Driving in Italy
Discussion
Driving tips and rules for Italy –
Keep your car headlights on all the time. The law was changed because too many drivers were not putting their lights on at dusk in the hope that it would save petrol, the bulbs, or err, something.
Buy a neon yellow vest and keep it in your glove box. Another new law after too many people were killed changing tyres by the side of the road.
Make sure you have your insurance documents and driving licence with you. If you get stopped by the police this is what they will usually be checking for. The reason the police will be armed is that too many people (Mafia) down South didn’t have car insurance and would shoot whoever stopped them.
For some reason whenever I have been stopped, the tall skinny one has the pistol and does all the talking, while the short fat one holds the machine gun and is obviously thinking about lunch.
Don’t worry if you get stopped, the police on the whole are a friendly bunch and will just be curious about what you think about Italy. Last time I was pulled over, when I might have been going a bit quick, I was told off a bit, papers were checked and I was on my way within 5 minutes.
If you are asked to pay a fine and think at the time it is just for extra “pocket money” then offer to write a cheque and ask for a receipt. Don’t be rude or pushy and even if you are on holiday treat the police with the respect you would back home. Any real problems, give me a shout.
Speed Cameras. There are none in the region where I live so I am not sure what the situation is with these.
Police with speed guns by the side of the road. Seen this twice in 4 years on main roads. And the same number on the motorway.
Speeding. The official limit is 130 kph on the Motorway, less if it is raining. My only advice would be to see what others are doing and (if you want) take that as a lead. It is quite common to see BMWs, Audis and Mercedes in convoy at twice this limit. For some reason it is usually the Mercedes that get pulled for “rapid progress” You have a chat, pay the fine and go on your way. At the moment you will not get points on your licence.
Slow right down when going through towns and villages. You will find people will just pull out without looking, open car doors and generally not worry too much about road traffic.
Horn. Use your horn; it will save you and your car. The best thing to do is pretend you are Italian and having a conversation. It is not seen as rude to beep, more like just saying, Ciao! Don’t be all British (or whatever) and think that it would be rude to interrupt the chap on his mobile phone that is coming towards you on your side of the road. He is probably deep in conversation talking about food or football. He will be happy that you took the effort to say hi, oh and by the way could he move over a bit and not hit you head on.
Lights. If you are driving along the Motorway at 130kph and you get a driver 10cm behind you flashing their lights, don’t panic. They just want to get past and on their way. They are not being pushy; it is just the style of driving here.
Road rage. I haven’t ever come across any the whole time I have driven in Italy. Someone cuts you up, just use your horn, a few choice swearwords and the right hand gesture and everything is ok. (Just don’t insult their Mother)
You will get lost in any city you go to. Best thing is to buy a sat nav and use it. It saved me in Rome and Bologna.
Mobile phones. Everyone seems to be on the phone while driving, all the time. My only advice would be to just be aware that Italian drivers could be fairly unobservant at the best of time. Add in a phone call, chatting to a friend or reading the paper (regular occurrence) and you have a recipe for disaster. Just be aware that the driver in front or coming the other way really might be an idiot and you will be ok.
If, (and this is a big if) you do something really stupid then there is often a way out of the situation. This normally involves some smooth talking and some money changing hands. It also helps if you know the local Mayor and Head of Police and can ask for a favour. Left me know if you are in deep trouble and I will see if I can help.
Do please add to the list if you think of all the things I have missed. It really is a wonderful place to drive.
Great scenery, wonderful roads and no bloody cameras.
Enjoy.
Keep your car headlights on all the time. The law was changed because too many drivers were not putting their lights on at dusk in the hope that it would save petrol, the bulbs, or err, something.
Buy a neon yellow vest and keep it in your glove box. Another new law after too many people were killed changing tyres by the side of the road.
Make sure you have your insurance documents and driving licence with you. If you get stopped by the police this is what they will usually be checking for. The reason the police will be armed is that too many people (Mafia) down South didn’t have car insurance and would shoot whoever stopped them.
For some reason whenever I have been stopped, the tall skinny one has the pistol and does all the talking, while the short fat one holds the machine gun and is obviously thinking about lunch.
Don’t worry if you get stopped, the police on the whole are a friendly bunch and will just be curious about what you think about Italy. Last time I was pulled over, when I might have been going a bit quick, I was told off a bit, papers were checked and I was on my way within 5 minutes.
If you are asked to pay a fine and think at the time it is just for extra “pocket money” then offer to write a cheque and ask for a receipt. Don’t be rude or pushy and even if you are on holiday treat the police with the respect you would back home. Any real problems, give me a shout.
Speed Cameras. There are none in the region where I live so I am not sure what the situation is with these.
Police with speed guns by the side of the road. Seen this twice in 4 years on main roads. And the same number on the motorway.
Speeding. The official limit is 130 kph on the Motorway, less if it is raining. My only advice would be to see what others are doing and (if you want) take that as a lead. It is quite common to see BMWs, Audis and Mercedes in convoy at twice this limit. For some reason it is usually the Mercedes that get pulled for “rapid progress” You have a chat, pay the fine and go on your way. At the moment you will not get points on your licence.
Slow right down when going through towns and villages. You will find people will just pull out without looking, open car doors and generally not worry too much about road traffic.
Horn. Use your horn; it will save you and your car. The best thing to do is pretend you are Italian and having a conversation. It is not seen as rude to beep, more like just saying, Ciao! Don’t be all British (or whatever) and think that it would be rude to interrupt the chap on his mobile phone that is coming towards you on your side of the road. He is probably deep in conversation talking about food or football. He will be happy that you took the effort to say hi, oh and by the way could he move over a bit and not hit you head on.
Lights. If you are driving along the Motorway at 130kph and you get a driver 10cm behind you flashing their lights, don’t panic. They just want to get past and on their way. They are not being pushy; it is just the style of driving here.
Road rage. I haven’t ever come across any the whole time I have driven in Italy. Someone cuts you up, just use your horn, a few choice swearwords and the right hand gesture and everything is ok. (Just don’t insult their Mother)
You will get lost in any city you go to. Best thing is to buy a sat nav and use it. It saved me in Rome and Bologna.
Mobile phones. Everyone seems to be on the phone while driving, all the time. My only advice would be to just be aware that Italian drivers could be fairly unobservant at the best of time. Add in a phone call, chatting to a friend or reading the paper (regular occurrence) and you have a recipe for disaster. Just be aware that the driver in front or coming the other way really might be an idiot and you will be ok.
If, (and this is a big if) you do something really stupid then there is often a way out of the situation. This normally involves some smooth talking and some money changing hands. It also helps if you know the local Mayor and Head of Police and can ask for a favour. Left me know if you are in deep trouble and I will see if I can help.
Do please add to the list if you think of all the things I have missed. It really is a wonderful place to drive.
Great scenery, wonderful roads and no bloody cameras.
Enjoy.
A really useful post. If only you'd posted it 3 weeks ago. I've just got back from my honeymoon which featured a 1966 Alfa Duetto and a 10 day trip taking in Rome, Naples and the Amalfi coast. The only things I'd add would be don't go to Naples, if the scooters don't get you, the rubbish spilling onto the roads will. And everything you've heard about Italian electrics is true. A fuse went while we were heading down the A1 which resulted in a fire from the transmission tunnel. Scary, but something to tell the grandchildrern one day.
Olivero said:
It really is a wonderful place to drive.
Great scenery, wonderful roads and no bloody cameras.
Quite right!Great scenery, wonderful roads and no bloody cameras.
Thraping a hire car round the streets of Palermo and around the surrounding mountain roads is superb fun, you just have to leave the Englishman at home and go native!
Drive like the locals and you'll be ok.
Edited by DJFish on Tuesday 5th June 18:20
blueyes said:
Good post... but I think a lot of it applies more to the south of the country: Rome and below.
I live in Marche, and have based my comments on driving there and the surounding regions(Tuscany, Umbria etc). It is a different situation when you get to Naples (so be warned) and below.I love Italy, though I've only been once so far and not as a driver. On the coach from Naples airport to Sorrento I observed what appeared to be the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix, but consisting entirely of Fiats and Scooters which were, somewhat inexplicably, travelling at speeds that Fiats and Scooters shouldn't be capable of! It was a mesmorising and joyful sight to experience from the window of a coach... and Italians are the only people who can look cool while riding a Scooter! I can't wait for my next trip to Italy and one day I'll go for a tour of the country by car.
I agree about road rage too - In Britain we are so up-tight that we bottle things up until they become unbearable and then the next time someone irritates us the slightest bit it becomes an all-consuming obsession to get them back. In Italy I got the impression that there was one burst of horns and swearing to release the tension and then everything got straight back to normal. It looked like a much healthier approach to driving and noone seemed to bear anyone any grudges - it looked more like a load of people having boisterous fun than anything else! One particularly funny sight was at the Piazza Tasso in Sorrento where a policeman would direct traffic at the busiest times... except when a couple of gorgeous young girls on scooters pulled-up for a chat and he immediately stopped directing the traffic and turned his attention to them instead. It was wonderful to see that the living hasn't been regulated out of life the way it has in Britain.
And as for the food... I'm a lightly built person who struggles to put weight on at the best of times, but I came back from Italy two kilos heavier than when I'd set off from home! Yes, I must return to Italy very soon!
I agree about road rage too - In Britain we are so up-tight that we bottle things up until they become unbearable and then the next time someone irritates us the slightest bit it becomes an all-consuming obsession to get them back. In Italy I got the impression that there was one burst of horns and swearing to release the tension and then everything got straight back to normal. It looked like a much healthier approach to driving and noone seemed to bear anyone any grudges - it looked more like a load of people having boisterous fun than anything else! One particularly funny sight was at the Piazza Tasso in Sorrento where a policeman would direct traffic at the busiest times... except when a couple of gorgeous young girls on scooters pulled-up for a chat and he immediately stopped directing the traffic and turned his attention to them instead. It was wonderful to see that the living hasn't been regulated out of life the way it has in Britain.
And as for the food... I'm a lightly built person who struggles to put weight on at the best of times, but I came back from Italy two kilos heavier than when I'd set off from home! Yes, I must return to Italy very soon!
Hi Olivero
Your post is very useful and welcome. I've driven in and around Verona and Florence but only in lefthand drive hire cars. Love the way locals drive but its a bit distracting when yopu get passed by beautiful young women riding scooters with the crash helmet swinging from the handlebars! Your right about going native I am going to have to fit some sensible air horns before I come down in the car. The ususal British stuff just won't cut it. I've not had to deal with the traffic police yet so thanks for the tips.
Your post is very useful and welcome. I've driven in and around Verona and Florence but only in lefthand drive hire cars. Love the way locals drive but its a bit distracting when yopu get passed by beautiful young women riding scooters with the crash helmet swinging from the handlebars! Your right about going native I am going to have to fit some sensible air horns before I come down in the car. The ususal British stuff just won't cut it. I've not had to deal with the traffic police yet so thanks for the tips.
Olivero said:
blueyes said:
Good post... but I think a lot of it applies more to the south of the country: Rome and below.
I live in Marche, and have based my comments on driving there and the surounding regions(Tuscany, Umbria etc). It is a different situation when you get to Naples (so be warned) and below.
catso said:
MitchT said:
And as for the food... I'm a lightly built person who struggles to put weight on at the best of times, but I came back from Italy two kilos heavier than when I'd set off from home!
How long were you there? 6 months? a year? or do you really just like your food? 
"have some more pasta/carne/torta"
"no thanks nonna, I've had enough"
"you don't like my food do you"
"yes it's lovely"
"no, there must be something wrong with my food, ah, dio, I knew it would happen, I've lost my cooking skills. What next eh? My memory? Bedwetting? Oh dio! It's time to put me in a home"
"ok, ok! just one more plate then"
Repeat until there is no food left.
Repeat at every meal.
Result: 5kg in 3 weeks.
gmk666 said:
A really useful post. If only you'd posted it 3 weeks ago.
Sorry, only just got round to posting up these tips.gmk666 said:
..back from my honeymoon which featured a 1966 Alfa Duetto and a 10 day trip taking in Rome, Naples and the Amalfi coast.
Congratulations. Do you mind me asking where you hired the Alfa from ?I am thinking about setting up a classic car (or Lotus 7) car hire company in Marche and was wondering how you got on with the people you used.
And, yes Naples really is quite mad.
Olivero said:
Do you mind me asking where you hired the Alfa from ?
I am thinking about setting up a classic car (or Lotus 7) car hire company in Marche and was wondering how you got on with the people you used.
We used a company called http://www.zephyrus.itI am thinking about setting up a classic car (or Lotus 7) car hire company in Marche and was wondering how you got on with the people you used.
They were a pleasure to deal with and I would definitely recommend them to anyone considering a classic tour around Italy.
Edited by gmk666 on Friday 8th June 13:57
If you want to get fully into the swing of things I can recommend turning off the air con and instead roll down all the windows and hang one arm out, yes by the end of you trip one arm will be more tanned than the other. This arm is best used to signal to other drivers, gesticulate when having an in-depth (usually food based) conversation with your passenger and generally point things out. You will find your control of the car is not so good but this is looked upon as only a small downside.
Sunglasses. These obviously should never, ever be taken off, ever. Rain, snow or darkness are no excuse. The darker and bigger they are the better.
Sunglasses. These obviously should never, ever be taken off, ever. Rain, snow or darkness are no excuse. The darker and bigger they are the better.
Ciaran said:
Heading to Italy on Friday and doing a bit of driving - Cinque Terre, passignano and Capolona then back to Pisa. Looking forward to it, got my sat nav ordered but a bit wary of the local drivers!
don't worry, take it easy and just go with the flow and you shouldn't have any worries, just remember on the autostrada/highway, if someone flashes his hi-beams behind you on the overtaking lane, that means you need to move over, because he is in a hurry, to nowhere......
Olivero said:
I live in Marche.
You lucky devil. I just got back from a week at a small B&B just outside Jesi ( www.holidays2italy.com ), it's a really beautiful area.hi, watch out for speed cameras, things have changed a lot, on the major highways there are many camera called tutor, new device, mesures speed by calculating distance from spot to spot,they are hung over bridges,poles,everywhere they could fix one,many from milano to rome, expecially at piacenza-bologna-firenze, also brescia -bergamo-verona-vicenza-padova.
Next are mobiles, new low recently introduced, you are not allowed do drive and call, you could be fined up to 7.000 euros,and worst of all police can take your licence and drag your car ( no joking) mainly it happens in the nord part of italy, if spotted talking with mobiles police will chase you,not always but it happend to many friends of mine.
sorry for the bad news mates, it is a pain...... also for us fast lotus drivers.
Cheers.
Next are mobiles, new low recently introduced, you are not allowed do drive and call, you could be fined up to 7.000 euros,and worst of all police can take your licence and drag your car ( no joking) mainly it happens in the nord part of italy, if spotted talking with mobiles police will chase you,not always but it happend to many friends of mine.
sorry for the bad news mates, it is a pain...... also for us fast lotus drivers.
Cheers.
Gassing Station | Italy | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff