I’ve spent a lot of time on Romanian roads, and I think they deserve some reflection. For me, Romanian roads and Dacia are almost inseparable in my memories. You’ll see Dacias everywhere—on the roads, as taxis, in police fleets, and in almost every public service vehicle across the country.
Dacia has become a sort of legend in Romania. It’s embedded in the culture, woven into stories, and even myths. For many Romanians, the Dacia is often their first car. I’ve heard phrases like, "You can fix a Dacia at home," or "Never trust a Dacia’s brakes or a woman’s promises." One guy even told me that it caused a political scandal when the police decided to buy BMWs instead of Dacias. It was a big deal.
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| 3 line road in Eastern Romania |
Somehow, Dacia and Romania’s roads have become linked. Dacia cars have evolved and become one of the best-selling cars in Europe, but the roads, for the most part, have remained the same—or nearly the same. There are highways in Romania, sometimes called drum express (express roads), but the difference between them and regular roads often boils down to the waiting lines.
Most roads in Romania fall under the category of drumuri naționale (national roads), and they’re similar to the roads you’d find in Bulgaria. These roads are everywhere. You can drive fast, but they’re extremely dangerous due to secondary roads leading to houses. Villages often sit right next to these roads, and I’ve been told this was intentional, though I’m not sure why. It must be noisy, with people, animals, and traffic all in close proximity. It’s common to see cats and dogs wandering across the roads, too.
In eastern Romania, on the way to Moldova, there’s a road I found to be the strangest I’ve ever seen. It has three lanes, which is unusual, but it’s also extremely dangerous for outsiders to drive on. One stretch of the road doesn’t even have proper lane markings—no horizontal navigation at all.
Romania is working on improving its roads. Drum expres roads are a step forward, but they still feel unstable in places. Progress is slow, but it’s happening. The iconic, legendary Dacia is less common on the roads these days, and there are fewer poor-quality roads, but the stories, and the myths, will remain.