Cretan Highway Code - part 1
West Crete Journal, August 2005

Visitors are sometimes baffled by the home-grown Cretan traditional methods of driving here, so here we begin a tongue in cheek series to help you understand the local version of the international road signs ...

red traffic light

Cars should slow down and cross the junction carefully. Parking within 5 metres of these lights is not really allowed, but if you look menacing or have a cousin in the police no-one will say anything. Cyclists, motorcyclists, taxi drivers and pizza delivery drivers can ignore these.

speed limit

Try not to drive faster than double the speed shown on the sign. However if you are flashed, honked and generally abused by other vehicles behind you, it is permissible to accelerate until you have left them far behind.

double white lines

Try to keep some part of your vehicle on the right-hand side of the road while overtaking.  If you can't without removing the overtaken vehicle's wing mirrors or it's driver's outstretched arm, swing out at least two metres into the left-hand side of the road and carefully avoid oncoming traffic.

no entry

Cars should generally not drive into a street marked with this sign. However, if it's inconvenient because you have a lot of shopping or a mother-in-law to unload, carefully avoid oncoming traffic. Cyclists, motorcyclists, taxi drivers and pizza delivery drivers can ignore this sign.

to be continued ...