has anyone driven from UK to the Crimea

[dilbert]

Hi,

As it says on the tin really.

any tips?


Thanks

[Shadow]

I have heard of some guys reaching Lviv, but not sure if anyone went further.
It is possible, if you have no problem with the usual things like unexpected potholes and dodging road police who will fine you for not having a steering wheel on the drivers side (if you drive a UK car).

[dilbert]

thanks.

what sort of bribe money are we talking here.each time i get stopped i mean.

[Vinnvinny]

.... any tips?

Don't. If you do then be prepared to get stopped many, many times if you have a GB plate and/or you are a little heavy with your right foot.

$20/$50 should see you progress smoothly .... at least a couple a miles further. Once you pay the first Policeman then they will radio the next one with regards to the ETA of the mobile cash machine.

[Daveman]

A member here, Taz, has driven quite a bit around/inside Ukraine, but that was with a rental.  He could probably tell you anything you need to know about it. I'm sure there are others as well, but that's a name that popped into mind right off the bat.  Send him a PM too as he might not see the thread.  Vinny makes a good point about the GB plates. I have not witnessed this, but it sounds par for the course.

What I can tell you is that I have driven there a little, and the roads leave something to be desired. People pretty much just drive wherever they want, when they want... including the sidewalk if they get a wild hair to do so.  And the driving laws are strange.. for example, I know someone who was making a left (turn signal active) turn into a parking lot on a two way, two lane road (I guess the equivalent of a right turn in the UK, across the oncoming lane).  A driver didn't want to wait, so whipped out and passed ON THE LEFT as the car in front was turning left. Guess what? It was the fault of the driver who was turning left, even though the other car was in the oncoming traffic lane. According to the situation, she was responsible for making sure that no one was passing her on the left, even though the flow of traffic was in the opposite direction.  Well, I agree in that it's Ukraine, better check the sidewalk, the sides of buildings, cars falling from the sky, etc... but, what idiots.  Several drivers who witnessed the accident were also arguing with the policeman about it, but he was emphatic that it's the law.  My guess is that he probably knew the other driver, or that man was 'connected' in some way.  

As you get away from the cities, driving is a breeze traffic wise, but you have to really pay attention to the roads... major repair work is need in many places.

[Manny]

Keep a stack of 20 Euro notes handy. Slip *one* into your passport as you hand it over. That's how its done. I drive up through the Baltics several times a year and have done a fair bit in Russia too. They are not the slightest bit interested in your MOT or insurance usually; just the twenty, the passport and the licence will do. Occasionally the registration document if they are bored.

Don't try that in Germany though; you will get locked up for bribery. Poland is usually a safe bet for a quick bribe or two; especially out in the sticks.

Once you pay the first Policeman then they will radio the next one with regards to the ETA of the mobile cash machine.

This is true! On the Baltic corridor through Lithuania, they are 10 miles from the border each side. I am sure they are cousins. They've had me a few times.

In case you are interested, there is a topic on a drive to Kharkov here, and one on a drive from the UK to Estonia I did here.

[Vinnvinny]

Don't try that in Germany though; you will get locked up for bribery.

Holding your right index finger above your upper lip to form an imaginary moustache and goose stepping around the Autobahnpolizei’s Streifenwagen whilst humming the ‘Colonel Bogey March’ is also not recommended.

[Voyager36]

I have heard of some guys reaching Lviv, but not sure if anyone went further.

I have driven from near Lviv to Crimea, and from Crimea to Rovno and back. Both times with UA vehicles though.

There is a trip report of a guy who drove from Holland to Crimea, with Dutch plates here

thanks.
what sort of bribe money are we talking here.each time i get stopped i mean.

I would carry 100 griven notes, (about 12 Euro, if I had actually done something wrong.)

My own experience the police in Ukraine are nervous about taking bribes from foreigners. I've been stopped three times for no good reason, and when they started talking about a ticket , I told him "Ok, sure, write it up". I wasn't all nervous & mumbling, I looked him stright in the eye. Every time there was a long pause (as he was waiting for me to offer a bribe "pay the fee on the spot") and in the end just sent me on my way.

[Voyager36]

Don't.

Vinny, Where's the "stiff upper lip" or "Damn the topedoes, full steam ahead" attitude? 


Dilbert, keep in mind that the traffic patrol like to stand at the entrance to a roundabout, and will wave over any vehicle not showing a current UA licence tag. (and likely any foreign vehicle)

Be prepared that you will be stopped, and shold be able to understand some basic Russian as they question you. having all of your documents, car ownership, insurance etc translated into Russian might help.
make sure to have your IDL obviously

[Manny]

My own experience the police in Ukraine are nervous about taking bribes from foreigners. I've been stopped three times for no good reason, and when they started talking about a ticket , I told him "Ok, sure, write it up". I wasn't all nervous & mumbling, I looked him stright in the eye. Every time there was a long pause (as he was waiting for me to offer a bribe "pay the fee on the spot") and in the end just sent me on my way.

You speak the lingo fluently though Voyager. That's another ball game.

In the FSU/former Eastern Bloc EU (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland), there are no borders now. I have taken to listening to the story about how one must attend the bank the next day and pay there, blah blah. You can smile, accept the ticket and drive off whilst throwing it over your shoulder like The Gaffer. They are too lazy to trace you with foreign plates. The ticket is just another souvenir.

However, there is a border between Ukraine and the EU. They have computers. They *might* know if you were leaving without paying a ticket. I think in the OP's situation, a 20 Euro note is better.

In Russia, my wife makes them write the ticket and she diligently pays it at the bank before we leave. She refuses to fuel corruption. I prefer a discount........

[dilbert]

thanks alot.

should be an interesting road trip)).

[dilbert]

so just had a thought.
these tickets. if they issue them how much would they be, more expensive than the $50?


and even if you had to pay them on leaving the country. it might be cheaper than the note every time in the passport..

hell. foot down. who can get the most tickets contest.
joking but..

and working on my russian. dont suppose they would understand serbian would they?


oh and really,many thanks, great forum.

and i didnt get any bad feedback about a lady as well. all good.

[Vinnvinny]

So dilbert .......

Are you going to tell use what brought on this ludicrously insane road trip? We want to know everything ... pics are always appreciated too but no speedo's (please). 

[Velena]

It is not that bad really! There are a few places in the world where people are driving like mad. I|'ve just came back from Malta and driving there wasn't a pleasant experience. You don't have to bribe every policeman on the road!

[Vinnvinny]

It is not that bad really!

Well I’ve probably driven in more continents and countries than most and I beg to differ.

1) The quality of driving is abysmal.

2) The quality of roads is appalling. I’ve driven around The Gambia and most of the roads there are made from a mixture of crushed shells and ‘something’ and they were in a far better state.

3) Often drivers will choose the last remaining part of tarmac that is intact, even if that means driving on the wrong side of the road .. including around bends.

4) Many vehicles, especially commercial ones, seem unfit to be on the road. I can understand why there were so many fatal accident sites decorated with flowers.

5) On many stretches of roads the speed limit is a ridiculously low 50km because it classed as a ‘built up area’ even though there might be only 3 or 4 houses sparsely spread. There’s often no signs to tell you this and the Police know it.

6) Some stretches of road have hidden Police every 2 or 3 miles. Their radar guns are outdated and uncalibrated. You could be doing 45km and their reading is 55km. If you argue the point then they will make sure the rest of your journey is hell. I was once in a taxi from Kharkov to Lugansk. The first time the driver was stopped he stood his ground. We were stopped around 20 times more during that journey.

7) I could go on ………

Personally I would fly. Failing that I’d get a plane.

[dilbert]

So dilbert .......

Are you going to tell use what brought on this ludicrously insane road trip? We want to know everything ... pics are always appreciated too but no speedo's (please). 

))))
just love mad road trips
says i can do it in 40hrs ish, if i dont sleep))


was going to be this summer. but got held up.
dont know about doing it in winter..
of course i will take pictures and post.

anyway so i was just looking for some info,was going to go via romania, then around the coast,but the borders of romania/moldova/ukraine. have heard a real pain.

i will keep you all posted.

thanks for all the replies.

[Nat]

dilbert, mind that roads in Ukraine are really bad, I mean, really really bad - a lot of deep holes all over the road in some places. You have to be really careful not to get into one.
Beware of manholes - sometimes they seem to be closed, but when you drive over them, they appear to be open and your wheel can just fall down there. So try not to drive over manholes.
Get a good GPS with good maps, as you won't find many guide signs in English and sometimes they are just not informative enough. iGO maps for GPS are considered to be the best.
If you don't want problems with the police, don't violate rules, don't exceed speed limit and be careful about the prohibiting signs - some GPS maps can lead you under them.
Oh, and driving through the half of Ukraine in winter will be madness, because the roads between cities aren't cared for properly in some places and you'll have to deal with ice and snow piles all along the route.

[SANDRO43]

dilbert, mind that roads in Ukraine are really bad, I mean, really really bad

FSU road with TWO misleading signs .

[Vinnvinny]

Nat's right re the pothole's being a tad troublesome. 

[aikorob]

If you want the crap scared out of you.......
go to   http://englishrussia.com/   and search for posts on roads, driving, drivers   from all over FSU  :selfharm: :whirling:

[JR]

Tried it once before they opened the Chunnel, car sank in the Channel and I was picked up by a Polynesian fishing boat...but that's another story )))

[Vinnvinny]

I hope you have a good trip dilbert.

Despite all the negatives we have raised there are some positives, such as Ukrainian are fairly relaxed when it comes to where they park.