Driving is improving in Turkey primarily due to more experienced drivers and government safe-driving campaigns. Although there are overall improvements Turkish drivers historically do some things you may not be accustomed to.
Pay particular attention to all of the following which are common in Istanbul & Ankara as well as other parts of the country: Apart from driving on the wrong side of the road there are a couple of other things you should know.
• Passing on the right and cutting in front of other vehicles from the right side
• Pulling over to the right and letting vehicles pass before turning left
• Unexpected stops or turns without signaling, for no apparent reason.
• Stopping in unexpected locations to pick up or let off passengers by cars, buses and trucks, including main highway entrance ramps, intersections, and along major highways
• Pedestrians seemingly completely oblivious to oncoming traffic who continue to walk or run in front of vehicles to cross streets and main highways
• Trucks parked on the highway at night without lights rather than on the side of the road
• Disabled vehicles parked without warning signs
• Inattentive drivers
• Unskilled drivers
• Taxis and other vehicles with bad brakes
• Unexpected lane changes and stops by taxis, mini-buses (dolmus) and city buses
• Tractors, horse carts and farm vehicles traveling without lights at slow speed on highways
• In the countryside, the use of stones or tree branches rather than warning signs to mark accidents, breakdowns, and road work
• During rainstorms, accidents increase dramatically because of oil on the road surface
• Road surfaces that are much smoother and provide less traction than normal
• Vehicles backing up (in reverse) on exit ramps and on main highways
• Animals on highways
• In the countryside, watch for herds of sheep, goats and other animals on roads
• Drivers who tend to drive in the middle of the road, making it difficult to overtake them (do NOT overtake on the right, even if there is room to do so)
• Drivers that overtake on blind curves
• Monkey stopping in the middle of the road to have a chat with starman
• At night, cars without lights or lights missing
• Oncoming drivers who flash their headlights whether you have your "brights" on or not
• Tire-shredding potholes
• Tailgating drivers (i.e., drivers following too closely)
• Drivers that attempt to pass you while you are passing another vehicle
• Unmarked intersections (i.e., no stop signs), primary road has right of way, but proceed with caution
Driving in Turkey
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