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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 17 Mar 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris D (Newcastle NSW) View Post
We are taking our right hand drive Toyota into Russia soon and I am wondering the merit or requirements to have a sign on the rear stating:

Caution: Right Hand Drive

If such a sign is required, can anyone suggest the correct cyrilic for the sign.

Thanks.
lots of Jap imports, no problem, save your energy for the Russian drivers and police!!!
Where are going, vlad to europe ?
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  #2  
Old 17 Mar 2009
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Sashadidi

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Originally Posted by sashadidi View Post
lots of Jap imports, no problem, save your energy for the Russian drivers and police!!!
Where are going, vlad to europe ?
Yes, S Korea, Vlad, Mongolia, Rus, Kaz, Kyg, Taj, Uzbek, Rus, Europe, destination Milan Italy for Christmas.

Chris
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Old 18 Mar 2009
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Uzbekistan officially forbids the import of RHD cars, the first time I entered from Kazakhstan at Zhibek Zholu (above Tashkent) they said 'no way' and threw my passport back at me, but an 'I'm not leaving here until you let me in' protest sorted that. The second time I entered from Tajikistan at Tursonzoda (east of Termez) they didn't mention anything, even though they took the car apart looking for drugs.

I don't think it's a serious issue - just tell them you're from a RHD country, and you're just transiting.

Police sometimes stopped me to mention the RHD thing, I just told them I'd get it fixed at the next garage and smiled. Never paid a bribe. The Uzbek police aren't bad really... but the Russian GAI are b***ards.

Good luck, Central Asia is great.

Daniel
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Old 18 Mar 2009
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'told them I'd get it fixed at the next garage' - brilliant!!

A number of countries prohibit the import of RHD cars these days (like Kazakhstan) but 'import' in this context means 'permanently importing the car and registering it locally', not passing through.

I totally agree re the GAI-infested roads of Russia, but bear in mind these days that the name has changed to DPS (дпс, if you keep an eye out for the signs). GAI reads гАи, BTW - still in use in other CIS countries.

Also have a look at the overland travel tips bit of my website
overlandcruiser.net
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  #5  
Old 18 Mar 2009
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Originally Posted by ilesmark View Post
I totally agree re the GAI-infested roads of Russia,
A lot of people seem to have problems with the Russian police, but most of the ones that I encountered (other than in Bashkiria) were very professional and friendly. I was stopped about 12-15 times in about 7000 km, usually didn't even have to show any documents, was only fined once (I think about $10) for speeding through a village.

It might help that I speak Russian, but maybe not, alot of people advise pretending not to speak Russian even if you do. If you really want to avoid problems with the police, stay off the main roads--there are virtually no police on the smaller roads, and any you encounter will probably be so tickled to encounter a foreigner in their little village that they wouldn't think of hassling you.
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Old 18 Mar 2009
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Yeah - I was stopped daily for 'documenty inspekty' but 6 times I was stopped legitimately for speeding/overtaking. Twice they just wanted to give me words of advice but 4 times they wanted to bust me (or extract a bribe) and 4 times they failed 'cos of the language barrier.

But it depends on luck too - once in Kaz I came across 2 bikers (1 UK, 1 German) who definitely didn't speak Russian, but that hadn't stopped them getting a speeding fine.
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Old 18 Mar 2009
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But it depends on luck too - once in Kaz I came across 2 bikers (1 UK, 1 German) who definitely didn't speak Russian, but that hadn't stopped them getting a speeding fine.
Yeah, but its hard to complain too much about being fined for speeding or other actual infractions--I mean, that's what the cops are there for. Sure, the cops are probably pocketing the money instead of paying to the treasury, but I only really get pissed off if they hit me up for a really inflated fine or a "fine" based on some fictitious infraction (which happened to me in Ukraine). People need to bear in mind that Russia has a lot of kind of bizarre traffic rules and they'll try to fine you if you break them, even if you don't understand what you did.
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