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| Home > City Guide - Bucharest - Getting There By Road | ||
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Getting There By Road Roads in Romania are generally poor with numerous potholes. Drum National (DN) roads are the main roads and European (E) routes, while Drum Judetean (DJ) indicates country routes. Speed limits are 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 90kph (55mph) on other roads outside built-up areas and 50kph (30mph) within cities. Only the motorway along the Black Sea coast charges a toll. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.01%, practically meaning that even the smallest amount is forbidden – arrest results in loss of licence. Driver and passengers must wear seatbelts – the penalty if caught without is US$4. It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. The minimum driving age is 18 years. Visitors need to carry an International Driving Permit or national driving licence with photo, issued in their own country. EU nationals with their own cars need a Green Card insurance document. The Romanian Automobile Club – ACR (tel: (01) 315 5510; e-mail: acr@acr.ro or alarmcenter@acr.ro; website: http://acr.ro) has reciprocal agreements with a number of foreign automobile associations and members are automatically covered in the event of breakdown. Emergency breakdown service: ACR 9271 Routes to the city: Bucharest is connected to the rest of the country by four motorways – the E70 from Pitesti, the E60 from Brasov via Ploiesti, the E85 from Giurgiu on the Bulgarian border and the E60 from Constanta on the Black Sea coast. Approximate driving times to Bucharest: From Ploiesti – 1 hour; Giurgiu – 1 hour; Pitesti – 1 hour 15 minutes; Brasov – 3 hours; Constanta – 3 hours 30 minutes. Coach services: Coaches travel to both Romanian and international cities but most – except Athens and Istanbul – are reached more quickly and comfortably by rail. Eurolines Touring, Bulevardul Cuza 5-A (tel: (01) 230 3661, e-mail: office@eurolines.ro; website: http://eurolines.ro), offers direct buses to Paris and various destinations in Europe. Eurotime, Piata Romana 9 (tel/fax: (01) 311 3172), travels to Romanian and Western European destinations. There is no main coach station but most coaches arrive and depart from opposite the Gara de Nord, Calea Grivitei (Romanian destinations), Piata Dorobantilor (Western European destinations) or McDonald’s, Calea Buzesti. Tickets can be purchased directly from the driver but visitors are advised to purchase their ticket in advance, from the relevant coach company, particularly for international destinations. |
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