Dashboard Bites
Curious Facts from the World of Cars
WORDS BY ANTONINA JOSON
BMW’ s iconic, orange-lit dashboard is based on fighter jets!
All gearheads know that BMW cars used to be equipped with distinct dashboards. These dashboards were backlit with orange light, mimicking those of fighter jets. While fighter jets’ dashboards aren’ t lit with orange, they are backlit with red lights. This feature was created to aid a pilot’ s vision at night as red lights are consistent and the least harmful of all hues. BMW’ s decision to use orange utilises a combination of yellow( high visibility) and red( low harm).
Slamming a car door at night? Illegal in Switzerland.
Known for its beautiful natural landscapes, Switzerland has an interesting law regarding cars and noises at night. In this European country, it’ s illegal to slam your car door after 10PM as it may disturb neighbours. The law, called“ Nachtruhe”( night rest), also covers wearing high heels in an apartment and flushing toilets.
Berta Benz took her husband’ s car for a road trip and set world records.
History’ s first documented road trip was done in 1888 by Berta Benz, wife of motorcar inventor, Karl Benz. This event wasn’ t just the first road trip documented but also the world’ s first road repairs, the first highway violation law by a motor vehicle, and the first documented case of a woman taking her husband’ s car without asking.
An even more interesting fact, this event was the world’ s first automotive marketing stunt. Berta and her sons took the car to Pforzheim without Karl’ s knowledge and proceeded to break the law and improvise repairs along the way. Her husband ended up displaying a nicer version of the infamous car a month later, garnering massive attention.
The world record for most people in a smart car was set by two groups of cheerleaders.
On the 28th of September in 2011, a group of 20 cheerleaders from the Glendale Cheerleading Team se the Guinness World Record for“ The Most People Crammed in a Smart Car” in Los Angeles, USA. Three years later, another group of cheerleaders attempted the record in Italy but ended up with 20 as well.
Do you know of any awesome auto facts? Email us your most interesting car trivia and get featured in the next issue of FleetDrive! Send us your best trivia at info @ afma. org. au
40 ISSUE 56 DECEMBER 2025 / WWW. AFMA. ORG. AU