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Road Main roads are designated with blue signs. Traffic drives on the right. The maximum speed limit for cars is 120kph (70mph) on motorways, 110kph (60mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. It is illegal to carry spare petrol (venzeni) in the vehicle. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Seat belts must be worn and children under ten must sit in the back seat. Penalties for drinking and driving over the limit are severe; the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.05%, above 0.08% is considered a criminal offence. A national driving licence is acceptable for EU nationals but nationals of other countries may need an International Driving Permit. EU nationals in possession of a Green Card, which provides international third-party insurance, are permitted to import a foreign-registered car, caravan, motorcycle, boat or trailer for a maximum of six months (or up to 15 months for a fee). A Green Card is no longer a legal requirement in Greece for visits of less than three months, but without it, insurance is limited to the minimum legal cover. Car registration documents must be carried at all times. The Greek Automobile and Touring Club (ELPA), Messogion 2-4 (tel: (01) 779 1615; fax: (01) 778 6642) provides 24-hour assistance (tel: 104) on main roads to members of associated national automobile clubs. Emergency breakdown services (toll free): 104. Routes to the city: The PATHE motorway runs from Patra in the west via Athens to Thessaloniki and Evzoni on the Yugoslav border. Driving times to Athens: from Thessaloniki - 6 hours 45 minutes; from Sofia - 11 hours 30 minutes; from Istanbul - 16 hours 45 minutes. Coach services: There are two domestic long-distance bus terminals in Athens: terminal A, Kifissou 100, (tel: (01) 512 4910 or 513 2601), and terminal B, Liossion 260, (tel: (01) 831 7153). Buses link Athens and all the main towns in Attica, northern Greece and the Peloponnese. Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) runs express bus services to northern Greece from Karolou Street and to the Peloponnese from Sina Street station. There are international routes from Athens via Thessaloniki to Sofia, Paris, Dortmund and Istanbul. Information and bookings are available from the coach stations in Athens at Sina 6 (tel: (01) 362 4402); Karolou 1 (tel: (01) 529 7777) and Filellinon 17 (tel: (01) 323 6747). |
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