Driving in Greece is a very different experience compared to driving in China. The biggest difference is that in Greece, regardless of whether the light is red, drivers will proactively stop to yield to pedestrians crossing the road. When driving, safety regulations are paramount. Now, let’s explore the key points to keep in mind when driving in Greece!
1. Do Not Turn Right on Red
Like in China, traffic in Greece moves on the right. However, there is one thing we must remember: do not turn right on a red light. Unless there is a separate signal for right turns, you must wait for the green light before turning in all other situations!
2. Do Not Decelerate When Merging
In China, we are accustomed to hitting the brakes when merging, but abroad, this is a traffic violation. Remember, do not drop below your normal driving speed when merging to avoid danger caused by following vehicles failing to maintain a safe distance.
3. You Must Come to a Complete Stop at 'STOP' Signs
At a 'STOP' sign, you should not just slow down; you must bring the vehicle to a complete stop, let vehicles with the right-of-way pass, and only proceed after confirming it is safe to do so.
4. Seatbelts for All Passengers
All passengers must wear seatbelts; offenders will be fined 350 Euros. Children under 10 are prohibited from sitting in the front seat and must use appropriate child safety seats.
5. Yield to Pedestrians
In Greece, urban roads are mostly quite narrow, and many streets in the old town can only be traveled as one-way lanes. When driving in the city, you must yield to pedestrians. Under all circumstances, pedestrians and cyclists have absolute right-of-way. Pedestrians there will absolutely not yield to motor vehicles. If you compete for the road with a pedestrian, the consequences are very serious, regardless of whether a collision occurs. Always remember this!
6. Right-of-Way
Awareness of right-of-way is very strong in Europe. Under any circumstances, a vehicle with the primary right-of-way has no obligation to yield to a vehicle with a secondary right-of-way. For example, when entering a main road from a highway entrance, be sure to observe carefully whether there are incoming vehicles behind you. Never assume that the vehicle behind will yield for you to enter the highway—they have no such obligation, and they truly will not slow down just because you are cutting in. Also, many European countries mandate that you must use your headlights (low beams) while driving on the highway, even during the daytime.
7. Honking
Greeks rarely use their horns while driving, as they consider it rude (akin to cursing). Therefore, pay attention to the frequency of your horn usage in Greece; do not honk easily unless you are in a very urgent situation.
8. Speed Limits
Generally, the speed limit on village and town roads is 50 km/h, on rural roads it is 70-100 km/h, and on highways, it is 130 km/h. Keep an eye on speed limit signs or GPS prompts.
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