This “inside page” is not designed to be critical of Greece or the Greeks. It is designed to give foreign drivers, particularly those from the United States, fair warning as to what to expect and how they should conduct themselves.
Driving in Greece is not for the faint-hearted. Many common practices of Greek drivers would not be tolerated in the United States and other countries. Many things Greek drivers do might be considered overly aggressive and even foolhardy. Still, renting a car will give you the freedom to get out and see the country. The most important thing to keep in mind is to drive defensively, VERY defensively.
There are very few multiple lane highways or super-highways in Greece. Most of the main roads are two lanes going in opposite directions separated by a double white line. There is usually a shoulder to the right of each lane which is separated from the lane by a single white line. Most Greek drivers treat these two lane roads as if they were four lane roads. Greek drivers will normally drive straddling the shoulder, trying to keep as far out of the lane as possible, particularly on mountain roads. How much the drivers straddle the shoulder varies because the width of the shoulders varies. Other drivers will then use the lane to pass the cars that are straddling the shoulder. If a driver using the lane to pass a car straddling the shoulder is not passing fast enough, other drivers might cross the double white line into the oncoming traffic lane, and pass him. There may be even oncoming traffic in the oncoming traffic lane that might start flashing their lights and getting franticly out of the way.
On heavily traveled roads there can be a considerable amount of passing, even in places someone use to driving in the United States would least expect, including blind curves on mountain roads. In places with heavy traffic, it might not be possible for some drivers to pass when they want, so they tailgate the car (or truck) they are following, waiting for the moment to pass. (Most Greek cars have manual transmissions. Americans who can only drive automatic should realize that the manual transmission gives a considerable advantage in accelerating which makes passing from a tailgating position much easier).
All this passing takes place at high rates of speed.
Many country roads have posted speed limits of 50 kilometers per hour (kph) which is about 30 miles per hour (mph). It is rare that drivers go less than 70 kph if not 80 or 90 kph. On larger roads the speed limit might be 70 kph and then drivers will generally go 90 or 100 kph (63 mph). On four lane highways the speed limit is usually 100 kph and on the super highways (the National Road) the speed limit is 120 kph (75 mph). Law abiding tourist driving at 120 kph should not be surprised to see cars whiz by at 150 kph (95 mph) and faster. In Athens, driving is considerably slower because of the traffic. There are a large number of motor scooters, motor bikes and motorcycles that drive between the lanes in heavy traffic. Very few people operating two wheelers wear helmets.
One last point: many traffic control signs are ignored. The most important one ignored is the “stop” sign.
