Driving in the TRNC!

SaraP


Joined: 30/04/2008
Posts: 295

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 17:32

Would really like to know of any expeiriences you may have had whilst driving over here.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 17:35

Blimey - how long have you got?? LOL

SaraP


Joined: 30/04/2008
Posts: 295

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 17:53

Hopefully a lot longer if i stay indoors...lol

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 17:59

SarahP - that sounds like very good advice!! From a personal point of view, it frightens the life out of me every time I get into the car when we're over there.

J

Steve1953



Joined: 04/12/2008
Posts: 298

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 18:35

watch the wheels as they dont indicate



keep in right hand lane for going straight on at roundabouts



watch for cars pulling out from the right in front of you from side roads



Lorries and buses dont give way



donkeys and goats on road in Larpas



watch for speeding cars on all roads



mutch like the UK ,good luch,Steve

puppylover



Joined: 05/05/2008
Posts: 1427

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 18:35

SaraP



Up until August last year I had never driven a car/held a licence (at the age of 47!!)



Took lessons and passed my test here and have been driving for 5 months now.

People say I'm "brave" (or mad!!) but being a first time driver I cannot compare it with driving any where else in the world, including the UK.



One thing I would say is that you have to keep your wits about you!!

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 18:50

North Cyprus is no worse than most city-driving in the UK. In fact it's probably less stressful - in the UK I expected people to drive according to the law and the highway code and when they didn't I'd get really worked up. Here I expect them to drive like lunatics and am therefore not suprised or upset when they do, I just go with the flow!

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 19:06

Adopt "defensive" driving technique ANYWHERE in Cyprus



A headline from the CY Mail a few years back



"it's official we are the worst drivers in Europe"



If I had to pass a driving test ( again) I'd take in in the RoC and then get my licence exchanged when I moved back to the UK.. stds MUCH lower...

ripoffrock


Joined: 05/08/2008
Posts: 255

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 19:12

20 years ago Cypriots were driving donkeys, now donkeys are driving the cars.

SaraP


Joined: 30/04/2008
Posts: 295

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 19:28

I have to travel up and down a mountain road everyday and I cant believe how many drivers overtake on a blind bend and how many drivers come towards me on the wrong side of the road.The other day I saw a car overtake about six cars and he was coming towards me.He started flashing his lights at me.Grrreat!I am supposed to move out of the way for him.

bachelibelly


Joined: 04/09/2008
Posts: 275

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 19:43

I think it is easy to drive in Cyprus once you get used to it as you can drive on the left as in uk or on the right as in europe ,your choice either will do !

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 19:49

as my old uncle Percy used to say:



"if God 'ad a wanted Cypriots to drive, 'eed 'a given 'um brains"





Nick

Mindy



Joined: 27/10/2008
Posts: 1210

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 20:16

It never ceases to amaze me at why the people here are in so much of a hurry to get to thier destination, the absolute stupidity and recklessness of some individuals is beyond comprehension.

It needs addressing urgently by this government before it is too late.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 20:25

Does anyone know whether they have updated the "driving test" that was required to be taken to be able to drive in NC. You know, the one where you drove from a to b (about 20 yards) and received your licence. I ask because I have seen driving school cars around Girne (something I never thought I'd see, by the way)



J

AndyLynnW


Joined: 05/12/2008
Posts: 61

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 22:04

Having driven in some of Spains larger Cities I was confident about NC. Not so sure now !!

neilhodgin


Joined: 28/10/2008
Posts: 256

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 22:19

your risking it when you get in your car where ever you live in the world, i've been in the car today could of easily had 3 accidents due to careless drivers.

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 23:01

Driving down the main road to kyrenia last august 9 in the morning, 3 year old daughter in the front. A car clips a car on the other side of the road spins across the road and smacks me side on at about 50 mph.

Go to Lapta police shed, sorry station 4 hours as Tc's come and go. Sign here no translation sod that i said. Told the 2 coppers the guy was speeding my guess at least 70mph and he was drunk. Answer, no problem happens all the time in cyprus then basically good-bye.

helper


Joined: 16/01/2009
Posts: 235

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 23:09

Driving standards are lower here than UK. Instructor training here is a 1 day course. Learners are not taught many things such as lane discipline, approach to roundabouts, correct clearances, use of mirrors MSM does not exsist. many turkish drivers undertake on left. Drive as if everyone out to kill you and you will be ok. P.s Foreign nationals are not allowed to own a driving school. Good luck olwen

Lemtich



Joined: 15/02/2007
Posts: 1487

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 23:14

It will be okay from 1st January 2010 when the new driving on the right rules come in (perhaps to fit in with Turkey) but don't worry, it only applies to lorries and buses first, private cars start from 01/01/2011.



Lem

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 23:37

Msg 12,

Was that the day when HE was in charge of the family's Brain Cell then?

Can't do smileys, so ... ‹(•¿•)> !

Keith.

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
26/01/2009 23:52

I live in Esentepe and I don't mind driving into Girne as it is easy, what I hate is the mad mile. From the Lefkosia roundabout to the Ship Inn, it is a nightmare and I try to avoid it at all costs. The driving is worse than any I have encountered anywhere, including Italy. You really need eyes in the back of your head.



The Butlers wife

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 00:11

Do what I do!

Make sure that the offending driver in your path is looking at you, then -

Either swivel your head round to look over your shoulder, OR screw your eyes up real tight.

This way, the other driver just KNOWS that you can't see him / avoid him, and HE has to get out of the way - simple!

It works really great with pedestrians too!



Children - don't try this at home - it's just Uncle Keith being silly...



Mind you, I swear that some locals do this - scares the sh!t out of me!



Keith.

Lemtich



Joined: 15/02/2007
Posts: 1487

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 00:23

So everyone's okay about the changing over to driving on the right then?



Thank gawd for that.



Lem

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 01:10

Message 17 - your 3 year old daughter was in the FRONT! Why?



Lem - don't think anyone will notice the difference - do you?

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 09:24

Lem you are a little tease

SaraP


Joined: 30/04/2008
Posts: 295

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 09:50

Heres a thought... If they introduced the driving test from the Uk and made everyone retake the test their would be hardly any cars on the road. Understand the driving test for lorries is is even harder.The mind boggles...lol

Skogsy


Joined: 15/05/2008
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 09:53

But, the driving test does not teach you how to drive, only how to move a vehicle and pass a test. The real learning starts from the pass day.



Sir Skogsy

puppylover



Joined: 05/05/2008
Posts: 1427

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 10:28

Sir Skogsy



I know!!......my actual test took all of 10 minutes!!!

My examiner knew two words of English..."left" and "right".....by the end of the test I had taught him two more...."Reverse round the corner" and "three point turn" which he proudly kept repeating for the remainder of my test!!



As I had already completed these two manouvers within the first five minutes of the actual test...I was beginning to get confused ever time he repeated what I had taught him!!!!

markvpiazza


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 530

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 11:47

Without exaggeration, over 3 holidays per year for 4 years, on every visit I think we have driven past a serious or fatal accident (mainly late Saturday when driving from Ercan)



I think the statistics prove you are something like 10x more likely to die on the roads in Cyprus than the UK - be very carfull out there



Mark

LeylaS


Joined: 21/01/2009
Posts: 39

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 12:50

Yes please be careful, especially on the mountain roads (driving along the mountain road from Kyrenia to Ercan is a pretty hair raising experience).



Puppylover your story made me laugh. I love standing back and watching people direct others when reversing. You will often hear "gel...gel...gel da korkma" (keep going..keep going...don't worry etc.). Better than any reversing sensor!

Chick-A-Dee


Joined: 16/06/2008
Posts: 342

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 16:26

No issues, no concerns, no problems to date.



We are over two or three times a year for a couple of weeks and hire cars.

kibrissibel


Joined: 18/02/2008
Posts: 562

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 18:55

One day me and my husband were driving to Girne and we were being followed by a driving instructors car with all the L plates on the top. He was sitting right on our bumper for a few miles, then decided to overtake on a blind bend. As the car went past we saw there was a driver and passenger so assumed it was someone having a lesson. I imagined the instructor was ticking off his list of acceptable maneuvers on his clipboard - Driving up people's arses - tick, Overtaking on blind bends - tick. Yes, you've passed!!



Another time we saw a massive bush driving down the road. The only reason we knew there was a truck underneath was when he turned off to the left in front of us.



Last week someone hit me up the arse because they were driving up my bumper. Luckily they had insurance and the police were very good, but it took 3 trips to the garage to get the car repaired properly, Deniz at my insurance co CreditWest was very, very helpful, even though it was his insurance paying for it.

Dreyfus


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 3

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 19:13

Kibrissibel



After hitting you up the arse. I bet you would have wanted to kill him. I would have done.

SaraP


Joined: 30/04/2008
Posts: 295

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 19:36

The people driving up your arse tick! Did they have ticks up their arses or was tick more a case or arsetickulated lorry tick syndrome up your kyber pass once again tick.

SaraP


Joined: 30/04/2008
Posts: 295

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 19:37

Drefus take a chill pill.

horselover


Joined: 18/01/2009
Posts: 129

Message Posted:
28/01/2009 14:58

im a driving instructor in uk, and got practically run off the road by an idiot with a truck doing 50mph on a tiny dirt track. i slowed down to a near stop as he was heading straight for me, and had to swerve into the bushes. our mirrors got knocked off, and he stopped, got out and cussed me.'oh youre british, and a woman.' erm..yes, and ive had years training and could teach you a thing or two! referring to defensive driving...yes...expect the worse. one chap had a baby rolling around on the front seat. when i told him he could kill his child, he simply said, 'thats ok, i can make another one!!!'

its funny how evryone beeps including my step dad.he says it warns drivers trying to pull out, that he's there.

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
28/01/2009 15:14

Message 24,

Re message 17 "3 Year old daughter in the front seat". My daughter was harnessed in british kite marked car seat in the front with roll bars and passenger side air bag. Would hate to think you were being critical and judgemental for a change..........

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
28/01/2009 15:20

Not as bad as in the first visits and when you drove from Ercan at night you had to remember that many cars had no lights on at all.



It felt like indicators were there for the baby to play with or not to be used in case they used too much electricity.



North Cyprus still a lovely place now and then.

Amber


Joined: 26/09/2008
Posts: 561

Message Posted:
28/01/2009 16:21

Have to say it scares the life out of me everytime I get in the car, just like wacky races and a white knuckle ride in one. Why oh why do they need to overtake when travelling in line of traffic just to get one or 2 cars in front?

Cyprusquest


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 428

Message Posted:
28/01/2009 16:28

Amber - it's a bit like gambling and that is in the bllod (Turk, Cypriot, Greek most of the Middle East)

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
28/01/2009 18:14

Message 37 - please accept my apologies; however, I think your remarks about my being "critical and judgemental for a change" are a little harsh.



J