Quick note to Turkish drivers

[Hedge-fund]

Those shiny new lighty things in Girne..............red means stop...........ok?

In the past 2 weeks I've seen a child knocked unconscious and an old man sent flying through the air - both crossing correctly and both when one car had stopped and another overtook blindly.

I think a month of having a policeman standing there dishing out fines would help the message get across.

[squashmad]

Hedge-fund,

You are assuming that a TRNC policeman also knows what a red light is for!!!

[waddo]

Squashmad, fairly sure that all TRNC policemen have been and examined red lights!!!! If not the lights themselves then the area's where they are displayed - after all its not only drivers that get fined is it??

[Deniz1]

New traffic system at Bellapais lights is an accident waiting to happen I think.

[frontalman]

Ten years ago the situation was bad (or good, depending on your viewpoint), but most people seem to respect red lights now (apart from in the South).

However, a friend of mine was injured recently in an accident when a car jumped a red light, so maybe things are changing for the worse.

[Groucho]

Hedge-fund,

You are assuming that a TRNC policeman also knows what a red light is for!!!

I think it's more of a case of assuming the Policeman is not related to the TC driver who by virtue of birthright is innocent of all driving offences other than killing another TC also related to the policeman... then all bets are off.

[fatouche]

Oh please, not again ! Aren't you tired of this topic? We all know that the driving here leaves much to be desired......so's the fact that many expats think that it's perfectly acceptable to drink and drive, but strangely that is seldom mentioned.

No one asked you to live here; there's a perfectly good airport at Ercan, so feel free to use it.

[cjtill]

Totally agree with you fatouche...........
I regulary go to sports bars to watch the football and after a hard afternoons drinking and with car keys in their hands off they go into the wild blue yonder, without a care in the world.

Michael

[Marions]

Accidents on the road happen in every country in the world - mainly because it is people that drive cars and people make mistakes. A secon d of distracton by a child in the back seat, a mobile phone ringing (even if you don't answer it) , something that catches your gaze and.......................bang.

To 'slag off' the system here will not change a thing, but it might be helpful if concerns were reported to the Minister of Transport. Black spots exist and maybe the powers that be don't know baout it. If enough people point out the potential dangers, then maybe somehting wil be done.

I thin it is grossly unfair to castigate drivers here. Mind you when I last went back to Austrlaia I was told off by my friend who said I was driving far too aggressively, so I guess there is a 'survival ' element in our driving (if yu can't beat 'em, join 'em'.

Just baout everything here is better than 25 years ago and progress takes time - especially the progress of the human mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As to dirnking and driving, that is ocmpletely irresponsible and totally thoughtless of all those you could harm as a result of your not being fully in contorl of your faculties. Oh and I know sometime in Wales who was banned and her argument was 'I drive better when I have had a few beers!'. Unfortunatley for her, the police did not agree.

But equally it IS frustrating when laws are flouted and the wrong doers seem to 'get away with it' But not for ever, Iam sure.

[bigOz]

Living in TRNC - Lesson No.1

Pedestrians!
Please do not assume cars will stop at zebra crossings or red lights! BUT ASSUME no one will stop at eirther and make sure both sides are clear before attempting to cross.
When there a car on your side of the road allows you to cross make sure no one will be overtaking them when crossing to the other side of the road. Something that often happens!

Drivers!
When allowing pedestrians to cross, always stop in the middle of the road (where it is narrow enough) to prevent another car from overtaking.
Do not stop for pedestrians where you feel it can be dangerous for them to cross i.e. due to cars speeding in the opposite direction or the pedestrians' vision to oncoming traffic opposite side is blocked because of a truck/minibus in front of you.

I think a leaflet about the driving habits in TRNC at the arrivals hall in Ercan might help

[thornaby]

OK this is a favourite topic and for good reason.
Driving standards in north Cyprus by mainly local people are dreadful.
Rarely will I go out without witnessing another crazy act by a local driver.
To say if you don't like it you know where the airport is does not help.
Its in all our interests to educate and improve the standards over here.

[tomsteel]

How many TCs in authority actually give a fig what expats think of driving standards, property scams, judicial injustices et al prevalent in the TRNC? Stating the obvious on English-speaking forums will achieve zilch, less the relief of personal frustration. Of course, forum readers do have the option of not reading posts proffered by those with different opinions.

[waddo]

Just wonder if the whole topic has been set off by the new traffic lights on the Belapais crossroads??? Remember when they put the traffic counting cameras on the tops of that set of lights? That was to try to stop the backup of traffic that always occurs every school morning when the single 4X4 carrying the single child is trying to fight its way through all the other single 4X4's and arrive at ESK first - first is important here, if you are not first in your 8 inch heels and spray on jeans then you are nothing!!!

Anyway, those cameras actually worked and traffic eased at those lights. Then there was another change and the authorities have relined the road from Girne down to a new set of lights!!!! If you have not been that way yet then be careful please.

The new road markings have divided what was a perfectly good two lane road into three - worse they have installed above two of the lanes traffic lights as well. So now if you want to go straight across - heading down to the next roundabout and the harbour - you have to watch the left hand lights - YOU ALSO HAVE TO WATCH THE TRAFFIC ON YOUR RIGHT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ONLY TURN RIGHT TOWARDS BELAPAIS - if you want to turn right to Belapais then you watch the right hand set of lights. Of course if you want to just turn left at these lights there is still what is laughingly called a filter lane that you can use. I will not try to explain further but will offer this bit of advice to all users of this set of lights that are coming from Girne - Don't!!! Find another route, take a taxi, walk, get on a Dolmus, anything but drive until the majority of local drivers - expats included - have figured out this wonderful new system.

Already the road markings are just about worn off so you can't tell if you are in the right lane or not - if there was ever an accident looking to happen, this is it. If you need to come this way then be careful please, the local driver knows where it is going so should you but sometimes - well what else is there to say?

[Ragged Robin]

I think the original post is offensive: does he know for a fact the offending drivers were Turkish? I have seen (indeed only this morning) plenty of bad driving by the British.

Having said that, and not condoning dangerous driving by anyone in any circumstances, those lights, and other traffic warning lights and signs there and in other places are NOT as immediately obvious as they should be because there are so many distractions including illuminated advertisement signs. There is , I believe, a Turkish Cypriot pressure group for increased road safety: I wish they would do something about all these signs. Also is is sometimes difficult to stop for pedestrians because of drivers , including British, and particularly of 4 x 4 much too close behind, which apart from the risk of collision can blind the driver of a smaller vehicle in front with their headlights.

[Hector]

Personally I welcome the fact that we can discuss these very important issues such as road safety and warn others where necessary. I cannot remember ever having a relaxed car journey in Cyprus whether north or south as I'm constantly expecting the unexpected, the squeal of tyres, the blasting of horns or the sickening bang and crunch of metal. There got that off my chest. Does that mean I now should pack up and leave or just wear a horsehair shirt to atone for my dreadful sin of mentioning it?

[elizabeth]

Personally I welcome the fact that we can discuss these very important issues such as road safety and warn others where necessary. I cannot remember ever having a relaxed car journey in Cyprus whether north or south as I'm constantly expecting the unexpected, the squeal of tyres, the blasting of horns or the sickening bang and crunch of metal. There got that off my chest. Does that mean I now should pack up and leave or just wear a horsehair shirt to atone for my dreadful sin of mentioning it?

My thoughts exactly

[brian24001]

During times those lights have been out of action in the past, once for over a week, there were usually no queues at all.

The new layout is very simple, unfortunately not as simple as many of the users.

[Owl Lady]

TUFF if you live in Ozankoy and want to turn right and not have to go down to the coast road ,then back up again to the village. What a mess, no one seems to understand the new lay out, an accident waiting to happen, and I am only a passenger,not a driver!

[frontalman]

Oh please, not again ! Aren't you tired of this topic? We all know that the driving here leaves much to be desired......so's the fact that many expats think that it's perfectly acceptable to drink and drive, but strangely that is seldom mentioned.

No one asked you to live here; there's a perfectly good airport at Ercan, so feel free to use it.

I would Fatma but you have to use the roads to get there

[Hedge-fund]

I think the original post is offensive: does he know for a fact the offending drivers were Turkish? .

Because they were Turkish.

The one that knocked the child out got out of his car and argued with a few people in perfect Turkish. From what I could make out with my conversational standard of Turkish was he blamed the kid.

The other one was driving one of those left hand drive rust buckets and had a big moustache.

I do agree with most of the points made on the thread - especially the comment regarding ex-pat drink driving. It is as much if not more of a problem than the ignorance of traffic light procedure.

[waddo]

Owl Lady, coming from Girne when you get to the first roundabout after the one that goes up to Lefcosia, go straight over to the T Junction, turn left there and carry on till you get to the Belapais road again. Turn right and you are onto the road to Ozankoy having bypassed the traffic lights but really you should know that way by now - lol.

[Owl Lady]

Waddo I do know what you mean. I just meant that people are in the wrong lanes, like today. I was in my "tame" taxi. He was in the right hand lane at the lights and the guy in front went straight ahead toward the coast!!

[waddo]

Therein lies the danger of being in the right gear, at the right time, in the right place! Even if you are you are still in danger of being smacked by the guy who is in the wrong lane but needs to be in front at any cost. I have had two near miss's this past week and now take an alternate route round till the drivers get a grip of the two lane system and the two sets of traffic lights. I can forgive the European Hire Car drivers as it is hard enough if you live here all the time but the Turkish (Mainland) drivers should have no real problems and that just leaves - WHO?

[Scoobydoo]

I am not criticising anyone's driving but this junction is now dangerous. Having passed through it a number of times recently both in the daylight and at night time it is obvious that no one is following the signs or the lines on the road. Those in the 'turn right' lane are going straight across - I nearly had an accident with one of those large cement delivery vehicles!

The biggest problem is, as mentioned above, the white lines are already disappearing!

[ozankoys]

There are now bollards at the Bellapais traffic lights to keep everyone in the right lane, they appeared as if by magic during the day Friday. Hopefully this should prevent accidents for drivers going down to the New Harbour or right to Bellapais a very good idea whoever designed this.

[MikeK]

Oh please, not again ! Aren't you tired of this topic? We all know that the driving here leaves much to be desired......so's the fact that many expats think that it's perfectly acceptable to drink and drive, but strangely that is seldom mentioned.

No one asked you to live here; there's a perfectly good airport at Ercan, so feel free to use it.

Tried to use the car park at Ercan, could not get in because of badly parked cars!

Lets all invest in dash cams and post the videos on the forum. Would be very entertaining, may even prove that some expats are not as good at driving as they think they are!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/E-PRANCE-Arriva ... s+for+cars

[Twaddle]

Although not a resident of the TRNC, I have over the last 8 years spent a considerable time driving around the country and yes, I have to say that I have experienced some poor driving by other road users. However, I have to say that the standards are not that different from much that I see on a daily basis in the UK! I have personally witnessed some very bad driving every day this week here in the UK alone.
In general the poor standards in the TRNC are I would suggest down to a lack of driver training and general road safety education. Unfortunately in the UK we don't have those issues and it boils down to sheer aggression and arrogance. I certainly don't think we British should put ourselves on too high a pedestal!!

[Scoobydoo]

ozankoys,

Thank goodness for that, it needed something to help guide people of the new layout

[Mr Mac]

Re the bollards at the Belapais lights. BEWARE I was driving home last night and in the right hand lane to turn ( as you would be ) right.
Car in front of me ( in turn right only lane ) went straight on nearly taking another car out who was in the correct lane to go straight on. You have to expect the unexpected when driving here.

[journey1]

driving here is an absolute dawdle as long as you have a 360 degree head rotation - but compared to Iraq and numerous places in India its a breeze!

[thornaby]

Approached the lights today, bellapiis and ozankoy at my rear with me stopping first at a red light.
A lunatic of a driver coming from several cars behind overtook, went through the red light.
Blasted my horn and flashed my lights out of shear frustration.
OK, don't know for certain, but I think it is reasonable to assume it was a local driver.
Never seen expat drivers behave so recklessly.
Had someone being crossing the lights from the other side on green, the consequences are to horrific to contemplate.
What is up with these people.
If they can't drive in a safe manner get rid of the car.

[chiangbill]

driving here is an absolute dawdle as long as you have a 360 degree head rotation - but compared to Iraq and numerous places in India its a breeze!

Have to agree there mate. Driving in India is jaw dropping. We drove around Goa for 3 years. No road sense at all. And the bigger the car the dafter they are. The ones with the Mahindra Bolero's think they are in tanks. But they have statues of Jesus on the dashboard to keep them safe.

[sophie]

I agree about the new layout at the Bellapaise cross roads. Whoever thought they were going to work must be off his/her trolley. People are totally ignoring the direction the small bollards are trying to indicate and I could be wrong, but I feel sure that some of the bollards have been removed in order for drivers to virtually ignore them altogether.

[thornaby]

Sophie, this of course had nothing to do with the change at the lights.
This local loony saw the two cars in front stopping for a red light, thought bol****cks to that and overtook the cars in front, flying through a red light.
How do these idiots get a licence.
Why is there so little police enforcement on the most basic of driving standards.
Its tragic that lives can be destroyed by their actions

[sophie]

Thornaby, have recently returned from Izmir and believe me they would jump on these people from a great height. The traffic police are everywhere and don't stand for any nonsense. What makes it worse here, that "your driver" would probably not have been done for dangerous driving, probably not even for "driving without care and attention". He'd probably plead "colour blindness" or that his foot slipped off the brake. No-one takes responsibility for their own actions. I realise it's 1000 times worse in India, but we don't live in India and the Government are forever banging on about wanting to bring TRNC up to EU standards. When it comes to anything vaguely to do with HandS, they are failing badly.