Always say "YES" to the seatbelt

– Seat Belts save lives

Half the deaths from traffic collisions could have been avoided if all drivers had their seat belt on. According to statistics several deaths or serious injuries happen at speeds less than 65km/h. A collision at 30km/h equals a vehicle’s fall from the 1st floor of a building and at 50km/h from the 4th floor. This shows clearly the significance of seat belts even at slow speeds.

If a person ejects from a vehicle, the chances of loosing his life are 25 times more compared to having his vehicle’s “body” to protect him. A seat belt “holds” you protected in your vehicle. Even rally world champions that reach speeds in excess of 320km/h insist that even for a drive around their neighborhood you should have your seat belt on.

– Michalis Halkos – Instructor at HALKOS Driving School

Using a mobile phone increases the risk of causing an accident

The mobile phone serves. But when you drive, it can put your life and that of your fellow passengers in immediate danger.

Everybody is aware of the law that banes drivers from using their mobile while driving. Those who break this law get a fine and points on their license. Even so, we see a lot of drivers talking to the phone without a hands-free device, even texting while driving.

Have in mind that even using hands-free, still you’re distracted from driving just enough to cause an accident.

The usage of your cell phone reduces your reaction time and your perception of the road.

As a driving instructor for many years, I see a lot of drivers that make very serious driving mistakes while using their mobile phones. They pass through red light, don’t stop on obligatory stop signs, even drive in the opposite traffic lane. A lot of times I had to intervene on my learners just to avoid a road collision with these drivers.

I’m sorry to say that we, as a fully functional society, we haven’t still realized the danger from using the phone while driving, therefore we just obey the law to avoid being fined. All drivers should be cautious and responsible while driving, and think of safety first.

Our safety and the safety of every other user of the road depend on everyone’s actions. As a conclusion, the best thing to do when is really necessary to use our mobile phone, is to safely park our vehicle off the driving lanes, and keep the conversation short.

This is the safest way to have our mobiles serve, not harm us.

– Michalis Halkos – Instructor at HALKOS Driving School

Four assassins of the asphalt

In Cyprus we have a dead person on the roads every 4-5 days. This alone shows that there’s a great room for improvement for all.

Issues like alcohol, use of seatbelt and use of protective helmet should be on everyone's ‘A’ list.

When a driver is concentrated, watchful, acts in advance, stays within the speed limit, keeps the proper distance from the front vehicles, implements the correct priorities in traffic while at the same time brings in active safety and defensive driving as a permanent characteristic for driving, the possibilities of an accident arising are minimal.

In our school special attention is given on all these topics from our instructors on your way to get your full driving licence in order to become a safe and fulfilled driver that will use securely all roads.

– Michalis Halkos – Instructor at HALKOS Driving School

Road Network in Cyprus

General instructions on applied priorities on the road, speed limits, highways, seat-belts, helmet, mobile phone

In Cyprus we drive on the left hand side of the road.

Priorities: While driving on a major road, if we want to turn left into a secondary road we have the priority of movements. To turn right from a major road into a secondary road, we have to give priority to oncoming traffic. Approaching a major road from secondary road we always stop unless there’s a “give way” sign where we slow down and give priority to cars on the major road. Coming on to roundabouts, we give way to cars approaching from the right.

Speed Limits: Max speed limit in town is 50km/h and on rural roads 80km/h.

Highways:On the highway, max speed is 100km/h (80km/h for trucks over 7.5 tones gross weight), and min speed 65km/h). Always drive on the left lane. Use the right lane for overtaking only. When there are three lanes, again drive on the left and use the other two for overtaking only. As soon as you overtake, get back into the upper left lane. The upper right lane cannot be used from trucks or busses over 7.5 tones gross weight or from vehicles that pull trailers.

Seat-belt/ Helmet/ Mobile phone : Driver and all passengers in a vehicle must have their seat-belts on. Either sitting at the front or the back seats of a car. Children under 1,5m height must have a “child restraining system” that fits their body measurements (height/weight). Don’t carry your children on the front seat of a car. Helmet is obligatory for all power two wheelers (driver and passenger) on all auto cycles and motorcycles. All drivers must use their mobile phone only through a “hands-free” device.

– Michalis Halkos – Instructor at HALKOS Driving School