From Ukraine with love ... and humor. Secrets of driving

Hello, dear friends. As most of you know, I live in the city with heavy road traffic and road junction. Therefore, drivers are quite disciplined, accurate and so on.

Time after time I drive a long distance on rural roads. Suddenly, I thought - what if my friends love my photographs of beautiful Ukraine so much that they decided to come over one day? To get in the car and start a journey … deeper into the country... 😎

I am almost sure you are a good driver. But sometimes surprise is waiting for you in well-known or pretty trivial things. I’ve decided to share some hints concerning my own experience. It’s up to you how seriously they must be taken 😉🚦

Ukrainian drivers are very mature as well as local roads. While planning your trip take into consideration the month of the year. We have a local saying that road pavement usually gone along with a snow. Of course it’s a kind of joke because the process starts while the snow is still here. Some reparements may be done till summer but it depends on set of reasons… ukrainian drivers try to figure it out every year. Spare weel, flashlight and tools are your must have, and I hope you know what to do with it.

Beware of those on the vehicles with EU registration plates. They are most likely not your homies (mostly PL and LT, but also HG or CZ) but those who use a backdoor in a law or other unlegal way to not pay taxes and escape responsibility in case of an accident - they just have no insurance. That makes them immortal, ruthless and invincible, but ... “Kids, don't try this at home please.” 🚔

While driving first of all, analyse everything you see and don't blindly trust road signs. They often conflicts with road markings…. although often it doesn’t even visible. Be wise and be prepared! 🛣

The important thing you must learn is to predict driver's logic as they are sure blinkers are for losers.

Do not suppose a driver will take right lane on a track. He will stick to left as much as he can. So it's up to you how to overcome him. By the way, do not expect that driver will look at the mirror before a maneuver. If he will - its a pleasant bonus.

Road Police. After a terrible things that had happened in Ukraine in winter 2013-2014 they almost dissapared along with escaped president Viktor Yanukovich. Now they are back. They have new title, uniform and equipment, but time after time they also have one blind eye.

Road signs. Do not think that to handle them is a trivial matter. Can you look down and up in the same time? No? This important skill has to be developed. Be prepared to watch potholes and road signs while driving. Sometimes they hide in or behind the tree crown, sometimes stands on the other side of track or right after the point they have to warn about (e.g. narrowing or exit). In the dark and especially in the fog be prepared that you'll see a sign standing aside enough to see only its shape.

Speaking about the dark, when you see one headlamp approaching, I bet it is not a bike but a car with one non-operational headlamp. Don’t be surprised about head fog lamps on nice and clear night, they are often used to highlight craters on a roadway. Using back fog lamp is incomprehensible.

To sum up, if you have a choice.... no-no, I don’t tell you to stay at home, just hire a local driver and enjoy your travel or test your luck and yourself!

P. S. Photograps are taken by me on the journey that inspired this post. Western Ukraine.

Thank you so much for a visit and your support!

Take care,
@zirochka

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