A couple of new additions to safety on the road are on their way.

Where is off limits to traffic on the 10th of July this year?

How do you know when summer has arrived? Cars usually tell you it has before the sun gets a chance...

As if prices weren't already high enough, the costs are set to rise by as much as 10% as of the 1st of July...

Interior Ministry wants to prevent worst drivers from ever driving again.

Back in July 2013, Total Split published popular blog about parking in Split, which is an activity close to a nightmare. It's been very popular, but things change, so here is the update with some new facilities, as well with new pricing. For tips, read original article below.

First, here is the map with all major parking lots included, and garages at Atrium Hotel, Koteks shopping centre and public garage Sukoišan. Comparing with the old article, novelties are:

- Parking lots in Split 3, or new part of Split (see Boškovićeva 1, Boškovićeva 2 and Prima 3 on our map).

- Nicely located parking lot Plinarska, ideal for those renting apartments in Varoš

- Free of charge parking lot Zvončac, just above city marina

- Garages and parking lots around shopping malls Joker and Koteks. The latter one is open for those who want to leave their cars attended for few days.

- Paid parking lot overlooking Bačvice Beach (4 kunas per hour, till 10 pm, afterwards free).

- Ljudevita Posavskog, newly arranged, 3 kunas per hour.

In previous article, we said that most of parking lots are operated by city transport company Promet, which changed its prices in the meantime:

- Riva (24/7) - first hour 10 kunas, every following hour 15 kunas;

- Vukovarska, Svačićeva, Zrinsko Frankopanska (24/7) - 7 kunas per hour;

- Plinarska (24/7) - 6 kunas per hour;

- Boškovićeva 1 and 2 (7am-9.30pm working days; 7am-4pm Saturdays) - 5 kunas per hour. Rest of the time free;

- Street parking: Zone 1 (6.30am-9.30pm working days, 6.30am-2pm on Saturdays) 5 kunas per hour, other parts of the day and Sundays free. Daily ticket 75 kunas; Zone 2 (7am-7pm working days, 7am-2pm on Saturdays) 4 kunas per hour, other parts of the day and Sundays free. Daily ticket 48 kunas; Zone 3 (same as Zone 2);

- Prima 3 and Court House (7am-9pm working days, 7am-3pm Saturdays) - 5 kunas per hour, rest of the time free;

- Railway station, ferry port - 8 kunas per hour.

AND HERE IS THE ORIGINAL BLOG

Arriving to Split by car? Confused with all those crooked, narrow streets? Wait until you try to park.

Really, parking in Split can be frustrating, especially if you are not willing to leave your car on street parking. Split has only a few indoor garages, most of them are adjacent to neighbouring buildings so tenants occupy most of the places. But, we'll come to that.

As in most tourist cities, visitors always like to park as close as they can to the main attractions or their lodging. In Split the entire city centre is almost exclusively a  pedestrian zone, but parking is allowed on its edges. The cheapest way, but not so easy to find a free place are street parking spots, marked with white stripes, and with a blue traffic sign with big letter P on it. Wherever you see it, just get into the first spot you can find, maybe there won't be a second chance. Prices may vary, from 4 to 7 kunas (1 euro aprox. 7.45 kunas), depending how close you will be to the historical centre. There are two ways how to pay, either by inserting coins in the meters and displaying the ticket on a dashboard, or by text message from your mobile phone. On every payment box you will find a number for sending SMS, every message will cover an hour of parking, and you can send as many messages as you want, except in a few locations where parking time is limited. A few minutes before your parking expires you will receive SMS with warning. If you don't have a sticker for disabled person, don't park on the yellow marked spots. Also, if a spot is reserved, it will be noted.

The good thing about parking on a street is that most of those spaces are operating from 7AM to 7PM, except in the first zone from 6:30AM to 9:30PM. It doesn't mean you can't park there at other times, but more that it's free during the night. There is some even better news; on Saturdays ticket machines operate from 6:30AM or 7Am to 2PM, and on Sundays and holidays they don't work at all. Of course, if you find a spot. In case visitors tend to believe it's because Split really loves tourists, we suggest them not to become too euphoric. The reason why parking is free almost all weekend are local people, Split just doesn't have enough parking space to accommodate them all when they stay at home. Still, it's good to know.

The other way to park is in parking lots. Most of them are operated by the city public transportation company Promet (their yellow signs are visible on entrances), but there are also a few of them owned by independent providers. Promet's parking lots, public garage Sukoišan and all of above mentioned street parking spots can be found on this map.

Other, non Promet lots are located in car ferry port; railway station; next to County court.

Price on those lots vary, from 5 kunas per hour in more distant locations, up to 10 kunas per hour right in front of the Diocletian's Palace on the eastern part of Riva, or main waterfront. Comparing with other tourist cities in Europe, this is really cheap, anyone who ever tried to park in Florence knows that very well. Lots are in a way better than street spots because it's easier to find a free place there. However, they are operating 24 hour a day, no freebies here. And try not to wonder why a city with such a strong tourist orientation doesn't have more garages around the centre, even people in Split can't figure that out. There are some private operated garages on a walking range from centre, like the one in Atrium hotel called Acorus Garage where it's possible to leave a car for few days without fear it will be towed, stolen or damaged. Everywhere else almost of the same importance as price is a visible note that "parking lot operator is not responsible for any damages or stolen items". If it happens, call the police, at least for the insurance report.

Beside all this, of course, there is free parking. Someone coming from more organized communities will be amazed with cars parked on pavements, sometimes in a way that there is no way any pedestrian can pass unless going on a street, or walk over the car's roof. Be careful in adopting this local custom, people who are operating towing trucks for some reason just love to pick foreign cars. If you decide to park as a local, try to follow a few rules. First, don't do it wherever you see no parking sign, you know that one - blue, round with red frame and cross over it. Sometimes there will be cars around them, maybe even a police car, but that only confirms that knowing the right people is more important than following the rules. Secondly, if you park on a pavement, make sure that there is at least one meter of free space between your car and wall (or park, or whatever is on the other side). If the apartment you rented comes with the promise of your landlord/landlady that you will have a secured and guaranteed parking spot, check it twice when you arrive. Maybe some hard working neighbour believes that it is his spot, as it is the rest of the year. You don't want to risk broken antenna, or some yelling only because the person who rented you an apartment didn't ask anyone if it's all right for you to park your car there. In those cases, accept one important rule; Split is not a hotel where all the local people you see are there just to please you. It's a city where people are going to work every morning, and coming home every night, and might not like if tourists believe that what they paid covers really everything, from the apartment, to parking on someone else's spot, to yelling under the neighbour's bedroom window.

And let's save the best to the end. What happens when your car is towed away? Except on paid street parking spots, there are no tickets for violating rules. They just pick up your car and take it to their storage. Where is it? Don't ask people from Split, most of them will not know. Just take a taxi and tell them that "pauk" (spider) took your car, they will know where to go. In case you are adventurous, it's here.

If you have bigger car, like van, camper, stretch limo or something like that, don't feel like you're safe from being towed. They will block your wheels with clamps, and you will need to call +385 (0)21 376 848 to unclamp it.

And in conclusion: don't get frustrated with parking in Split, try to imagine what is it like to live and park here all year.

Driving in Croatia is similar to many other European countries, although there are a few things to bear in mind and, given that it is better to err on the side of caution in these situations, most of this information is based on the official advice of the British Embassy in Zagreb. According to this advice  (which it should be noted is prior to EU entry - check the Foreign Office website for the lastest information - :

• Foreigners can enter Croatia with a foreign licence which is valid for up to six months. International licences are not valid, and anyone staying longer than six months must apply for a Croatian licence.
• Proof of ownership via the V5 log book is required when entering the country, without which entry may be denied.
• A green card is not required for driving in Croatia. According to the official advice, a green card is required for the 20km coastal strip on the so-called Neum Corridor in Bosnia on the way to Dubrovnik. This insurance can be bought in Split and other border posts, but not at the Neum border (welcome to the madness of the Balkans - a similar insurance situation exisits on all but two border crossings from Croatia into Montenegro, as I learned the hard way).
• Alcohol is permitted up to 0.5% BUT if there is ANY kind of offence, zero tolerance is the rule.
• Cars must have dipped headlighs when they drive from the last weekend in October to the last weekend in March.
• Driving while using a mobile phone is not permitted.
• A fluorescent vest in the car, and not the boot, is obligatory in Croatia, and it must be worn at any breakdown. Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers, as are special seats for children. Children under 12 may not sit in the front seat.
• Traffic infromation in English is available in the tourist season on 98.5 FM.
• Roadside assistance from HAK may be reached by calling the English-speaking operators on +385-1-1987.

Official advice over, a quick word on speed limits and the police. Stick to the speed limits! There are many speed checks between the towns, and fines can be expensive!