Some regulations help make cars safer, cleaner, and more efficient. Not these ones. They're pointless. Let's end them.
10.) Chicken Tax
You know why you can't get awesome European trucks in the US? A ridiculous tax that came about over a fight about chickens. No joke.
Repeal!
Suggested By: HammerheadFistpunch, Photo Credit: Volkswagen
9.) Outdated Headlight Regulations
BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have come up with brilliant new headlight designs that use many LEDs to illuminate the road ahead while not blinding the driver traveling in the other lane, instead of having to constantly switch from High to Low.
But nope. Because of a law from 1968, the US won't get them, and don't even ask about laser headlights.
Suggested By: Patrick George, Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz
8.) Mandatory Front License Plates
At best, front license plates ruin the look of a car. At worst, they compromise the aerodynamics too. Plus, they're not even illuminated like back license plates are, so what's the point?
If nothing else, the US should offer a smaller, European style front license plates.
Suggested By: melikecars, Photo Credit: Falcon Photography
7.) Amber Front Reflectors
These things don't really seem to serve any specific function, and ruin the look of a car. Just look at the lights of the US-Spec Fiesta ST above and compare them with the much cleaner lights on the Euro spec.
Suggested By: FromCanadaWithLove, Photo Credit: Ford
6.) Amber Turn Signals
So, in the US we need to have pointless amber reflectors at the front, but we're not required to have amber turn signals at the back, where they're really needed?
Maybe I'm crazy, but that doesn't seem to make sense. Amber rear turn signals should be required.
Suggested By: BionicPhil, Photo Credit: Ford
5.) E10 Mandate
Fuel with 10% ethanol doesn't seem to do anyone any favors, and yet it's still all over the place. Lets just hope 15% ethanol doesn't become a thing.
Suggested By: boneheadotto, Photo Credit: Michael Coté
4.) Outdated Speed Limits
The problem with US speed limits is that they're based on the performance of much older cars, not reflective of, say, how well a car can brake now.
And as we all know, speed kills your pocketbook.
Suggested By: AdmiralAkbar, Photo Credit: David Lofink
3.) Barriers Against Direct Sales
Tesla (or any carmaker for that matter) should be able to sell their cars however the hell they please, without a bunch of terrible, scared stealerships lobbying them out of certain states. You know when these guys team up, the legislation is absurd.
Suggested By: POD, Photo Credit: Getty Images
2.) 25-Year Import Rule
So I can legally drive a toxic deathtrap as long as it's over 25 years old, but I can't import a new Audi RS6 from Europe? All because Mercedes lobbied the government hard back in the 1980s?
Doesn't that seem just a little bit arbitrary?
Suggested By: The Devil Drives A Rotary, Photo Credit: Audi
1.) Country-Specific Safety Standards
It's an impossible dream, but wouldn't it be great if there was a global safety standard set for cars?
Development costs for all manufactures would be cheaper, which means they could invest more in making their better in every way. Low volume manufactures wouldn't have to jump through hoops to sell a handful of cars in the US or elsewhere.
Why, why hasn't this happened yet?
Suggested By: Stephen MacAurthur, Photo Credit: Lotus
Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
Top Photo Credit: Volkswagen