Italian Motorways
Discussion
Hi all, following my fabulous drive through Europe in May, I keep meaning to ask some 'technical' questions about speedtraps in various nations. In Italy the autostrada around Milan had lots of warnings for 'velocity control' accompanied by SPECS warnings on my Snooper SatNav. I think the matrix signs said TUTOR or some-such. The SPECS zones didn't seem to have an offical 'end'. I never saw a camera!!??
How does the system work? Local traffic seemed happy blasting along at c150kmh (I think it was 130kmh limit, although 'some' 3-laners have 150kmh limit I believe?).
So I tended to keep to 130kmh most of the time.
How does the system work? Local traffic seemed happy blasting along at c150kmh (I think it was 130kmh limit, although 'some' 3-laners have 150kmh limit I believe?).
So I tended to keep to 130kmh most of the time.
Dont know about Italy but as far as speeding on the continent and fines is concerned, I know one or two people who got stopped in Holland and had to pay a road side Fine.
I've been photo'd a few times in Germany and France but never heard anything of it later.
Maybe they just like my cars ?
I've been photo'd a few times in Germany and France but never heard anything of it later.
Maybe they just like my cars ?
Davidonly said:
Hi all, following my fabulous drive through Europe in May, I keep meaning to ask some 'technical' questions about speedtraps in various nations. In Italy the autostrada around Milan had lots of warnings for 'velocity control' accompanied by SPECS warnings on my Snooper SatNav. I think the matrix signs said TUTOR or some-such. The SPECS zones didn't seem to have an offical 'end'. I never saw a camera!!??
How does the system work? Local traffic seemed happy blasting along at c150kmh (I think it was 130kmh limit, although 'some' 3-laners have 150kmh limit I believe?).
So I tended to keep to 130kmh most of the time.
the autostrada around milan does have plenty of speed cameras, but they are switched off most of the timeHow does the system work? Local traffic seemed happy blasting along at c150kmh (I think it was 130kmh limit, although 'some' 3-laners have 150kmh limit I believe?).
So I tended to keep to 130kmh most of the time.
tutor zones have cameras at the beginning at at the end (don't expect them to be painted bright yellow: they are usualy hidden behind overhead road signs). they photograh every single vehicle that passes under them, compare the times at which the two photos were taken, and automatically either delete the photographs or issue a ticket depending on the resulting average speed
the speed limit is 130kmh. there aren't any motorways with a 150kmh limit
however if you drive at an indicated speeed of 150kmh, you are probably traveling at a true speed of about 140-145kmh
italian law requires the speed recorded by the cameras to be reduced by 5% to compensate for any possible inaccuracies. so if are if you are caught at 145kmh after you deduct the 5% the resulting speed will only be 138kmh
speeding tickets for up to 10kmh over the speed limit are just about 30 euro (no points), and the police usually doesn't bother to issue tickets for such small sums. so it's perfectly ok to travel at an indicated speed of 20kmh above the limit
The majority of the Tutor motorway stretches are in northern Italy going from Milan for around 200km in any direction, the A1 Milan/bologna stretch being the most active and the Milan/Brescia section of the A4 going to Venice.
other "Hot spots" are around the lakes and heading up towards the swiss border.
If you look on the Italian motorway network site www.autostrade.it the "Tutor" areas are signalled......this may be slightly out of date as I have just found out through the local Porsche oners club that the cameras on the A22 Verona/Modena have been activated due to the Ferrari and Maserati boys using it as a test run.
The nasty roadside speed cams are often hidden behind bushes on secondary roads but have an obligatory camera sign about 200m prior.
hope this has been helpful.
other "Hot spots" are around the lakes and heading up towards the swiss border.
If you look on the Italian motorway network site www.autostrade.it the "Tutor" areas are signalled......this may be slightly out of date as I have just found out through the local Porsche oners club that the cameras on the A22 Verona/Modena have been activated due to the Ferrari and Maserati boys using it as a test run.
The nasty roadside speed cams are often hidden behind bushes on secondary roads but have an obligatory camera sign about 200m prior.
hope this has been helpful.
so called said:
Dont know about Italy but as far as speeding on the continent and fines is concerned, I know one or two people who got stopped in Holland and had to pay a road side Fine.
The Dutch will also void your licence and impound your car if you do not have someone (proof that they are also insured is needed) with you who can continue driving i seem to remember this happens at 30kph over the limit on motorways
Surely - like any other european country, there is no ablity for the state to enforce fixed camera tickets on foreign cars (e.g. UK plate travelling in Italy), because they lack the registration / address details required to send the ticket out.. So fixed cameras are nothing to be concerned about?
Well I wasn't much over 130-140 kmh, was a sensible cruise for the long journey we were making. I don't really fancy the hassle of fines etc, even from fixed cams, although I guess its not relevant in other countries yet. My point is that back home with a ridiculous 112 kmh limit (70 mph) being monitored by avg speed cams on empty motorways will be HORRIBLE.
I thought our more voracious Italian friends might have been peeved by the state interferance, but they seem to have accepted it. At least they can go 85mph while being bullied by their government!
In heavy traffic if people cannot be trusted to choose their own safe-speed, then cams have got a place (thanks to poor standards of driver speed/condition choice). Trouble is, when roads are clear most rational drivers in the past may have safely chosen to travel somewhat faster than a notional 'limit'. Option removed by these killer speed cams
I thought our more voracious Italian friends might have been peeved by the state interferance, but they seem to have accepted it. At least they can go 85mph while being bullied by their government!
In heavy traffic if people cannot be trusted to choose their own safe-speed, then cams have got a place (thanks to poor standards of driver speed/condition choice). Trouble is, when roads are clear most rational drivers in the past may have safely chosen to travel somewhat faster than a notional 'limit'. Option removed by these killer speed cams
mr_tony said:
Surely - like any other european country, there is no ablity for the state to enforce fixed camera tickets on foreign cars (e.g. UK plate travelling in Italy), because they lack the registration / address details required to send the ticket out.. So fixed cameras are nothing to be concerned about?
Ze Germanz work with the Dutch and they swap information and speed camera tickets are enforced , same with the Belgians and The Dutch i think, coming to the UK soon i fear I was in a hurry last year to get to Rome for lunch, leaving Genoa at 09:30 I think we worked my average speed at something over the limit due to some idiot in a Fezza who seemed to enjoy sitting on my rear bumper (Alfa 159) and every time I moved over he stayed behind. The Italian police have 180 days to issue the ticket and seeing as it hasn't arrived yet 
There was also the issue that the stretch of road where I know the tutor was active was the bit with the prancing horse up my exhaust so it is probable that he was blocking the clarity of my plate for the cameras, so the trick is go as fast as you like but get someone with a faster car to follow VERY close.
There was also the issue that the stretch of road where I know the tutor was active was the bit with the prancing horse up my exhaust so it is probable that he was blocking the clarity of my plate for the cameras, so the trick is go as fast as you like but get someone with a faster car to follow VERY close.Gassing Station | Italy | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff