Cyprus has the most courteous drivers in the world!

According to a recent survey from discovercars.com, our island ranks number one for driver politeness – just ahead of New Zealand in second place, and Turkey in third.

I don’t know about you, but I can already see some problems there. And, while I can’t speak for other countries, I would suggest that anyone who has ever tried to right turn onto Makariou, navigated a Limassol roundabout, or attempted to merge onto the Nicosia highway is similarly sceptical.

“The claim is nonsense!” says 43-year-old Andreas, from Limassol. “Everyone on this island thinks the road belongs just to them – especially if they’re a foreigner in a supercar. We’re not polite – none of us. And driving in Cyprus is getting worse, not better.”

To be fair, the stats back him up.

In 2015, a justice ministry survey described Cypriot drivers as “bad, careless, always in a hurry, stubborn and dangerous” – even “rude and selfish on the roads”.

Since then, the picture has not improved: in February 2025, a bus driver was reported to have chased down a fellow driver, yelling, swearing and threatening physical violence; in May, the transport minister wrote of “distracted drivers being an emerging or, even worse, a long-term phenomenon”.

It hardly smacks of quiet courtesy, does it? Especially when you add the European comparison: road fatalities in Cyprus sit well above the EU average.

Which all begs the question: how on earth did Discover Cars arrive at the conclusion that Cyprus drivers are the world’s most polite?

Well, it’s always worth examining the methodology. Because the survey didn’t ask locals about everyday driving in Cyprus. It asked tourists… And they’re probably experiencing a short, limited, happy holiday snapshot of our roads!

Visitors may also judge ‘politeness’ differently. A driver letting you out once or giving you a little extra space can leave a strong impression if you’re somewhere unfamiliar.

And then there’s the red plates: instantly recognisable. A sign to give a little more space. A little more grace.

Of course, there are locals who would disagree with the study’s results.

“I do think drivers in Cyprus are considerate,” says James, a 62-year-old British expat from Paphos. “You make a mistake, miss a turning, hesitate at a junction – someone will usually let you in. Though maybe that’s just because I’m obviously an outsider and clearly confused!”

Either way, what the ranking may really be measuring is not how we drive – but how we behave when we know we’re being seen.

And on an island defined by movement and observation, it’s no surprise that we tend to keep one eye on the skies. Especially when they’re about to shift again…

After a spell of dust and rising temperatures earlier in the week, conditions are turning more unsettled as we head into the weekend, with wind picking up and rain moving in.

In Nicosia, Friday brings showers and breezy conditions with highs around 26°C, followed by a cooler, unsettled weekend with morning rain on both Saturday and Sunday. By Monday, things brighten into sunshine and a more settled 23°C.

Both Limassol and Larnaca see a similar pattern: windy on Friday with temperatures reaching 27°C, before showers arrive on Saturday and clearer, more pleasant conditions return by Sunday and Monday.

Paphos and Ayia Napa will feel the wind this weekend, with scattered showers and cooler conditions, before clearer weather by Monday.

Up in Troodos, it’s all rather dramatic: thundery showers on Friday, heavy rain and storms on Saturday, and a cold, wet weekend overall, before gradual improvement into early next week.

And perhaps that’s the note to hold onto: gradual improvement. Sometimes, things (be they weather or drivers) need to change slowly: a little more courtesy here, a little more care there.

And who knows, one day Cyprus may actually end up with the most polite drivers in the world!

Weekend weather tips

  • Wind will be a key feature – especially in coastal areas
  • Showers most likely Saturday and Sunday mornings
  • Temperatures dip slightly over the weekend before recovering
  • Troodos stays cold, wet and stormy
  • Monday brings calmer, brighter conditions