What to know before driving on Kos: licences, speed limits, seat belts, helmets, alcohol limit, parking and the emergency numbers in Greece.
Greeks drive on the right. Roundabouts are common on Kos, and the main road from east to west is the closest thing the island has to a highway, so watch out for traffic on it in the evening.
Speed limits, unless signs say otherwise: 50 km/h in towns and villages, 90 km/h on ordinary roads outside them, 110 km/h on expressways. Fines are expensive and police checks are frequent in summer.
Seat belts are compulsory for everyone in the car. Children under 12 and shorter than 1.35 m travel in a suitable child seat, which we give you for free. On scooters, quads and buggies the helmet is compulsory for driver and passenger.
The alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l of blood, and 0.2 g/l for riders of two-wheelers and for drivers with less than two years of experience. In practice: if you drink, don't drive.
Licences: EU and UK licences are accepted. Drivers from other countries should carry an International Driving Permit together with their national licence. For our rentals you need to have held the licence for at least 2 years.
On narrow roads, local drivers like the middle of the lane. Give a short beep before blind bends on mountain roads like the one up to Zia. Don't park within a few metres of a junction, a bus stop or a fire hydrant, even if there is no yellow line.
Emergency numbers: 112 for any emergency in any language, 100 police, 166 ambulance, 199 fire brigade. If you have an accident with one of our vehicles, call the police and us before you move anything.
