Driving in Greece - How Bad is it?

Generally speaking, Greek drivers are not the best in Europe, but they are not the worst - those people know who they are!

I have been in driving in Greece for a while now and have witnessed many examples of bad habits on the road, which have shocked my rapidly departing British sensibilities. It is not uncommon for drivers to hoot their horns at traffic lights, even when they are still on red and to fly through red lights. There is a reason of sorts for some of the occasions when the latter occurs. Traffic lights, even in the capital, are not remotely controlled at different times of the day to allow for changes in traffic flow. Therefore in rush hour, for example, there can be dozens of cars waiting to go through a traffic light, which stays green for only ten seconds or less. This results in stressed out drivers sneaking through on red because they are tired of waiting. I have also been surprised on more than one occasion when going down a one-way street, by someone coming at speed in the opposite direction towards me. I have decided that if I ever dent the front of my car, I'll head straight for the next car heading at me the wrong way up a one-way street and let the other guy's insurance company cover it. Sounds good in theory at least.

The Greeks seem to have a blatant disregard for their own safety - drivers and pedestrians alike (watch out for Greek grannies walking down the middle of the road with their shopping). Seatbelts are rarely worn and children can often be seen jumping up and down on the back seat, as though they were playing in their rooms, or wedged between two adults on a motorbike. There is very much a "it will never happen to me" mentality, but the statistics show that unfortunately it does happen. I always wear a seatbelt, whether I am driving or I am in someone elses car. It often raises a strange look from Greek taxi drivers, as though you are somehow questioning their ability to drive.

A Few Tips

Now for some tips. The first and most important one is to just be alert. This will keep you safe on Greek roads 99.99% of the time. I realised recently that I am now no longer just looking at the car in front of me, but I am also unconsciously looking through his windshield at the car in front of him. You will soon develop quicker reactions and a sixth sense for when someone is going to do something unorthodox. Driving in the UK would probably feel positively dull now! Care needs to be taken on roundabouts, because it often seems that the rule is the person who drives most aggressively, regardless of whether they are on the roundabout or entering it, is the one who has priority.

Unlike in the UK, when another driver flashes his headlights at you, he is not letting you pass - the opposite is true - he is warning you that he is coming. In built-up areas, go carefully through crossroads, because people do not always respect stop signs and may also have their view of you blocked by cars parked right on the street corner. In response to what I said earlier about red traffic lights, when the lights turn green do not move off without checking that there are no stragglers coming from another junction. When I first arrived in Athens, I thought that the drivers had a slow reaction time when the light turns green lights but now I think, as with driving anywhere, it is safer to take your time.

About the author: Emmanuel Mendonca is the webmaster of Greece Travel Articles - a source of interesting articles and information about visiting, living and working in Greece.

Morning Sentinel

OUTDOORS: He's planning for the future, including winning a tying contest Morning Sentinel Kenney and his father, Bill, will drive 500 miles to Harrisburg, Pa., for Kenney to compete at the event at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show. In 2010, Kenney took second in the open division, bypassing the chance to win the youth or amateur division ... and more »

Active Outdoors Coasting in Sunapee's breeze Concord Monitor This group was Nordic Skating on Lake Sunapee in a brisk February wind. (Tim Jones photo) By Tim Jones / For the Monitor No doubt you've heard the old saying, "It's an ill wind that blows nobody good." I was thinking of that the other day as a lusty ... and more »

Outdoors Report: Hearing set on flounder regulations The Virginian-Pilot By Lee Tolliver The Virginia Marine Resources Commission will hold a public hearing at noon Feb. 28 to discuss changes in flounder regulations. In 2011, anglers could keep four fish a day that each measured at least 17.5 inches in length, and there was ... and more »

Outdoors Notes 2-10 The Southern The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and US Fish and Wildlife Service will be conducting the annual Crab Orchard Lake fish attractor project on Feb. 25. Work will begin at 8 am at the Spillway Ramp, just southeast of the dam on Spillway Road. and more »

George Little: Escape Old Man Winter with an 'outdoors' film The State Journal-Register When you're tired of fishing show reruns or watching your favorite celebrity hunter pull down yet another monster buck, there are some “outdoor” feature films that can take the sting out of a chilly, football-less winter afternoon. and more »

California Outdoors Q&As Santa Barbara Independent Outdoors questions answered by Carrie Wilson, a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. Question: What are the new abalone regulations that will go into effect this year? The Fort Ross area will be closed for the first two ... and more »

Wild at heart: Churches appeal to men's love of outdoors to gain converts to ... Memphis Commercial Appeal By Larry Rea Ellen Boone, 13, serves baked beans with venison sausage to James Miller during the Outdoor Expo and Dinner at Germantown Baptist Church. Formerly known as the Wild Game Dinner, the event drew 900 people, including 92 "decisions" for ...

Fees may rise as legislators face outdoor issues Worthington Daily Globe PAUL — Many legislators are thinking about the outdoors while working inside the Minnesota Capitol. ST. PAUL — Many legislators are thinking about the outdoors while working inside the Minnesota Capitol. Many want to allow gray wolf hunting, ...

MGoBlue

Outdoor GLI to be part of Hockeytown Winter Festival; NHL expects 115000 at ... AnnArbor.com The Michigan hockey team will join Michigan State, Michigan Tech and Western Michigan for an outdoor version of the Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 29-30. DETROIT — Get your stocking caps and long underwear ready Michigan hockey fans. Outdoor Hockey: NHL Winter Classic at Big House, GLI at Comerica ParkMGoBlue Great Lakes Invitational going outdoors in DecemberUSCHO 2013 Great Lakes Invitational going outdoorsUpperMichigansSource.com National Post (blog) -College Hockey News -Michigan State Athletics all 1,013 news articles »

Montana outdoors news: 2.10.12 KPAX-TV HELENA- Along with the new March 15th deadline to apply for 2012 deer and elk hunting permits, the new streamlined eight-page application packet-that contains all the information residents need to apply- is now available at all license providers, ... and more »