself in Sweden, driving around. Stop at the red light.<\/p>\n And if you find yourself in Sweden for more than a year, be a better citizen than me. Get your Swedish driver\u2019s license. You can learn more about how you do that here<\/a> (in English) and here<\/a> (in Swedish).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019m going to admit to doing something wrong. I drove on an American driver\u2019s license in Sweden longer than I should have. Technically you\u2019re only allowed to do that for about a year. I know, I know, I\u2019m an awful person. I justified it by saying that I left to go back to the US…<\/p>\n