Driving
is improvingin
Turkey, helped by more experienced
drivers and government safe-driving
campaigns, but Turkish drivers
do some things you may not be accustomed
to.
Pay
particular attention to all
of the following which are common
in Ankara, Istanbul and
others parts of the country:
—Passing
on the right and cutting in
front of other vehicles from the
right side
—Pulling
over to the right and letting vehicles
pass before turning left
—Unexpected
stops or turns without signaling,
for no apparent reason
—Stopping
in unexpected locations by
cars, buses and trucks, to maneuver,
pick up or let off passengers,
including main highway entrance
ramps, intersections, and along
major highways. Don't believe me?
Watch this video from a surveillance
camera on the Trans-European Motorway
in Istanbul, sent to me by a Turkish
driver (January 2012):
—Pedestrians
seemingly completely oblivious to
oncoming traffic who continue to
walk or run in front of vehicles
to cross streets and main highways
—Trucks
parked on the highway at
night without lights rather
than on the side of the road
—Disabled
vehicles parked without warning
signs
—Inattentive
drivers
—Unskilled
drivers
—Taxis
and other vehicles with bad brakes
—Unexpected
lane changes and stops by taxis,
mini-buses (dolmus) and city buses
—Tractors,
horsecarts and farm vehicles traveling
without lights at slow speed
on highways
—In
the countryside, the use of stones
or tree branches rather than
warning signs to mark accidents,
breakdowns, and road work
—During
rainstorms, accidents increase dramatically
because of oil on the road surface
—Road
surfaces that are much smoother and
provide less traction than
normal
—Vehicles
backing up (in reverse) on
exit ramps and on main highways
—Animals on
highways
—In
the countryside, watch for herds
of sheep, goats and other animals
on roads
—Drivers
who tend to drive in the middle
of the road, making it difficult
to overtake them (do NOT overtake
on the right, even if there is
room to do so)
—Drivers
that overtake on blind curves
—At
night, cars without lights or
lights missing
—Oncoming
drivers who flash their headlights
whether you have your "brights" on
or not
—Tire-shredding
potholes
—Tailgating
drivers (ie, drivers following
too closely)
—Drivers
that attempt to pass you while you
are passing another vehicle
—Unmarked
intersections (ie, no stop
signs), primary road has right
of way, but proceed with caution
