Whilst I'm sure that all forum users are careful and thoughtful drivers, please could I drop a couple of gentle reminders/tips about driving on holiday.
*Don't drive and map read at the same time. If the driver needs to look at a map indicate, pull over, put your hazards on if needs be, and then look.
*If you come to a junction and are unsure which way to go, don't slam on the brakes and sit in the middle of the junction pondering. Find a safe place to stop, where you can if needs be look at that map and make an informed decision about which way to go. Be assured that there will be somewhere not far away where you can safely turn around and retrace your steps if you need to.
*If you're driving or riding slowly (quad bikes are a prime example here) and traffic builds up behind you, find a safe place to pull over and let them pass. You may be enjoying the leisurely drive, but others may have places to be and tight timescales to keep. Holding them up can lead to errors in judgement and drivers trying to overtake in unsafe places.
My sincere apologies if I sound pompous or am teaching you to suck eggs, but there hasn't been a day this week where I have witnessed at least one of the above on my way to work. Today alone (a Sunday) I've twice narrowly missed hire cars whose drivers have stopped dead in the middle of a junction and then got maps out to decide which route to take, whilst blocking the road. I also followed a young lady driving through the centre of Corfu Town weaving from one side of the road to the other as she simultaneously map read and clipped curbs.
Driving in on unfamiliar roads can be a bit daunting, but please keep yourself, your loved ones and other road users safe when driving on holiday.
Message posted by sooz on 19 June 2011 at 5:51pm - IP Logged
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All the above, coupled with driving an unfamiliar vehicle on the "wrong" side of the road can lead to disaster.
We gave up worrying a long time ago about getting lost on Corfu! Nowadays we just enjoy the drive and hope we will eventually reach our preferred destination! If not, there's always the place we've accidentally ended up in
Sue
Message posted by loubee on 19 June 2011 at 5:51pm - IP Logged
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I have to agree with all of the above, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who stop suddenly to look at the map or who stop on a junction/brow of a hill you wouldn't do this when driving at home so why do it here... also the amount of people who walk down the middle of a main road with kids and buggies in tow and then raise their fists at you if you drive too close... hello its a main road for cars... yes I know many of the villages don't have paths but still there must be some common sense left. Ssorry to go on grumble over now, hope you have a safe happy hols.
Message posted by entrus10 on 19 June 2011 at 6:42pm - IP Logged
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Also, if you have to stop to read a map, etc., and cannot pull off the road completely, put on your hazard lights! Corfu roads are narrow, and locals tend to drive fairly fast, so give them warning.
Please be courteous and remember that we are only visitors and it is their island, so make life as easy and as safe as possible for everyone.
Message posted by Lavinia on 19 June 2011 at 7:51pm - IP Logged
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Quite agree Bill. We call the area around Sinarades "the Bermuda Triangle" as the road signs are so very confusing. At the top of the hill driving towards Ag. Gordis from Milia there is a fork in the road to the right going north, where throughout the summer tourists invariably stop in the middle of the road to consult the map. It is a very dangerous junction at the best of times, made even more dangerous by these stationary cars. Quad bikes are the bane of my life and never seem to pull over and sometimes you can be stuck behind them for miles, especially if it is a "quad bike safari". Quite irritating if you are trying to get to an appointment on time and it is boiling hot.
Message posted by sooz on 19 June 2011 at 8:31pm - IP Logged
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I sympathise Lavinia. I've only been on a quad once (in UK) and I don't relish repeating the experience! It was off road and I had an horrendous time, whilst Richard whizzed round the course like a 16 year old! It is very frustrating being stuck behind a safari, be it quads or 4x4's!
It is amazing what people will do on holiday that they wouldn't dream of at home...the thought of stopping in the middle of a road over here doesn't bear thinking about, so why do it when on holiday?
Sue
Message posted by weeprincess on 19 June 2011 at 9:16pm - IP Logged
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Well said Rocky and Bill, couldnt agree more especially the point about them having a leisurely drive when Ive got schools and work to get to. We are not on holiday! Sorry to sound mean. Also stopping at junctions is very dangerous but what amazes me more is that if you look into the car of the offenders they are completely oblivious to what is going on around them and the danger they are causing to themselves and others.
Message posted by maureenandbrian on 19 June 2011 at 10:00pm - IP Logged
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RIGHT
To drive as a local ...
The main thing to remember is that you have to have and show no fear
YOURE IN THE THE RIGHT ALWAYS
Now
1. Always over take on a blind bend irrespective if its a scooter or tourist coach.
2.Race taxis
3.When you see a friend in a local village scream to a halt...block the road...chat for a mimimum of 15 minutes before hearing the horns from behind you.
4.Use phone dont wear seat belt eat or drink while driving with your knees.
5.Ignore all give ways in Corfu Town.
6.Never signal left right turn just do it and if the idiot behind runs into you its his fault anyway (hired cars its a must)
7.When stopped by police for bad driving just point out your following the car in front and he's Greek and showing you to your accomadation and you had to keep up.
8.When passengers complain about the speed tell them the bar closes in 10 minutes
9.Drive as close to the car in front then if you do hit you are so close it doesnt do as much damage.
1.IGNORE ALL OF THE ABOVE
Message posted by Spike on 19 June 2011 at 10:16pm - IP Logged
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Also please note than when hiring a motor bike/scooter ensure its a Vespa so that one child can sit at your feet and your wife and other child can perch on the back. Its also wise to take the bulb out of the head light and let your wife hold a torch over your shoulder during night travelling.
Message posted by Bill on 19 June 2011 at 10:26pm - IP Logged
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All the more reason for taking care and being aware of your surroundings when driving in Corfu then Brian (or Maureen), especially if you're not familiar with the roads.
I do agree there seems to be an island wide obsession for driving with a mobile stuck to your ear. Everyone from coach drivers to moped riders do it. Perhaps there's a business opportunity for selling hands free kits...
Message posted by kassi on 19 June 2011 at 10:27pm - IP Logged
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Hands free kits would work about as much as the crash helmet law and seat belt law, about every 6 months there would be a heavy police awarness ... well for 2 hours anyway ...
and its BRIAN by the way
Message posted by Bill on 19 June 2011 at 11:29pm - IP Logged
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I always used to also tell the hotel guests that when they indicate to turn left the traffic coming towards them wasnt the problem ... it was the cars that would try to overtake them on the left!!!
Message posted by SusieH on 20 June 2011 at 12:56am - IP Logged
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Don't forget it is possible for the wife, riding side saddle on the moped, to carry a TV too. Then on course the dog will have to ride in the orange box strapped to the front handlebars
Message posted by bunty1 on 20 June 2011 at 7:59am - IP Logged
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We have our own quad here and often drive into Corfu town on it as its so much easier to park in a small space, but I have to say we also get enraged at the safari's on quads and we always pull over and let traffic past, its only common sense really. But more annoying in my opinion is the Jeep safaris, we once happened upon them in a very small village and they had blocked the way through!
Message posted by BruceAndMaria (Born again CTG member) on 20 June 2011 at 9:03am - IP Logged
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Slightly off topic..but one year in Corfu Town I saw this young lad struggling to park his car and thinking why doesn't he take his seat belt off (which was unusual to see somebody wearing one) anyway he gets out of his car after parking but he was still wearing his seat belt...printed on his white t-shirt from his left hand shoulder down to his right hand hip was a 2 inch black strip....now if it fooled me at about ten feet imagine how well it works doing 40 mph passed a policeman.
Bruce
Message posted by MartynG on 20 June 2011 at 10:38am - IP Logged
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Oh, how true. The week before last, I was following two quad bikes approaching the sharp right hand bend just before Sinies (from Kassiopi) when the one at the back pulled alongside his mate and shouted something - they both stopped almost instantly, comptetley blocking the road - on a blind bend
Martyn
Message posted by Mrs Mushypea on 20 June 2011 at 11:25am - IP Logged
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Great tips for using the roads if choosing to hire a vehicle or bike.
Me and Mr M ventured out and about in May (on a quad) and Mr M was great in pulling over the side of the road to let traffic pass - one of the truck drivers actually gave us a thumbs up!!! So giving consideration to other road users is a good point especially like other posters have said, there are people going about their day to day business etc so to be stuck behind quads, and drivers with no familiaritly regarding the local roads it makes good common sense to pull over where you can to let the traffic behind pass.
Message posted by Lavinia on 20 June 2011 at 11:37am - IP Logged
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If you ensure you do all the things that Bill has suggested not to do you will be recognised immediately as a Corfiot.
In order to further enhance this deception you should also have a car that looks like it's spent the last few years in banger racing and you should always have a frappe in your hand.
Message posted by loubee on 20 June 2011 at 12:24pm - IP Logged
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All of the advice given to drive as a Greek in cars/on bikes is so true, in the winter it always makes me laugh although not a laughing matter to see the husband driving the bike with phone to his ear and fag in hand (how the hell they drive no handed beats me) shopping on board, wife behind with a brolly up as its raining, one kid up front and the other between wife and husband. Then lets not forget when its olive collecting time the strimmers carried across the back of the bikes as well..oh the fun and sights of driving here.
Message posted by Bill on 20 June 2011 at 1:44pm - IP Logged
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Quote: Originally posted by loubee on 20 June 2011
...Then lets not forget when its olive collecting time the strimmers carried across the back of the bikes as well..oh the fun and sights of driving here.
My current favourites are the sickle, tied to a broom handle, that was sticking a good 3ft out from the back of a Vespa, just at eye level, not forgetting the 12 bores slung over shoulders (uncased) during the hunting season.
That said, in India a few years back I did see 2 boys and a goat on a small motorcycle...
Message posted by SusieH on 20 June 2011 at 2:54pm - IP Logged
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The best I ever saw, and I still don't know how they did it, was a chap with wife on back of scooter, three cases of coke balanced on the foot boards plus three kids, I remember one kid was sitting on the rear mudguard
Message posted by cannock girl on 20 June 2011 at 4:25pm - IP Logged
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I saw a man yesterday with a fireplace on his scooter, very often see old man and hunting dog on bike enroute to the supermarket, on the way back dog secures the carrier bag handle.
At least he loves his dog, always together
Message posted by Elliemay on 20 June 2011 at 4:35pm - IP Logged
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I once saw a guy on a scooter in Kassiopi who was carrying a louvre door tied horizontally across his back going up the wrong way on the one way road tooting his horn...he had to slow down to let a oncoming car pass but when he pulled away again he got a wobble on and smashed into a gift shop display...and he still drove off with the door tied to his back..
Bruce
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