Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

We walked along the new road a couple of weeks ago, fantastic for vehicles but as usual the lowly pedestrian has to wait for their precious pavements to be completed. At that time there was no provision for crossing the road apart from junctions and the start and end of the road and no crossing points over the central reservation. At one point we had to walk part way up actually on the road. Best part though, yesterday whilst driving down towards the port another car was driving towards us in the outside lane of the carriageway, he obviously hadn't noticed the adjacent carriage way that he should have been driving on. Had there been a collision undoubtedly it would have been my fault! It looks like traffic lights are being installed at the first junction, they should provide endless entertainment for the passer by, watching in amazement of them being ignored by drivers. We noticed also that at least one crossing place has now been installed albeit retrospectively, the Planning Engineer !!!! must have read the article in Cyprus Today about the "we want our pavements back" protest!

I have recently purchased a dash cam ( available from as little as £20.00 on Amazon or Ebay) primarily for my own protection. Now and again I replay some parts of my journey to watch footage of what I have recorded some of it frightening as in "how that idiot nearly killed me" "the family outing on a motor scooter, all four of them" " the police car going through a red light followed by three other cars, non of which were stopped". The list is endless. we could start a Kibkom dashcam forum showing extracts from our videos or upload them on YouTube. it would provide endless entertainment for the Traffic Police at Girne HQ to watch during their smoking and coffee breaks (which must last all day given their absence on the road during the hours of daylight).

I agree driving standards in the TRNC can be very poor at times

We've recently installed a dash cam, apart from recording the close encounters of the idiot kind, it also enables us to view all the wildlife that cross our path (I don't mean roadkill) later on at home. As it records sound, quite useful for in car conversations that are later disputed .
My husband also has software to remove the in car sound and replace it with music. Quite useful if you want to send someone directions. Thinking about getting one for the rear door to record the action behind us, pity they don't keep recording when you park up.

The good thing about the outrageously poor driving of the locals is that it disguises quite wonderfully the driving of drunk Expats.... oops! I don't advocate drunk driving but who can tell is my point...

Groucho wrote:The good thing about the outrageously poor driving of the locals is that it disguises quite wonderfully the driving of drunk Expats.... oops! I don't advocate drunk driving but who can tell is my point...

Oh come on!

I can tell the difference - a drunken expat stands out like a sore thumb, mainly by his exemplary driving standards...

... after all, you've got to be careful when you've had a few...

n.b. This is a JOKE - which drunken driving is NOT.

Whilst I was over in May this road was under construction in sections, I was staying at Sammy's so used to come back from town & hit this carriageway below Sammy's, as there were never any arrows indicating which way to go I made the mistake of following a local going up on the right hand side. I thought this looked ok as work was going on, on the other side till I got near the roundabout & realised my error, said local just ploughed over the middle where there was a rather large hole & all around diggers & the like. I calmly did a U turn & went back from whence I came & returned the other route.
Lesson learnt do NOT follow a local

Sorry, I'm lost. What new road are we talking about????

old trucker wrote:I agree driving standards in the TRNC can be very poor at times

The driving standard's are excellent in the TRNC!!!!!!

Just think about how many vehicles use the road's / dirt tracks every day. Then think about how many accidents there are??
So few accidents in respect to the amount of vehicle's on the roads!!!

frontalman wrote:Sorry, I'm lost. What new road are we talking about????

They have resurfaced the existing road between Shooters and the New Harbour

gid58 wrote:

old trucker wrote:I agree driving standards in the TRNC can be very poor at times

The driving standard's are excellent in the TRNC!!!!!!

Just think about how many vehicles use the road's / dirt tracks every day. Then think about how many accidents there are??
So few accidents in respect to the amount of vehicle's on the roads!!!

I'm thinking this is meant to be tongue in cheek... what with the highest RTA mortality rate in Europe.....

ttoli wrote:

frontalman wrote:Sorry, I'm lost. What new road are we talking about????

They have resurfaced the existing road between Shooters and the New Harbour

Thanks for that, now I know what everyone is talking about.

Ttoli it hasn't just been resurfaced it's been made into a new dual carriageway.

Panchocat wrote:Ttoli it hasn't just been resurfaced it's been made into a new dual carriageway.

So extra road to park cars on then, maybe the zebra crossings will be left clear now.

I drove along there a couple of weeks ago, the double yellow line outside Manipennis was still wet and there was a car parked on it!

Kanonier, it isn't always the fault of the driver. Two weeks ago I was looking high and low for a parking space so we could go into Shooters (its dam near impossible now to park anywhere near it) and a workman directed me to where they were obviously going to start yellow lining. I pointed this out and the workman said "problem yok" Whats a girl to do??

Groucho wrote:

gid58 wrote:

old trucker wrote:I agree driving standards in the TRNC can be very poor at times

The driving standard's are excellent in the TRNC!!!!!!

Just think about how many vehicles use the road's / dirt tracks every day. Then think about how many accidents there are??
So few accidents in respect to the amount of vehicle's on the roads!!!

I'm thinking this is meant to be tongue in cheek... what with the highest RTA mortality rate in Europe.....

Is this true? Do you have a source, I searched on google but couldn't find anything.

I'm obviously in the minority but I love the roads and drivers here, its a laid back approach like everything is. The only thing I don't like is the random pot holes, I still don't understand why people buy expensive cars here, there are no suitable long roads bar maybe 2 and you will trash it within the year on the pot holes etc.

wondering1 wrote: I'm obviously in the minority but I love the roads and drivers here........

I'm with you; the first time I visited (2011) was the very first time (in nearly 50 years of driving) that I drove an automatic - foul-up by the hire-car company, since then manuals - apart from the trepidation due to that factor that first time, I have always felt much more relaxed and at ease than when I am back in the UK, in my own car! We were visiting with a (GB resident) TC friend, and she "warned" us that driving was different here - "they're more aggressive here"...
Perhaps, but IMO, in the UK, they're more unpredictable - and that is far worse and much more dangerous - as I say, I feel more relaxed - and safer(!) - in Cyprus!

sophie wrote:Kanonier, it isn't always the fault of the driver. Two weeks ago I was looking high and low for a parking space so we could go into Shooters (its dam near impossible now to park anywhere near it) and a workman directed me to where they were obviously going to start yellow lining. I pointed this out and the workman said "problem yok" Whats a girl to do??

So it was you!

sophie wrote:Kanonier, it isn't always the fault of the driver. Two weeks ago I was looking high and low for a parking space so we could go into Shooters (its dam near impossible now to park anywhere near it) and a workman directed me to where they were obviously going to start yellow lining. I pointed this out and the workman said "problem yok" Whats a girl to do??

Why need to park near? Park well away and walk. Unless you are handicapped.

If you are not handicapped you can always park in the Sah market handicapped slots and walk from there! "Handicapped" (and not including those that are genuinely handicapped) for Brits out here seems to mean - I had too much to drink last night - I can't be bothered to walk - my leg hurts today - well, everyone else doe's it - but nobody has a sticker so you can't tell - its hot - I never saw the sign!!!! It is one thing about the driving that really gets my goat, they would not do it in the UK as they risk a fine but here they just get away with it. The odd local I seeing doing this is generally a workman and in a hurry, whilst not acceptable it is understandable.

Thanks for your advice woodspeckie. How far away do you suggest? Trying to cross the road on that major roundabout at the top of the new harbour road is absolutely horrendous, particularly if a RoRo has recently arrived in the harbour and the 18 wheelers are in a hurry to get on their way. Forget the zebra crossings, they are just there for show and to be avoided at all costs. In any case most of them are un recognisable and the paint totally worn away.

As far as it takes to find a parking space. I stay at the Pia Bella For 3 months I cross the roads at the roundabout most days when walking to the Harbour, Town, Lemar, Karakum, Ozankoy, with patience and awareness I never have a problem crossing.