To have a driver or not have a driver? That is the question

[BritKyiv]

I’m sure most people know that in Ukraine to be considered a successful businessman/woman you simply must have a DRIVER.
This is a strong status symbol in Ukraine and most people in business just take it for granted.

Last week, I had the sorry task of saying goodbye to my old Land Rover, after many years the roads of Ukraine have put him into the grave. So off I went to buy a new Land Rover.

I went to Winner Group in Kyiv, and I must say the level of service is very good, they have trained their staff to a high level and it was a pleasure being a customer. (They have the largest service/repair area in the whole of Eastern Europe). I was even invited in to see the boss himself together with the Sales Director and Customer Service Manager (I was only buying ONE, I reminded them all).  After giving them all the details, I decided on a Freelander this time, as her that must be obeyed thought a Discovery would be too big for here to drive!!!

Then came the question from the Sales Director: “Do you want us to arrange a test drive for your driver?”
He appeared somewhat shocked when I told him I always drive myself, plus I couldn’t resist pointing out that this was a big cultural difference.

Since I told this story some people have suggested I should have a driver.
I once had a secretary who also had her own driver (maybe I paid her too much) and she found it embarrassing that I did not have a driver. She said I MUST have a driver, it is unacceptable that I should drive my self. Unacceptable for who I said???

So I have never had a driver. But, I can sometimes understand why Ukrainians have drivers.
Less stress in the Kyiv traffic, not having to worry about finding a parking space, not having to worry about drinking and driving, having a spare pair of hands to do the shopping.

So, I am thinking about it. Should I continue to be the true Brit and drive myself or give in and do as the locals and employ a driver?

Any advice?

[P-N]

GB - I enjoy driving, it takes your mind off of the business of the day in Ukraine......as you have to be 100% concentrated on ensuring nobody decides to remodel your new car by putting a "customised dent" where there was not one before.

I also, absolutely refuse to answer my mobile when driving, which then makes me unavailable to the world for the length of my journey.  It therefore provides solitude.  On the rare occassions I drink, Anechka will drive........unless you are paying in which case I will ensure we drink enough to cover the cost of a taxi 

We are putting the Rav 4 into semi-retirement in the next few months (as it will reach 3 years old) and I have gone for the Mercedes ML63 AMG.  It does not come with the optional extra of a driver (most of the time) as Anechka prefers to look in the shop windows as a passenger than to drive 

Taking the British option and driving yourself, publicising the fact you will not answer the phone when driving gives you the option to ignore your phone calls until you are ready to speak to the caller (even if you are not driving you can then always say you were, thus delaying the irritating conversation you wanted to avoid by employing this "little white lie" to a time when you can stomach listening to the inconsequential drivel you know they will spout .......depending on the caller of course)

[Lt. Campers]

GB - I enjoy driving, it takes your mind off of the business of the day in Ukraine......as you have to be 100% concentrated on ensuring nobody decides to remodel your new car by putting a "customised dent" where there was not one before.

Its not so much the worry of a dent as much as the state of Ukrainian roads, that put me off using my
own car in Ukraine. Not so long ago the country was notorious for its pot holes, the usual ruts in the road,
missing man hole covers and sundry sharp objects sticking out of the tarmac waiting to shread your tyres. 
Perhaps this has improved recently, so I wonder if Britkyiv and Nik would care to elaborate on the state of
Ukrainian roads today.

[P-N]

Depends where you go Campers to be honest - Odessa main roads are much better than they were 2 years ago.  You can still find the occasional pot hole but they seem to be reasonably quickly repaired after being reported (48 hours or so).   Of course the pot holes are not always marked to warn drivers they are there after the have been reported and if they are marked it is usually with half a tree pushed inside them  .

I have not seen a missing man hole cover for about 10 months now but that is not to say they are not there.

I can't say much about Kyiv roads (other than quite a few were being resurfaced when I was there this week) and will leave it to the those from Kyiv to comment.

[matlockk]

I have a driver but only use him about 50% of the time. Useful when you are going to meetings in the city and nowhere to park. I tend to drive myself on long journeys outside of Kiev, eg to Lutsk and back the other day as I have a nice car, Audi A6 3.2 Quattro and it's a pleasure to drive.

[P-N]

I have a driver but only use him about 50% of the time. Useful when you are going to meetings in the city and nowhere to park. I tend to drive myself on long journeys outside of Kiev, eg to Lutsk and back the other day as I have a nice car, Audi A6 3.2 Quattro and it's a pleasure to drive.

He/she must be a happy individual - paid for only half of what they should be doing (if they are on staff of course).  You also make a good point for GB - if the car is a pleasure to drive then drive it, if it is not then don't 

When I was in Kyiv a few days ago, the traffic didn't seem that bad........then again it is holiday season so it maybe that I was given a false impression of the traffic flow as many regular car users may have been away. 

[rjm]

Depends were you are in Kiev Nik!

Saksaganskovo, Artema Street and Moscovsky Ploschad are a nightmare every day of the week and not just at peak times!

I would never drive in Kiev, the thought has never crossed my mind, far too stessful with all those idiot drivers about, I think my patience would snap too quick!

[P-N]

Depends were you are in Kiev Nik!

Saksaganskovo, Artema Street and Moscovsky Ploschad are a nightmare every day of the week and not just at peak times!

I would never drive in Kiev, the thought has never crossed my mind, far too stessful with all those idiot drivers about, I think my patience would snap too quick!

Asking me where I am in Kyiv is a pointless excercise unless I am either in a hotel (in which case I will know the name....but not the street it is on in Kyiv) or where I am meeting business associates (their place of work, as I will know the address) or where I am meeting someone (again because I will know the location of the meeting as I will have it written down) 

I have no doubt you are absolutely correct about the traffic in Kyiv (as it is your neck of the woods after all) and particularly as I try to locate myself within a 10 minute walk from hotel to meetings so that I do not have to even consider the traffic and thus do not pay it much attention. 

[Vera]

Here are some comments to this Video from the YOUTUBE

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/9uu-2bv68e8&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/9uu-2bv68e8&rel=1</a>

"Respect Americans driving in Kiev."

"Respect. I am from Kiev, and having to drive there is not very easy, after years you become just as aggressive as anyone else. "

"Wow! Americans driving in Kiev!!! I'm impressed. I wouldn't do it. It's hard enough just crossing the street. I love Kiev though. Between Kiev and the Ukrainian men I came back to the States Aggressive and ladylike all at the same time.

"I know exactly where you guys were, smth like lev tolskoy square. "

[BritKyiv]

I am afraid I have to agree with the last post about standards of driving.
My standards have also reduced to that of average crazy Ukrainian driver.
If you show courtesy to them they just take advantage of you and realise you must be a foreigner!

Its like driving to survive to get anywhere. Show no mercy. Strange I have never had an accident yet.

The first year of driving here, I was stressed out everday, but now I have adapted to my environment and its Ok, its normal, I AM JUST A CRAZY AS THEY ARE.

I think the roads are just as bad as a few years ago, just got used to it. Hell, when you have a Land Rover and the axle breaks, you know the roads are not EU standard!!! You really notice it when you hit the road after the Polish border, WOW smooth roads. Plus driving in the UK on trips back its like driving on a snooker table.

BUT, as one senior Government official told me: "If bad roads were our only problem, we would be very happy"

[Jarek]

The first year of driving here, I was stressed out everday, but now I have adapted to my environment and its Ok, its normal, I AM JUST A CRAZY AS THEY ARE.

I understand you.My problem is someday probably I will loose my driving license on first 10km after crossing polish border:)Usually it takes some time to switch to european rules...uh...just rules:)

[Carlushika]

The first year of driving here, I was stressed out everday, but now I have adapted to my environment and its Ok, its normal, I AM JUST A CRAZY AS THEY ARE.

I have to ask, G, if my wife and I were waiting to cross the road at an "official" crossing, would you stop and invite us to cross?

[P-N]

The first year of driving here, I was stressed out everday, but now I have adapted to my environment and its Ok, its normal, I AM JUST A CRAZY AS THEY ARE.

I have to ask, G, if my wife and I were waiting to cross the road at an "official" crossing, would you stop and invite us to cross?

No worries there Carl, BK doesn't come to Odessa much and last time he did, I was driving, so of course you would be invited to cross by me..........only to get mown down by someone else overtaking me because I had stopped of course 

[matlockk]

I just have a couple of points on driving. Can anyone point me to the Cabinet resolution that says it is compulsory to drive whilst talking into a mobile phone, the one that says on fast highways like Odessa and Zhytomir trucks have to stay in the outside lane, and that within Kiev on a four lane road(eg Peremogi) it is compulsory to only use the 2 outside lanes, except when turning right then you should stay in the outside lane until 10m away then swerve across the oncoming traffic?

I think they blindfold, drug and fill full of vodka Platini when he comes. Then again he's driven in Paris.

[Carlushika]

The first year of driving here, I was stressed out everday, but now I have adapted to my environment and its Ok, its normal, I AM JUST A CRAZY AS THEY ARE.

I have to ask, G, if my wife and I were waiting to cross the road at an "official" crossing, would you stop and invite us to cross?

No worries there Carl, BK doesn't come to Odessa much and last time he did, I was driving, so of course you would be invited to cross by me..........only to get mown down by someone else overtaking me because I had stopped of course 

That almost occurred earlier in the year but I was anticipating this possibility which you have to to survive.

Why, at a traffic light controlled junction, do Ukrainian drivers find it necessary to drive right up to the junction when stop signal is displayed despite the fact that there are two lines marked clearly on the road to make a "safe" channel for pedestrians to cross?

Once I pretended to climb over the bonnet of one car, only to be told by my beloved that I was lucky the driver didn't get out and shoot me!

On a more serious note, how the hell do blind people get about alone in Ukraine with all these vehicles straddling the crossing zone? Come to think of it, you don't see many blind people at all. Where are they?

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