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Minimum
age: Drivers must be 18.
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Seat
belts: Must be used by both the driver and all passengers
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Children:
Children under 10 are not allowed to sit in the front seat.
Children under three have to sit in a special baby seat on
the back seat.
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Speed
limits:
Urban areas: 50 km/h (30 mph)
Outside cities: 110 km/h (68 mph)
Freeways/Expressways: 120 km/h (75 mph)
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Horning:
Technically, it is illegal in towns and urban areas except
in case of emergencies to avoid an accident.
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Parking:
Forbidden (though it may not be marked) within 3 meter (9
feet) of a fire hydrant, 5 meter (15 feet) of an intersection
and 14 meter (45 feet) from a bus stop. In some areas, street
parking requires purchase of a ticket from a booth. These
areas are posted in both English and Greek.
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Driver's
license: EU citizens can use their own national driver’s
license. Other nationals should have an international driver’s
license though, in practice, a recognizable photo license
is usually accepted. US licenses have been readily accepted
in the past but it is recommended to have the international
version as a second form of ID.
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Roadside
assistance: ELPA offers coverage to members of AAA
(Triple-A), CAA and other similar assistance services. Check
with your membership department for information on using the
ELPA shared services in Greece. ELPA has quick-access numbers
in Greece: 104 and 154.
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Athens
restricted area: The central Athens area restricts
car access to reduce congestion but these restrictions do
not apply to rental cars or those owned by foreigners in the
country for a short stay.
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Driving
your own car: You need a valid registration, proof
of internationally valid insurance (check with your insurance
company!) and a valid international driver's license.
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Emergency
numbers: For visitors to Greece, dial 112 for multi-language
help. Dial 100 for police, 199 for fires, and 166 for ambulance
service. For roadside service, use the ELPA numbers above.
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Toll
roads: The two special roads called Ethniki Odos,
the National Road, do require tolls which vary and must be
paid in cash.
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Driving
side: In Greece you have to drive on the right side
of the road.
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Roundabouts:
These are standard in many European countries, in the UK and
in Ireland. In Greece, cars on the roundabout must yield to
cars entering the roundabout. These roundabouts serve perpetual-motion
intersection, keeping traffic flowing without the use of traffic
lights.
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Cell
phone usage It is illegal to use your cell phone
while driving in Greece. Violators can be stopped and issued
a fine. Periodic crackdowns are driving this point home. You
are allowed to use a hand-free car phone set though.