Greetings, Fleet Friends with a Taste for Trivia,
Fleet safety is serious business, but sometimes we need some levity while also ensuring that we stay SAFER and road forward, homeward bound minded. This week, we’re busting a few Fleet Safety Myths by looking at strange but true U.S. driving laws. To that end, for a chuckle mixed with truth, let’s look at these traffic laws across the U.S. that remind us that not every rule of the road is as straightforward as “buckle up” and that camels may be fuel efficient, but are not necessarily legal to operate on the highways!
This week, we’re spotlighting some real, and really odd, state laws that really exist, along with the tangibly real SAFER lessons to learn behind each one.
🐪 MYTH #1: In Nevada, it was once legal to ride a camel on the highway.
✅ TRUE (though it is illegal now).
Nevada passed a law in 1875 banning camels and dromedaries from “running at large on or about the public highways.” The rule came after mail carriers experimented, unsuccessfully, with camels for desert transport. The effort was a pet project of then-Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, who had previously attempted to set up a camel corps as a U.S. senator, but twice failed when the idea was “literally laughed out of committee,” according to a 1975 Army publication.
Fleet Tip: Just like Nevada once learned the hard way, equipment choice matters. Whether it’s a high-profile vehicle, utility cart, or trailer, fleets must ensure every vehicle type is road-ready, legally compliant, and the drivers trained under conditions it’s meant to handle. SAFER fleet training ensures no one’s taking a camel onto the interstate.
🍷 MYTH #2: In California, you can’t get a DUI while riding a horse on a public road.
❌ FALSE.
Under California Vehicle Code §21050, anyone “riding or driving an animal upon a highway has the rights and duties of a driver.” That means you can be cited for DUI, even on horseback. Based on the law’s wording of “an animal,” it looks like camels need not apply here either!
Fleet Tip: Impairment is impairment, regardless of horsepower. Fleet drivers must model professional behavior on and off duty. Any operator controlling a vehicle (or animal, whether it has a hump or a mane!) on a public roadway is accountable for focus, awareness, and sobriety. SAFER fleets make sober driving non-negotiable.
🐶 MYTH #3: You can transport animals in an open pickup truck in California without restriction.
❌ FALSE.
California Vehicle Code §23117 makes it illegal to transport an animal in an open truck bed unless it’s properly enclosed or tethered. So here the horse and camel are not driving, but in order to be driven they must be safely loaded and secured safely and legally.
Fleet Tip: The message is clear, secure every load, whether dromedary or equine. From tools to materials to live cargo, unrestrained loads create hazards. Fleet safety programs should require pre-trip inspections, proper tie-downs, and load checks to prevent costly, dangerous incidents on the road. Whether four hooves or four wheels, the G.O.A.L. remains the same, Get Out And Look and secure it SAFER.
🦍 MYTH #4: In Massachusetts, you can legally drive with a gorilla in the back seat.
❌ FALSE (urban legend with roots in old ordinances).
While this law is often quoted, Massachusetts clarified that no current statute names gorillas specifically. The likely origin is a historical rule meant to restrict exotic animals in public conveyances. It is a good idea to follow the recommendation from Massachusetts that “If you happen to find yourself in a car with a gorilla, your best bet to avoid a fine would be to exit the vehicle.”
Fleet Tip: While most of us are unlikely to chauffeur gorillas anytime soon, the message holds up. Even when a rule feels unlikely, its spirit usually protects safety, sanity, or liability. Keep your fleet training materials current and your policies practical. Outdated guidance belongs in the archives, not in the cab of your fleet vehicle. After all, an untrained driver can cause more chaos than a gorilla riding in the back seat.
🎧 MYTH #5: In Rhode Island, it’s legal to drive while wearing headphones.
❌ FALSE
While many drivers, fleet and personal, think that noise cancelling headphones help their focus so they can drive without distraction, the truth is they are part of the distracted driving problem. Per the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, drivers are prohibited from using headphones or earphones that block out ambient sound, it’s considered distracted driving.
Fleet Tip: Situational awareness is a cornerstone of defensive driving. Encourage fleet drivers to avoid any technology that limits perception, whether it’s headphones, phone notifications, or even loud in-cab radios. SAFER drivers rely on all their senses to respond to road hazards.
🎯 Why This Matters for Fleets
Even the strangest laws have something in common: they aim to prevent harm. These Fleet Safety Myths serve as reminders that compliance, training, and attentiveness all connect to the same mission, keeping people and property safe.
From managing secure loads to ensuring alertness and proper conduct, every law, no matter how odd, traces back to preventing harm. Fleet managers who invest in defensive driver training reinforce not just compliance, but common sense, professionalism, and preparedness. It saves lives, saves the bottom line, and is the ultimate ROI.
So, the next time your drivers encounter a camel, gorilla, or cowboy that had too much cowbell on their route, remind them: the road may be unpredictable, but being SAFER is always by design.
Until next time, stay SAFER, stay smart, and keep your camels, critters, and headphones off the highway.
