Has your driving gone native?

[Scunner]

When I moved to Turkey, the fact that your number plate showed that you were not Turkish (MA, MB plates etc) was a fantastic thing. You used to stop at a road block/speed check, they'd clock your plate and wave you on through without a word.

Then it soon changed when they realised that with the correct offenses and fines in place, what a money maker stopping non-nationals could be.

[Highlander]

There is a road sign on the road to the West Coast that reads "Allow car behind to overtake"

How stupid is that.... Assume two cars on the same stretch of road after the sign "car A" in front and "car B" behind.

"A" lets overtake "B" as requested by the sign.

"B" is now in front of "A"

"B" is now obliged to let "A" overtake if he/she obeys the sign.

"A" is now back in front of "B"

"A" is now obliged........

Brenda fetch we a tablet please........quickly

[KKOB]

Like the matrix signs around Glasgow telling you to "Check Your Tyres". There would even more chaos if every driver decided to stop and do that.

[Jacqui Harvey]

We are always amazed at what can be carried on a scooter.  Not just the usual things which are wife (side saddle  of course)and all a couple of children.  We have also seen a goat next to the driver's feet.  One guy had a huge gas bottle balanced across his saddle and last time we saw guy on a scooter in front of us and we had great difficultly overtaking  as he was carrying a couple of long pieces of wood across his lap that stuck out each side.  We imagined if someone hit one piece of wood the scooter would spin around like a top

[bewva]

It is definitely a case of anything goes with scooters. Like you Jacqui we have seen as well as the whole family, animals between the riders legs, a rear passenger carrying a sun bed, our local shop carries about 4 19ltr water bottles, crates of Efes etc. I think the most worrying was a man riding with young son standing between his legs, wife side saddle holding a baby travelling along going over all the speed bumps. I had to overtake as I could not bear to watch.

[snowtop]

My policy is think like an English driver but to a certain extent drive like a Turkish driver.  I treat every road user other then EU plates as idiots (as far as road sense is concerned)  and it seems to work.  In 10 years I have had 2 accidents, one was in Hissy when this lorry could see he could not get past me but tried it, and scraped me, giving me a Doe faced look as an apology.  The repair job to my car was 20TL, so no problem.  The other was in Antalya, I  stopped at the traffic lights and this idiot ran straight into my rear end (before any comments, of my car).  No damage to me but I did strip her off a wee bit, (verbally).
I must admit I enjoy driving over here more than I do in UK with all their Big Brother Watching You restrictions.

[kayakebab]

We've had our car for 2 years and I only started doing little trips on quiet roads after we'd had it a few months.
John drives like a Turk now, he says you have to and I'm a terrible passenger.
One day we had a huge row about it and as I paid for the car I told him that as he respected my fear so little he couldn't drive the car anymore.
The idea was that he would say sorry darling and promise to drive nicely, but he took me at my word and so I had to brave a couple of trips or would have missed out on things.
We needed something doing on the car so I had to drive round the Sanay trying to find the garage we used before.
I've never been so scared but had to put on this big air of being confident and in control.
Anyway, after that I can drive anywhere and have conquered my big fear of Fethiye one way system now and enjoy driving here now.
I will never be an aggressive driver and try and do battle with them, I'm more Miss Daisy and let them overtake.
The overtaking on the left side thing when you're indicating left is the weirdest, but now I'm watching for it it's ok.
It's scarier being a passenger than it is actually doing the driving.
John of course is back behind the wheel and just needs nagging from time to time.

[Menthol]

Well I'm picking up our new car today from the Nissan garage so no more driving the 1.1 Symbol hire car that feels like it needs a push up the hills.

It's cost an arm and a leg and I really don't feel like driving it on these 'roads' in Ovacik. But at least I hope not to be praying it makes it up from Tasyaka. Although the worst experience so far has been on our steep road leading up to the house which I have to fly up to ensure I get up it. Then I met a cement mixer doing 4mph and straining to get up. Meant I had to drop into first gear and try and find purchase again on the gravel ......... Nearly ended up in the ditch.

[Honey Bee]

What Nissan did you get

[Menthol]

The ubiquitous Qashquai. Grey. Refused to have white. Driven it back home tonight with fancy rosettes and ribbons on it. Everyone thinks I just got married.