Delays keep new Cyprus truckers off the road

[Paphos Life]

Romanian nationals living in Cyprus wishing to become professional truck drivers can start work within a month whereas their Cypriot counterparts need to wait a year to complete the process.In Cyprus, the Road Transport Department (RTD) holds truck examinations twice a year....

Read the article and chat about it below...

[geoffreys]

Many thanks to Paphos Life for drawing out attention to this issue.
The joys of being in the EU. More loony tunes on the roads. It was a Romanian driver that caused an horrific accident in the "north" after he collided with a school minibus the other month, killing 5 school kids.
You can buy a drivers licence for a car in Romania for £100. I wonder what a professional drivers licence costs there? In practice no need to take ANY tests; money talks.
Perhaps Cyprus should join the UK and exit the EU, and get away from such nonsense.
Not sure what we could call that, Brexit, Grexit, for UK and Greece - but for Cyprus what? Cyexit??
Geoff.

[geoffreys]

Possibly one of the most obnoxious posts I have read on PL since inception, bringing to the fore the very worst of geoffrey's multiple prejudices.

Does geoffreys ever have anything good to say about anybody - other than Trump and Farage, of course

By chance yesterday I drove from Limassol to Nicosia in very close proximity to a truck driven by a Romanian. His driving was every bit as good as anyone else I have observed at close quarters.

Tell that to the parents of the kids killed in the "north" by one of these Romanians.
Geoff.

[geoffreys]

Tell that to the parents of the kids killed in the "north" by one of these Romanians.
Geoff.

And Brits don't have/cause accidents? Cypriots? Russians? Last year a speeding car driven by a Russian on TOKR killed a Polish girl. Do you feel equally vitriolic about Russian drivers?

I regularly work/mix with Romanians, Bulgarians and Czech. They're every bit as nice and competent as other nationalities.

Get rid of your prejudices geoffreys; they eat away at you from within.

It is not my prejudices HIC, but the Cypriots! They are not happy at the way the Romanians can bypass the system of licensing here.
Quite apart from the long time it takes for Cypriots to take the necessary tests, it was pretty clear from the reports that they feel the Romanians are not as good drivers as they are.
It is a fact Romanian driving licences can be bought for cash, no questions asked.
Not just Romania either, most E.EU countries are corrupt in this way.
I am sure there are excellent drivers of all nationalities and not all Romanians are bad drivers.
All professional drivers here should have to take the same Cyprus tests; no exceptions.
Needs sorting!
Geoff.

[Dominic]

Many thanks to Paphos Life for drawing out attention to this issue.
The joys of being in the EU. More loony tunes on the roads. It was a Romanian driver that caused an horrific accident in the "north" after he collided with a school minibus the other month, killing 5 school kids.
You can buy a drivers licence for a car in Romania for £100. I wonder what a professional drivers licence costs there? In practice no need to take ANY tests; money talks.
Perhaps Cyprus should join the UK and exit the EU, and get away from such nonsense.
Not sure what we could call that, Brexit, Grexit, for UK and Greece - but for Cyprus what? Cyexit??
Geoff.

you clearly didn't read the article in full. A Romanian license is a lot harder to get than a Cypriot license, in terms of skills required. They are just more efficient at the admin.

Had you read to the bottom of the article, you would have seen this:

"Koletas also pointed out that the number of Romanians travelling to Romania to obtain their professional licence was minimal as the tests in Romania are considered to be a lot more difficult to pass than the ones in Cyprus and subsequently they (Romanians) prefer to take the examinations here."

[geoffreys]

Many thanks to Paphos Life for drawing out attention to this issue.
The joys of being in the EU. More loony tunes on the roads. It was a Romanian driver that caused an horrific accident in the "north" after he collided with a school minibus the other month, killing 5 school kids.
You can buy a drivers licence for a car in Romania for £100. I wonder what a professional drivers licence costs there? In practice no need to take ANY tests; money talks.
Perhaps Cyprus should join the UK and exit the EU, and get away from such nonsense.
Not sure what we could call that, Brexit, Grexit, for UK and Greece - but for Cyprus what? Cyexit??
Geoff.

you clearly didn't read the article in full. A Romanian license is a lot harder to get than a Cypriot license, in terms of skills required. They are just more efficient at the admin.

Had you read to the bottom of the article, you would have seen this:

"Koletas also pointed out that the number of Romanians travelling to Romania to obtain their professional licence was minimal as the tests in Romania are considered to be a lot more difficult to pass than the ones in Cyprus and subsequently they (Romanians) prefer to take the examinations here."

So what's all the fuss about then?
I thought they were getting a Romanian licence because it was quicker. Everyone knows that in countries like Romania licences are "acquired" (meaning who you know, brown envelope stuff etc).
Geoff.

[Dominic]

What evidence do you have to back up that statement? You can get forged documents in just about any country.

[Varky]

Once again HiC raises the stakes with his 'obnoxious' comment. All geoffreys was pointing out that because of EU anomalies Romanian truckers were allowed to drive on Cypriot roads and on any other EU roads with dubious qualifications. But of course we should bear in mind that HiC looks through rose tinted glasses when it comes to the EU and realise from where he is coming and treat his comments accordingly.

[WHL]

Once again HiC raises the stakes with his 'obnoxious' comment. All geoffreys was pointing out that because of EU anomalies Romanian truckers were allowed to drive on Cypriot roads and on any other EU roads with dubious qualifications. But of course we should bear in mind that HiC looks through rose tinted glasses when it comes to the EU and realise from where he is coming and treat his comments accordingly.

Don't have a pop at HIC....his view on Geoffrey was spot on

[Varky]

Once again HiC raises the stakes with his 'obnoxious' comment. All geoffreys was pointing out that because of EU anomalies Romanian truckers were allowed to drive on Cypriot roads and on any other EU roads with dubious qualifications. But of course we should bear in mind that HiC looks through rose tinted glasses when it comes to the EU and realise from where he is coming and treat his comments accordingly.

Don't have a pop at HIC....his view on Geoffrey was spot on

That is a matter of opinion and you are entitled to your opinion. However, if I had to choose between HiC and geoffreys on matters of EU, it wouldn't be HiC

[WHL]

Once again HiC raises the stakes with his 'obnoxious' comment. All geoffreys was pointing out that because of EU anomalies Romanian truckers were allowed to drive on Cypriot roads and on any other EU roads with dubious qualifications. But of course we should bear in mind that HiC looks through rose tinted glasses when it comes to the EU and realise from where he is coming and treat his comments accordingly.

Don't have a pop at HIC....his view on Geoffrey was spot on

That is a matter of opinion and you are entitled to your opinion. However, if I had to choose between HiC and geoffreys on matters of EU, it wouldn't be HiC

I think

No one was discussing the EU. Rather Racial prejudice at its worse

[Dominic]

Once again HiC raises the stakes with his 'obnoxious' comment. All geoffreys was pointing out that because of EU anomalies Romanian truckers were allowed to drive on Cypriot roads and on any other EU roads with dubious qualifications. But of course we should bear in mind that HiC looks through rose tinted glasses when it comes to the EU and realise from where he is coming and treat his comments accordingly.

That's nonsense. You didn't read the article either. The Romanian qualification is more difficult. They are just better at handling the paperwork there.

[Varky]

Once again HiC raises the stakes with his 'obnoxious' comment. All geoffreys was pointing out that because of EU anomalies Romanian truckers were allowed to drive on Cypriot roads and on any other EU roads with dubious qualifications. But of course we should bear in mind that HiC looks through rose tinted glasses when it comes to the EU and realise from where he is coming and treat his comments accordingly.

That's nonsense. You didn't read the article either. The Romanian qualification is more difficult. They are just better at handling the paperwork there.

Having lived and worked in the Balkans for over 30 years if you think that then you are naive.

[Dominic]

I'm just going on what the article says. The article wasn't implying that the Romanians were getting an unfair advantage because their tests were easier, or because you could get a fake license. The article was actually saying that the majority of Romanians preferred the Cypriot test anyway.

The article itself is a good example of the headline and opening paragraph not matching the rest of the article.

[geoffreys]

You need to speak Greek to take these theory and practical tests. How many Romanian immigrants speak Greek? Like us Brits very few.
Geoff.

[Dominic]

How many have you asked Geoff? You make an awful lot of assumptions.

[WHL]

You need to speak Greek to take these theory and practical tests. How many Romanian immigrants speak Greek? Like us Brits very few.
Geoff.

Utter clap trap, the Romanians who live here on the whole speak Greek to a high standard, some after living here for less then a year, they put the rest of us to shame.

[geoffreys]

You need to speak Greek to take these theory and practical tests. How many Romanian immigrants speak Greek? Like us Brits very few.
Geoff.

Utter clap trap, the Romanians who live here on the whole speak Greek to a high standard, some after living here for less then a year, they put the rest of us to shame.

Well I asked the question, thank you for answering it!
We have several Romanians living near us, none speak Greek. Clearly from what you say many more living here do.
I suspect that those who do not, maybe even some who do, who wish to drive trucks here will obtain a licence from Romania so as to be able to earn a wage quickly.
What percentage I don't know. I think ANYONE driving a truck or coach here should have to pass the Cyprus tests.
Geoff.

[WHL]

Yes you asked the question, and you also answered it yourself, hence my reply.

[Dominic]

You need to speak Greek to take these theory and practical tests. How many Romanian immigrants speak Greek? Like us Brits very few.
Geoff.

Utter clap trap, the Romanians who live here on the whole speak Greek to a high standard, some after living here for less then a year, they put the rest of us to shame.

Well I asked the question, thank you for answering it!
We have several Romanians living near us, none speak Greek. Clearly from what you say many more living here do.
I suspect that those who do not, maybe even some who do, who wish to drive trucks here will obtain a licence from Romania so as to be able to earn a wage quickly.
What percentage I don't know. I think ANYONE driving a truck or coach here should have to pass the Cyprus tests.
Geoff.

Surely that should extend to ordinary drivers too. It would be a nightmare to administer. The end result would be that the tests would take even longer, and the Cyprus truckers would have to wait even longer.