Cyprus-Forum.com

[New to Cyprus]

You'd prefer to pretend that drivers in UK aren't far safer and Cypriots drive just fine then?

I suggest you learn to adopt to this country because the probability that they’ll all change to your way of thinking is next to zero, and the same goes for everyone else out there who thinks they’re gonna change Cyprus.

You mean I should learn to drive unsafely and without regard for others on the roads? Or that I should just put up with it? I hope you mean the latter - and if so, I have no choice, the police won't enforce better driving anytime soon.

[miltiades]

TOU KIPREOU TOU SHOFERI O NOUROS EN OPOS TO SHILLOU

[Paphitis]

Yes of course.

Everyone in the UK wears a seatbelt. They also leave their little babies at shopping centres or at somebodies door step because they can't cope, but at least they properly restrain the baby in a baby seat on the way to its dumping ground...

How awful Cyprus must be for you!

You'd prefer to pretend that drivers in UK aren't far safer and Cypriots drive just fine then?

The UK has far better road conditions than Cyprus and that is all there is to it.

The reason why you are complaining is probably due to your lack of driving skill and ability to adapt to our traffic and road conditions.

Cypriots drive the way they do because it is a necessity for survival. If I was driving in Italy, I would not be driving like I do in Australia, because if I did I would be getting nowhere. I would drive more aggressively, probably push my way in when changing lanes etc.

This does not mean I'm not safe. It means I have adapted to the present road and traffic conditions and drive accordingly.

Cyprus is not the UK, and never will be, so get use to it or leave...

[Get Real!]

You'd prefer to pretend that drivers in UK aren't far safer and Cypriots drive just fine then?

I suggest you learn to adopt to this country because the probability that they’ll all change to your way of thinking is next to zero, and the same goes for everyone else out there who thinks they’re gonna change Cyprus.

You mean I should learn to drive unsafely and without regard for others on the roads? Or that I should just put up with it? I hope you mean the latter - and if so, I have no choice, the police won't enforce better driving anytime soon.

Sooner or later you too will understand why the Cyprus formula works perfect… for Cyprus! I wouldn’t change a thing…

[Paphitis]

You'd prefer to pretend that drivers in UK aren't far safer and Cypriots drive just fine then?

I suggest you learn to adopt to this country because the probability that they’ll all change to your way of thinking is next to zero, and the same goes for everyone else out there who thinks they’re gonna change Cyprus.

You mean I should learn to drive unsafely and without regard for others on the roads? Or that I should just put up with it? I hope you mean the latter - and if so, I have no choice, the police won't enforce better driving anytime soon.

Sooner or later you too will understand why the Cyprus formula works perfect… for Cyprus! I wouldn’t change a thing…

Me neither!

There is something unique about Cyprus. But most Brits will never understand...

[New to Cyprus]

The UK has far better road conditions than Cyprus and that is all there is to it.

The reason why you are complaining is probably due to your lack of driving skill and ability to adapt to our traffic and road conditions.

Cypriots drive the way they do because it is a necessity for survival. if I was driving in Italy, I would not be driving like I do in Australia, because if I did I would be getting nowhere. I would drive more aggressively, probably push my way in when changing lanes etc.

this does not mean I'm not safe. it means I have adapted to the present road and traffic conditions and drive accordingly.

Cyprus is not the UK, and never will be, so get use to it or leave.

Ha!!! Because of my driving skill? LOL

No, the reason I'm complaining is that when I first arrived I was appalled by the drivers.

Part of it is the roads, but not all.

Part of it is also my wife's family (my wife is Cypriot) telling me (1) that I'm *supposed* to pull out from a side street as though you have the right of way; and (2) that I'm *supposed* to drive in both lanes on a two-lane/each-way road to keep dangerous drivers from overtaking; and the fact that I regularly (daily) see drivers do just those things. That's not "surviving", that's just bad driving. Period.

Part of it is also the fact that I find it backwards that flashing your high-beams doesn't mean the other guy is welcome to go, it means you're going and the other guy should stay out of the way (I find this rude and that it says a lot about the "Stay out of my way" attitude I spoke of, which may be just me, or but I don't think so).

Part of it is that I find it bad form that Cypriots honk when you haven't gone at a traffic light and the light is yellow (not even green yet). Perhaps they're just upset that someone in front of them stopped for the red light in the first place, as ignoring stop signs and red lights appears to also be common.

No, there's plenty of driving behavior that has nothing to do with congestion, although that too is a problem.

[New to Cyprus]

Oh, and while I've driven in UK and Germany, I'm not a Brit. American...

[Paphitis]

Oh, and while I've driven in UK and Germany, I'm not a Brit. American...

Well that explains a lot then...

[New to Cyprus]

I'd like to come back to this bit you said Paphitis:

Cypriots drive the way they do because it is a necessity for survival. If I was driving in Italy, I would not be driving like I do in Australia, because if I did I would be getting nowhere. I would drive more aggressively, probably push my way in when changing lanes etc.

This does not mean I'm not safe. It means I have adapted to the present road and traffic conditions and drive accordingly.

See, that's the whole problem. If you drive more aggressively, that threatens the drivers around you just as much as they threaten your driving safety. It also threatens the passengers in your car.

Yes, it does make you an unsafe driver. You can't blame it on the roads or the other drivers - the responsibility for your driving lies with you, and no one else.

[Paphitis]

I'd like to come back to this bit you said Paphitis:

Cypriots drive the way they do because it is a necessity for survival. If I was driving in Italy, I would not be driving like I do in Australia, because if I did I would be getting nowhere. I would drive more aggressively, probably push my way in when changing lanes etc.

This does not mean I'm not safe. It means I have adapted to the present road and traffic conditions and drive accordingly.

See, that's the whole problem. If you drive more aggressively, that threatens the drivers around you just as much as they threaten your driving safety. It also threatens the passengers in your car.

Yes, it does make you an unsafe driver. You can't blame it on the environment - the responsibility for your driving lies with you, and no one else.

You know, recently I watched a program on TV where a famous Aussie comedian went to the US and started making fun at good old fashioned American Inteligentsia. About 60% of Americans didn't even know the capital of Canada.

New to Cyprus, can you please explain to me why Americans are so stupid?