anthonysdrivingschool.com » NEWS

Roundabout Time For Saying Thankyou!

anthony — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:10:51 +0000

Now Easier To Stay In Lane On The Roundabout!!

I feel a little guilty for not updating this blog for so long! No excuses about no time, too hot etc…

Anyway it is nice to be able to report some good news!….

One of the most common reasons for students failing the driving test recently has been lane discipline (or rather lack of it!) on the roundabouts.I see many qualified drivers, let alone learners, drifting from one lane to another as they negotiate the roundabouts.The problem has been that there were no lane markings to guide you once on the roundabout.

Well, thankfully that problem is now being addressed because recently work has begun on marking lanes on all the roundabouts of Cyprus! Yeeah!

This is a very positive step and will certainly benefit all of us road users and especially those who are learning to drive. It will make driving instructor`s jobs easier too!

So a big THANKYOU is due to ….who exactly? Well judging by this interesting report(pdf file) I found on the internet, I guess we must mostly thank The Public Works Department, Ministry of Communications & Works. If anyone else also deserves praise for this initiative then consider it given!

Minimum Driving Age Lowered To 17.5 Years!

anthony — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:56:59 +0000

You Can Start Driving At 17.5 Years Old Now!

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So, finally the law has been amended so that learners can start driving a car at the age of 17(and a half!) years old, instead of the previous 18 year minimum.

More details to follow soon.

Related Blogs

Pay But Don`t Display!

anthony — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:38:35 +0000

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You may not be aware of a new law which was passed almost unnoticed the other day. It is now not required to display your road tax disc on the front windscreen of your car. The police have all the necessary information on computer records so they will still know if you haven`t renewed your road tax!

Infact it is now against the law to have any stickers at all on your windscreen which are deemed to reduce the driver`s vision. It is also now illegal to have those tinted windows which mean the driver cannot be seen from outside the car.

Get Paid To Scrap Your Old Car!

anthony — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:12:38 +0000

Old Car Withdrawal Scheme To Return?

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The “old banger” car withdrawal scheme or “cash for clunkers” as it is called in the U.S.A. which ended last year due to economic cutbacks, may well be re-instated again this year after all!

The scheme proved very popular last year and the car importers are keen to have it launched again to stimulate the depressed car market. Read more from this Cyprus Mail article.

Three`s A Crowd?

anthony — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:38:58 +0000

No Back Seat Drivers Allowed!

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Sometimes I am asked by a student if I will be sitting in the back of the car during their driving test. The truth is that much as I would like to, this is not allowed. So during your driving test it will be just you and your driving examiner in the car.

In some countries the rules are different, in the U.K. for example where the candidate can by request have his or her instructor in the car during the driving test. Last year there was even a proposal by the British Government to make it compulsory to have a driving instructor or other “observer” on the back seat during the test. This proposal has now been dropped although the driving examiner will now be obliged to ask the candidate if they wish to have an accompanying driver with them. You can read more about this in this article from the UK Daily Mail Newspaper.

In Cyprus however, there is no sign of the existing rules changing any time in the near future.

Beware Of Fake Driving Licences!

anthony — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:10:15 +0000

Is Your Licence Worth The Paper It Is Printed On?

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Recently whilst surfing the internet I discovered a website which offers to supply driving licences for any EU country,even if you are not a resident of that country or even if you have been disqualified from driving. I couldn`t understand how they could get away with this.There are even published testimonials from named satisfied customers. Now I am not about to give you the address of this website if that is what you are hoping for!
It seems this problem has come to the attention of the authorities here in Cyprus.Click this link to read the full article from The Cyprus Mail.

This is a worrying situation.The sooner we have the more secure, more difficult to fake, credit card style driving licences the better.The roads are dangerous enough as it is without the addition of these unscrutinised drivers who have simply bought their licences online.

Dutch Town Removes Traffic Lights!

anthony — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:06:24 +0000

Are Traffic Lights Necessary?

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I came across this interesting news item the other day.Traffic planners in the Dutch town of Drachten are conducting an experiment which has seen nearly all the traffic lights removed from the streets!

The idea behind the project known as “Shared Space”, is that taking away the lights makes motorists take more care at intersections as they are aware of the greater dangers! It is said that this idea helps motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to co-exist more happily and safely. If you would like to read the whole article click on this link to the UK Telegraph website

Hmm…what makes me think this approach wouldn`t work in Cyprus?! Perhaps it would make more sense here if we replaced the traditional Traffic lights with a single light that gradually fades from one colour to the next. That would allow drivers more scope for individual interpretation!

Christmas Spirit?

anthony — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:38:01 +0000

It`s Not Worth The Risk!

Some sobering figures were released by the Cyprus Police yesterday.

A total of 240 drivers were found to be over the alcohol limit over the four-day christmas holiday period. Makes you wonder how many others there were that didn`t get stopped.

One person tested was found to have had a blood alcohol level of 190mg when the legal limit is only 22!

Also, seven people were arrested for travelling at more than 150kph on the motorway. The maximum allowed is 100 kph. There were a total of 340 speeding offences- the fastest vehicle was clocked at, would you believe… 216 kph!

Police are warning that they will continue to crack down on drink driving and speeding during the New Year holiday.

Lets all take care on the roads-and see the new year in safely!

Change of Cyprus Minimum Age Limit For Driving

anthony — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:39:04 +0000

Age Limit Still Applies!

There seem to be a lot of rumours at the moment about the minimum age for car drivers being lowered from 18 to 17. Some people have insisted to me that the law has already changed and that their son or daughter can now start driving lessons at age 17. This is not the case.

The truth is that the matter is under consideration by parliament. It is proposed as a way of giving young drivers more time to hone their driving skills before sitting the driving test. The sad fact is that most accidents and most deaths on our roads involve those in the under 25 age group.

If this proposal is passed into law, then 17 year olds will be able to obtain a learner licence and start learning to drive. However, they will probably still not be allowed to sit the practical driving test until they are 18.

At first I was not sure about this proposed change, but having thought about it I now think it is a good idea-and no I don`t say that just because it will mean more work for driving instructors!

All too often youngsters are trying to learn to drive whilst studying or carrying out their national service obligations and this proposal will give them more time to fully concentrate on learning to drive properly.

However, at this moment in time nothing has changed. The minimum legal age for learning to drive a car in Cyprus is still 18.

DISASTER STRIKES AGAIN!

anthony — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:46:07 +0000

I Think I`ve Been Hacked!

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I think I`ve been hacked!. A couple of days ago my posts all vanished and I coudn`t even access my blog.I started from scratch and had restored about 60% of the content yesterday.Today-all gone again!

Please be patient as I try to find out what is going on and slowly restore things back to normal.