North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could drive a car by the age of three, according to official documents issued to teachers in the secretive state.
The manual accompanied the introduction of a new subject in the North Korean national curriculum – 'Kim Jong-un's Revolutionary Activities' – which appeared in schools in 2015.
Little is known about the Supreme Leader's childhood, but other claims were included in the same teaching manual. Kim Jong-un was a competitive sailor at the age of nine, while nurturing profound artistic talent. It's difficult to verify these claims.
A Pyongyang petrol station. Photo / Eric Talmadge
But could he have driven a car in a country where he wasn't a revered dictator? In short, no – pretty much every civilisation on the planet has developed laws that prevent three-year-olds getting into the driver's seat.
Where are the world's youngest drivers?
The minimum driving age in the UK is 17 for most people, and most cars. There are some exceptions to that regulation, but it's a solid rule of thumb. And generally, that reflects attitudes around the world, both in Europe and further afield.
But there are some notable exceptions to that rule. Some nations deem much younger teenagers capable enough to take to the road. Here are some of our favourites.
Canada – drive legally at 14
Alberta Province is a pretty vast chunk of the planet, broadly comparable in size to Spain, England and Sicily combined. Here, a fourteen-year-old can get behind the wheel legally using a Class 7 Learner's Permit – though only when accompanied by a person over the age of 18 who holds a full licence. So a lot like a provisional licence in the UK, only you can use it when you're in Year 9.
Australia – drive legally at 15 (and nine months)
You can get your Learner Licence in the Australian Capital Territory nine months beyond your fifteenth birthday. You have to pass a test and complete a ten-hour course, before being allowed to take to the road with L-plates. You'll need to be accompanied by a full licence holder.
Most of the rest of Australia has a minimum learning age of 16. It's worth noting that other road laws vary by state, too, and that there are elements of confusion when crossing boundaries within the country.
Northern Mariana Islands – drive legally at 15 (and six months)
Another territory that feels that 15 years old is too young to drive, but that 16 years old is a little late to start learning, is the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Here, you can legally drive six months after your fifteenth birthday. Interestingly, helmets are mandatory for cyclists aged below 18 in these strange island outposts of America.
France – drive legally at 15
Just 21 miles from Dover, where you need to be 17 to get behind the wheel of the car, the young residents of Calais can get their first taste of freedom aged 15. A system called the apprentissage anticipé de la conduite enables young people to start learning a little earlier than their peers.
USA – drive legally at 14
Well, in certain states, anyway. Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota all offer learner licences to 14-year-olds, while Michigan and Montana will hand one over nine and six months later, respectively. South Dakota will give a restricted licence to someone three months after their 14th birthday, while several states will offer a full, unrestricted licence to 16-year-olds. Several states have specific restrictions in place preventing young drivers from driving at night, for example, or from carrying more than one passenger.
-Telegraph