Question by kousteau: Why is it dangerous to rent a car on trip in russia?
I heard to rent a car on trip in russia is dangerous from my friend.
Because the police try to start a fight with us.
Is it true? why?
Thanks in advance.
Answers and Views:
Answer by Julia
Its really dangerous, just take it as a fact. Im from Russia 🙂 Because our roads are too bad, our police is too greedy and Its dangerous for foreigners to go by car in Russia.
Read all the answers in the comments.
What do you think?
MARC says
if you are american, don’t drive as you do in america. if someone is passing a kamaz (mack truck) on a hill and coming at you, move over a tad and don’t shoot the bird. realize it is just the way russians drive. accept it.
as far as police, they do stop you a lot. i used to drive a zaparozhets, 40 horsepower and 50 mph top speed, but i loved the car! it had a red flag, (well, an orange license plate-at that time reserved for foreigners) that i was stopped often just to see who i was! i got few fines even when i broke laws.
now i have logged 30,000 km…18,000 miles, on my niva in ten years. i have paid a few fines, got out of a few. some bad ones. once i met a checkpoint WITHOUT CAR DOCUMENTS (a mortal sin for russian drivers). i thought i would be impounded until presenting doc’s. once in kazan i joined other drivers in creating a third left turn lane where only one is supposed to be. i asked the officer to please be quick with the ticket writing as my wife was waiting with our baby in the car. he said how old, i said nine DAYS, he handed me a stack of documents for an officer that had come from our neighboring republic and asked me to deliver them to the udmurt police. i promptly took them to my “kgb” (former office) friend and she assured me the owner would get them. a duty instead of a fine. i suppose in usa if a policeman gave documents they would become litter a mile up the road. on the same trip home, i passed in a no passing zone and when i said i didn’t understand russian so well and my wife (with baby) could come… nine days… again the policeman said “go home”. these are events from sept 2003. quite recent.
roads are often not as good as americans expect. often dark and slower speeds are really necessary. sometimes potholes can be a problem, sometimes not. often roads are narrow and with no center stripe. three or four cars can pass at a single point, so you have to WATCH YOUR DRIVING. in usa, sometimes i scare myself since i watch scenery more than the road!
just understand what charges are for on the rental, don’t assume unlimited mileage, be sure of all charges. watch your road don’t get into a hurry, expect to drive kilometres, not miles a day. if you expect to go 300 miles a day, reset your mind to 300 km. it will be safer. do not drive in a city like moscow or spb. you don’t need to unless it is a delivery truck! there are busus and subways (metros) for that! keep your head and have a good trip. do not travel by highway numbers, like route 21 or m 7. rather, travel by the sign to a city like minsk or the sign to vladimir. (in france is the same way!)
Squeaky P says
The police are not the reason its dangerous. Other drivers not obeying rules is the main reason. Outside of Moscow the roads are hazardous as well.
Edward N. says
I would not recommend renting a car. Too many police checkpoints that stop cars randomly. Once they hear you are a foreigner, they see dollar signs in their eyes and they might try to fine you for some bogus violation. Unless you have a Russian native in your car, then you might be fine. I say, take a train or hire a driver if you really want to go through Russia by car.
Dmitry says
Yes, the roads in Russia not good. This is the only problem for a foreigner on the road.
Traffic police in Russia is corrupt. BUT! This is a big plus for foreigners. Our police do not speak in English. Therefore, if you will respond in English, then most likely a corrupt police officer you will not be fined. He needs to get a bribe, rather than trying to understand a foreigner. 🙂
Informatob about corruption are greatly exaggerated. I have 3 years of not paying bribes to the police. 🙂
PS. You need GPS. All road signs are in Russian.
Begonia says
Unfortunately it’s true.
Traffic police cops re very corruptional ad greedy in my country. They can find faults with anything even if your cr and driving license are ok.
Better take some russian-speaking guide (especially if he has driving license)
I_will_be_back71 says
I agree, in Russia high rate of corruption, but nobody start fight with you.
It was dangerous 14 years ago, but nowadays Russian economy went a big way, improve, good roads, good infrastructure.