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Driving in Cyprus is most advisable as regular transport service is not available to all remote areas where many places of interest are to be found. Fairly good surfaced roads complying with international traffic requirements link the towns and the various villages. Four lane motorways connect the capital, Lefkosia with the coastal towns of Lemesos and Larnaka. Minor roads and forest roads are still largely unsurfaced but in good to fair condition. Appropriate care should be taken when using these roads, especially during wet weather. Visitors wishing to bring their car to Cyprus can do so, for a period up to 3 months provided the car has a valid registration licence of its country of origin. DRIVING LICENCE Visitors in Cyprus can drive using a valid International driving licence, or their National driving licence, provided it is valid for the class of vehicle they wish to drive. CAR INSURANCE Cyprus has become a member of the Green Card System and has signed the Uniform Agreement with all Countries of the European Economic Area and Switzerland, with effect from the 7th August 1997. The Agreement is also in force with all other members of the Green Card System, with the exception of Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia and Iraq (suspended). PETROL Motor fuel and unleaded petrol may be bought in unlimited quantities at Petrol stations. Brands available are: B.P., Mobil, Esso, Lina, Petrolina and Agip. Petrol is sold by the litre and is charged as follows: Premium petrol (super) is currently 37,8 cents per litre (8% VAT included). Unleaded petrol costs: 37,8 cents per litre (8% VAT included). Regular grade costs: 35,7 cents per litre (8% VAT included). Diesel Oil sells at 12,4 cents per litre (8% VAT included). Petrol Stations Stay Open: Summer period (April 1 - September 30)s Monday-Friday : 06:00-19:00 (06:00-18:00 from Oct. 1 to March 31) Wednesday: 06:00-14:00 (Lefkosia district) Tuesday: 06:00-14:00 (Lemesos, Larnaka, Pafos and Ammochostos districts) Saturday: 06:00-15:00 Petrol stations in Lefkosia and all seaside areas are equipped with petrol vending machines, accepting bank notes and credit cards. Vending machines operate during non-working hours, on weekends and on holidays. Petrol stations in rural areas may be found open on Weekends and on Holidays. A list of petrol stations can be found in the yellow pages of the Telephone Directory. PARKING FACILITIES 1. Parking places (municipal and private) are found in town centres, charging approximately 50 cents for a half day"s parking. 2. Parking metres in the centre of towns may be used on payment of ONE 20-cents COIN per hour, on week days, during office hours. Parking metres do not operate on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Public Holidays. Parking and waiting is prohibited along a double yellow line. Along a single yellow line, loading and unloading is allowed but parking is prohibited at all times. "MINI" GUIDE TO DRIVERS Traffic moves on the LEFT hand-side of the road, NOT on the right. International road traffic signs are in use, and placed along the roads and highways, on the left hand-side. Distances and road speed limits are posted in kilometres and kilometre-per hour (km/h) respectively. The maximum speed limit on the motorways is 100 km/h and the lower speed limit is 65 km/h. On all other roads the general speed limit is 80 km/h, unless a lower one is indicated. In built-up areas generally the speed limit is 50km/h, unless a different one is indicated. The use of front seat-belts is compulsory. Children under the age of five MUST NOT, under any circumstances sit in the front passenger seat. Children from five to ten years old may occupy the front passenger seat only if an appropriate child's seat belt has been fitted. Rush hours in the towns are approximately between 07:30-08:00 / 13:00-13:30 and in late afternoon 17:00-18:00 in winter, or 18:00-19:00 in summer. It is advisable to avoid, if possible, driving due West in the late afternoon, as the glare of the setting sun can be unpleasant and potentially dangerous. Because of the sometimes intense brightness of the clear Mediterranean sky, drivers are advised to wear sunglasses. DRIVING WITH ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION ABOVE THE PRESCRIBED LIMIT: Driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle or pedal cycle with alcohol concentration in breath or blood above the prescribed limit, is an offence. The prescribed limit in breath is 39 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The prescribed limit in blood is 90 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. |
