Cyprus is nothing if not an enigmatic country. It is known as the island of love (for the Greek Goddess Aphrodite was born here), yet it has been scarred by a recent and brutal war.


Its inhabitants, the Cypriots, are a devoutly religious and traditional people, but cabaret bars, sex shops and lingerie stores can be found throughout Cyprus.


The Stroumpi > Polis Shortcut for Kamikze Drivers >>

Another great paradox is that although Cypriots are self confessed car-lovers who buy expensive vehicles and drive even the shortest of distances, every road feels like the final chicane of the grand prix when the wheels could come off at any moment.



According to Wikitravel, the travel information website, ‘Drivers in Cyprus attack their art with an equal mix and aggressiveness and incompetence. Take care when crossing the roads, and even greater care when driving on them.’
Undertaking, stopping suddenly without warning, and coming to a complete halt while driving on the motorway are all common occurrences on this beautiful Mediterranean island.


The horn is used as a method of communication and braking is usually an afterthought, done at the last possible opportunity. As for the cars and motorbikes, the louder the exhaust, the better. This cacophony of sounds means that there is rarely a moment’s peace.
Looking for an apartment in the capital, Nicosia, my first question to the (British) estate agent was whether the place had double glazing. She said yes. That meant no.
Another thing we weren’t to realise is that our flat was close to a BMW bar. This is a bar where all the patrons drive BMWs.
But even their cars are made to look cheap compared to all the Porsches, Corvettes and Ferraris parked in that road. After all, we are living on Nicosia’s equivalent of Bond Street in London. With all these high powered vehicles storming around, rest and relaxation is becoming something of a commodity.
So, somewhat enlightened by the experience and my senses heightened by sleep deprivation, I have decided to give you some basic information about driving in Cyprus where the following road rules apply:

1) It is illegal to interrupt a Cypriot driver when he or she is talking on their mobile phone. The call is obviously very important, hence why they take it while they are driving.

2) Give way to anyone who suddenly pulls out of a side road onto the main road in front of you. Unlike the rest of the world, they have right of way.

3) Having more than one passenger per vehicle would be dangerously overcrowded.

4) The hard shoulder is not to be used for broken down vehicles, but must only be used as a third lane when the traffic is especially heavy. If you have broken down and are using the hard shoulder, get as far away from your car as possible and pray.

5) Why use one parking space when you can use two?

6) Horns can be used anytime during the day and must be used when you are gridlocked, or when you spot someone you know and it is late at night in a built up area.

7) Traffic lights and speed limits are only a guideline.

8) Tail-gating, or over taking while going around corners and up hills, will get you to your destination much quicker.

9) Indicating is for sissies.

10)     If you’re a pedestrian, get out of the way!

N.B. Cyprus experienced 13.6 deaths per 100,000 in population in 2005. Their population is around 800,000.  The UK averages less than half that amount - about 5.5 deaths per 100,000 people.
Traffic fatalities have gradually been decreasing and in 2006 they were down to 11 deaths per 100,000 of the population, though this was still the tenth worst position within the EU.
As a result the Cypriot police are waging a war against dangerous driving and can be seen out in full force on the roads every morning with speed guns. Cyprus accidents are down by 10% this year with around 60 accidents recorded so far.
The Strategic Road Safety Plan 2005-2010 has been put into effect by the government with the aim of reducing of halving road deaths by 2010.


 

Comment from the Traffic Commissioner regarding Dry Hiring - a term which is being used when a private person hires a limousine on a self drive basis.

For the benefit of the public at large, I comment on the reference to the issue of "dry hiring" which was an attempted defence used in one of the magistrates' court hearings.   That defence was rejected by the District Judge.   Dry hiring is a ruse which has on occasion been attempted by some illegal operators whereby they claim that they are not operating a vehicle as they hire it out, in the same way that any ordinary car hire company does so.
For the avoidance of doubt, one can hire a large goods vehicle to move one's own property when moving house, assuming that one has an appropriate driving licence.   Similarly, theoretically it is possible to hire a passenger carrying vehicle without the requirements for an Operator's Licence and  under certain limited
circumstances a hire arrangement may not be illegal.   However, it is clear that a business which  runs limousines on the basis of hiring out vehicles with the suggestion that the hirer is the operator, is a fiction which does not stand up to even cursory scrutiny.

Anyone who operates a vehicle or uses a vehicle for hire and reward requires an appropriate licence. This will be a private hire licence or taxi licence from a local authority, or alternatively a PSV Licence from a traffic commissioner.  In the case of vehicles which are the larger limousines which have 9 or more passenger seats, only a traffic commissioner can grant a licence.  It has for many decades been a criminal offence to operate for hire or reward without a licence. Theoretically, an individual who hires a vehicle and thereby operates at the invitation of companies will be committing a criminal offence.  In practise, it is most unlikely that they would be prosecuted as they have been duped by the so called hire company. Nevertheless, if a Limousine Company does hire out a vehicle to someone else to operate then it will be aiding abetting, counselling and procuring the commission of the
offence of operating without an Operator's Licence.   In other words, the ruse or fiction of "dry hiring" which has been used by some unlicensed operators is illegal.

From January 2009 limousines will be impounded and crushed says the Traffic Commissioner.

A stretch Limousine Hire Company received a letter from the Traffic Commissioner and disturbing excerpts are quoted below referring to the ongoing persecution of the limousine business by intending to start impounding and crushing limousines. 

Extract reads:-

The public may take some comfort from the fact that the Local Transport Bill going through Parliament makes provision to impound vehicles where there is operation without a PSV licence where one is required.   The public will be further comforted by the fact that illegal 9 to 16 seat stretch limousines without a COIF are likely to be the first such vehicles to be impounded. My understanding is that if they are incapable of being sold by VOSA at auction because they are not capable of being made fully compliant at an economic cost, they are likely to be crushed.

Limousine hire companies have been campaigning for years to have regulations which are compliable and as it seems this is way too much effort to change for the limousines which are already on the roads, they have decided to simply wipe out your business!

The Traffic Commissioner then also goes on to say:-

Yet further comfort should be taken from the introduction of the Graduated Fixed Penalty Scheme which is to be brought in next year. Once this is introduced, drivers will find that "on the spot" fines will be imposed for the wide range of offences that are likely to follow, including the need for proper installation and use of speed limiters and tachographs.

Lives are obviously worth more if you pay!

Look at the comment below from the Traffic Commissioner - What a ludicrous state of affairs when a car is considered unsafe if you pay but safe if you journey privately.  So I take it the traffic commissioner and VOSA take the stance that if you have a large family and require a vehicle seating more than 9 the lives of your family are not important.  However, if 9 people in a car pay to travel in it then they their lives are oh so much more important!   Are they really being this mercenary or is this really an indication that the limousines are of course safe – but it is just too much effort and work to change the COIF regulations!

Traffic Commissioner writes:-

One comment from the Operator is that it is quite peculiar that stretch limousines are allowed to continue to be imported into the UK". It is also a comment that I have seen from some other operators attempting to justify their illegal activities. These operators ignore the very basic point that many of these limousines can lawfully be imported into the UK and used for private use. It is only if a vehicle is to be used for hire and reward that the requirement for a COIF is triggered.  It has always been, and remains legal to import a vehicle for private use where the safety standards are not the same as for the purposes of carrying paying passengers.


  Look foward to hearing your comments on the above.
 

 

 

 

Check in process for Car Hire

We are often asked how long it will take to collect my rental car from the pickup address.  Depending upon number of customers hiring cars etc., at the same time as your arrival it is difficult to give a definitive answer.  However, there are things you can do to ensure you speed up the check in process for your Car Hire.

Please ensure that on arrival at the car rental desk that the main driver is present and has the Car Hire Voucher which will have been received via email when the booking was made. The main driver’s driving licence, if you hold the new style licence both parts are required i.e. the plastic card and the Counterpart.  If you do not produce the Counterpart the car will probably not be released.  If you require an additional driver to be permitted to drive the hire car, that person will also have to produce both parts of the driving licence if applicable.  A valid credit card which is held in the main driver’s name with enough available funds, by which to pay any optional additional extras i.e. child car seat, additional driver etc., which will not have been charged at the time of booking, or for pre-authorisation in respect of excess amounts on your Insurance Policy.   You can purchase optional insurance which will cancel out any excess amounts.
 

We would also recommend that you bring with you extra i.d. in the form of a passport or utility bill just as backup should it be required.

If you have all of this information with you, the car hire collection process should be swift and you will be able to get on your way with your hire car.
 

 

Flights to Paphos, Cyprus in the Winter

Paphos is marketed as an all year resort which indeed the weather reflects as do the many restaurants and bars which remain open.  However, trying to get a flight from the UK after the October half-term is very limited in departure airports.  During the months from April to October you can buy cheap last minute flight only tickets from numerous destinations including Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter to Paphos.  However as soon as the end of October arrives if you live in the south-west of England it appears you have to take the long drive to Gatwick Airport to get flights to Paphos Airport. 

Since April 2008 Easy jet have operated flights to Paphos but again only from London Gatwick - I am hoping that when the new Paphos International Airport opens which reportedly will have more check-ins etc. they may operate flights from the south west. Easy Jet have a very big presence at Bristol International Airport so fingers crossed flights might start operating from there.  Last week I caught the last flight out from Bristol to Paphos for £60 with Thomsonfly - the flight was on a Boeing 757 and there were only 13 of us on the flight as no return journeys would be operating.  A nice comfortable and relaxing flight for both passengers and staff!  Even the Captain came out to the passenger cabin to introduce himself.  I know though of lots of other people including family and friends looking for flights that week for a weeks holiday over the half term period but they had to make the lengthy journey to London Gatwick and unfortunately they then got stuck in traffic jams on the dreaded M25 and only just reached check-in in time for their First Choice Flight.
 
On arrival at Paphos international Airport baggage etc. was delivered swiftly and customers then proceeded to collect their hire cars booked through Rhinocarhire.com for their onward journeys to hotels and holiday homes.  Hopefully we will soon see an increase in flights available from the south-west to Paphos airport.