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Taking the wheel
ATHENS, Greece (CNN) -- Often one of the best things about travelling is that you can leave the driving to someone else. But when you have to take the wheel yourself, being in a new city can be daunting. Athens can be one of the trickiest cities to drive in, especially for a visitor who has to contend with confident locals and unfamiliar roads. Driving instructor Dimitri Vazakas offers advice to how to cope in his city, from sitting properly to decreasing the risk of an accident.
The seatback should be at 90 degrees to the seat, and you should sit close enough to the steering wheel to keep elbows bent at all times. Crossing your hands over while driving is very dangerous, Vazakas said, but the cardinal sin many business travellers commit is driving while talking on a mobile phone. "When you're on the phone, you're losing about 35 percent of your concentration," Vazakas said. The birthplace of western civilization, Athens is also a city where locals ignore speed limits, change lanes without indicating and jump red lights. It is best to think before you accelerate. You must also be aware of not only what you are doing, but you have to be alert enough to predict what other drivers are doing, as they will not always warn you. But before you even hit the road, check the car over: How the wipers work, the lights, the horn, etc. All cars must carry an emergency triangle, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit under Greek regulations. Remember to obey road signs, drive carefully, concentrate, do not drive fast and try to drive during the day as it may be easier to navigate during daylight. And if you get lost, ask a local.
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