Driving in Italy
Discussion
So - following earlier post on best route to Milan, anyone got any top tips for driving in Italy?
Driven extensively in France and also Switzerland, so happy with the do's and don'ts for there.
So a couple of Italy questions :
1. What are the itallian speed cops like? Will they be all smiles to a Morgan Aero 8 and wave me to go faster, or ticket me for 10kph over the motorway limit?
2. Plan to head to Milan for the day for some shopping for a day in late July. Any suggestions? Good places to park? Or am I crazy to drive into Milan?
Driven extensively in France and also Switzerland, so happy with the do's and don'ts for there.
So a couple of Italy questions :
1. What are the itallian speed cops like? Will they be all smiles to a Morgan Aero 8 and wave me to go faster, or ticket me for 10kph over the motorway limit?
2. Plan to head to Milan for the day for some shopping for a day in late July. Any suggestions? Good places to park? Or am I crazy to drive into Milan?
The main thing to watch on the Motorways are the Public!!!! They are mad drivers. They kept slamming their brakes on to take pictures unexpectedly, and going down past San Remo i was doing 90 round a bend when a fiat 500 came past doing about 110 IN MY LANE WITH ME!
I could have lent over and touched it. Just keep your wits about you.
I could have lent over and touched it. Just keep your wits about you.
Hi Rich, long time...
Back in the day, we took P1's yellow Murci away from it's usual King's Road comfort zone. Did a quick dive, the long way down to Monaco for a pizza on the front and home again.
We crossed the Italian border on the way to Milan. Two commical jack-booticalled, puff-trousered Polizia greeted us - polished trunchions errect and armed. They waved us down, did a lap of the car and then gave us the universal race start gesture arms-a-flailing send off.....well it was rude not to oblige!!
What a contrast to the home-bound journey. Got chased down by a couple of French Genderbenderarmeries on CHiPs style bikes. Bolstered their crimble party fund to the tune of €90 for 'Nert respeekten la whaart laarn!' Tonks!
you'll be fine buddy.
Back in the day, we took P1's yellow Murci away from it's usual King's Road comfort zone. Did a quick dive, the long way down to Monaco for a pizza on the front and home again.
We crossed the Italian border on the way to Milan. Two commical jack-booticalled, puff-trousered Polizia greeted us - polished trunchions errect and armed. They waved us down, did a lap of the car and then gave us the universal race start gesture arms-a-flailing send off.....well it was rude not to oblige!!
What a contrast to the home-bound journey. Got chased down by a couple of French Genderbenderarmeries on CHiPs style bikes. Bolstered their crimble party fund to the tune of €90 for 'Nert respeekten la whaart laarn!' Tonks!
you'll be fine buddy.
Furyblade_Lee said:
The main thing to watch on the Motorways are the Public!!!! They are mad drivers. They kept slamming their brakes on to take pictures unexpectedly...
I would echo this. Went on a Eurohoon a few years ago part of which was thro N Italy and on the Mways they drive fast and up your chuff - ostensibly so that they can have a good look at the car!I gave it some beans on Mways with no trouble - as did all the locals tbh...
One thing, there wasnt much availability of Super Unleaded (back in 2005) so pack a few small cans of Octane boost if this is an issue.
cheers
Dont stop on the hard shoulder and get caught.
Either keep up or get outta the way.
Dont get the hump by flashing lights ,2"from your bumper at the wrong side of 100mph.they all do it, its politly asking you to move over for a few seconds.
Enjoy the freedom of not having to watch for cameras and police......so much.
Either keep up or get outta the way.
Dont get the hump by flashing lights ,2"from your bumper at the wrong side of 100mph.they all do it, its politly asking you to move over for a few seconds.
Enjoy the freedom of not having to watch for cameras and police......so much.
I love driving in Italy. The most important thing is to watch your mirrors like a hawk, you may think you're the fastest car on the road, a beige Fiat Uno diesel with 3 kids in the back will prove you wrong and be up your chuff before you know it.
It can be amusing when you pull up at some lights with say 2 lanes on your side, all of a sudden you notice there are 4 cars and several bikes all lined up within this 2 lane width. Eveyone gets away and nobody gets too angry - live and let live.
Milan - we drove into Milan on a Sunday morning and parked underground. No problems. My Chimaera wasn't keen on the cobbles though (rattle rattle shake shake).
It can be amusing when you pull up at some lights with say 2 lanes on your side, all of a sudden you notice there are 4 cars and several bikes all lined up within this 2 lane width. Eveyone gets away and nobody gets too angry - live and let live.
Milan - we drove into Milan on a Sunday morning and parked underground. No problems. My Chimaera wasn't keen on the cobbles though (rattle rattle shake shake).
In my many trips around Italy (usually in rental cars); speed doesn’t seem to be a major concern, tailgating is frequent, parking is chaos, hesitation shows weakness, liberal use of the horn is expected, parking is chaos, roads often get narrower, parking is chaos, some petrol stations close for 3 hours in the middle of the day, parking is chaos. Oh and did I mention parking is chaos.
Driving though Milan shouldn’t be a major pain, you would of course need to keep your wits about you but you would do that anywhere in the world in an unkown and major city. Central parking however would cause me concern in something without nice springy bumpers.
Driving though Milan shouldn’t be a major pain, you would of course need to keep your wits about you but you would do that anywhere in the world in an unkown and major city. Central parking however would cause me concern in something without nice springy bumpers.
Sorted the parking issue by booking into nice hotel with secure parking. Don't fancy getting the new motor dinged after just picking it up.
Will be venturing down as far as modena to do the maserati museum and lambo collection. Might do ferrari, though not sure. Have express instructions from the mrs to visit balsamic vinegar producers too - should make for a nice lunch(!)
Will be venturing down as far as modena to do the maserati museum and lambo collection. Might do ferrari, though not sure. Have express instructions from the mrs to visit balsamic vinegar producers too - should make for a nice lunch(!)
Keep it under 180km/h if you are cruising for extended period of times.
Going to Modena from Milan you'll be travelling on the A1, which is one of the busiest Autostradas in Italy. Just follow the flow (usually on the fast lane most cars travel at 100-110mph) and expected to be "raced" when in the new Lambo.
There might be a Police radar station on the Northbound carriageway of the A1 nearby Pavia (roughly 60 km outside Milan), but I have rarely seen speed traps on the Autostrada.
As others have said above Italians are impatient and aggressive at the wheel, but at the same time pragmatic. Hesitation is indeed seen as a weakness.
People will undertake you if you do not move over quickly enough, but all in all it is quite fun.
Good luck and let us know if you need anything more specific....
Going to Modena from Milan you'll be travelling on the A1, which is one of the busiest Autostradas in Italy. Just follow the flow (usually on the fast lane most cars travel at 100-110mph) and expected to be "raced" when in the new Lambo.
There might be a Police radar station on the Northbound carriageway of the A1 nearby Pavia (roughly 60 km outside Milan), but I have rarely seen speed traps on the Autostrada.
As others have said above Italians are impatient and aggressive at the wheel, but at the same time pragmatic. Hesitation is indeed seen as a weakness.
People will undertake you if you do not move over quickly enough, but all in all it is quite fun.
Good luck and let us know if you need anything more specific....
Petrol stations near the borders need watching if you hand over cash, you might not get all the change you were expecting. ( a bit stereotypical but that`s my experience ) and nobody will speak English
As already mentioned tailgating on their motorways, i`m sure they see a UK plate and think they`ll try and frighten you, I`d swear somebody touched my back bumber at 100mph they were that close in their fiat diesel, not sure what they`ll do when they see an Aero......you wont get away from them
Some of the motorways have very smooth surfaces which is ok in the dry
Road markings quite faded / non existent in some areas, makes night driving if you`re tired a bit stressful, if you stop outside a village / town in the dark prostitutes can sweep out of the darkness to surround you....I noticed they all wore swimming costumes....not only the driving they do quickly
As already mentioned tailgating on their motorways, i`m sure they see a UK plate and think they`ll try and frighten you, I`d swear somebody touched my back bumber at 100mph they were that close in their fiat diesel, not sure what they`ll do when they see an Aero......you wont get away from them
Some of the motorways have very smooth surfaces which is ok in the dry
Road markings quite faded / non existent in some areas, makes night driving if you`re tired a bit stressful, if you stop outside a village / town in the dark prostitutes can sweep out of the darkness to surround you....I noticed they all wore swimming costumes....not only the driving they do quickly
mr_tony said:
So - following earlier post on best route to Milan, anyone got any top tips for driving in Italy?
Driven extensively in France and also Switzerland, so happy with the do's and don'ts for there.
So a couple of Italy questions :
1. What are the itallian speed cops like? Will they be all smiles to a Morgan Aero 8 and wave me to go faster, or ticket me for 10kph over the motorway limit?
2. Plan to head to Milan for the day for some shopping for a day in late July. Any suggestions? Good places to park? Or am I crazy to drive into Milan?
The police seem to be OK as long as you don't take the piss. I've not encountered any "wespect mah awforritah!" from them. Cruise at about a ton and everything's OK. Their speed cameras are blue concrete boxes about waist high, so watch out for them.Driven extensively in France and also Switzerland, so happy with the do's and don'ts for there.
So a couple of Italy questions :
1. What are the itallian speed cops like? Will they be all smiles to a Morgan Aero 8 and wave me to go faster, or ticket me for 10kph over the motorway limit?
2. Plan to head to Milan for the day for some shopping for a day in late July. Any suggestions? Good places to park? Or am I crazy to drive into Milan?
People will ride your bumper and flash. This is just how things are done. Sort of self-policing lane discipline! If you're going to do it yourself, remember it's just one flash a second or so long. Two quick flashes are considered the height of rudeness!
There's a pretty good (if small) car park on via magenta (56 or 36, can't remember), near the castello and Cadorna train station. Watch out for it though, just looks like a regular building. I'd take a train in personally.
Varese where I live is nice too.
Whilst you're in the area go to Arona or Stresa on Lago Maggiore, then get an all day ticket for the boat.
mr_tony said:
LuckyP said:
Hi Rich, long time...
Hi! I'm always lurking here but not made it to many events recently.Planning a visit to the Maserati Factory / museum while I'm down there for nostalgia purposes
Wow - thanks guys - really useful pointers. Not telling the mrs about how the itallians drive - she'll only get worried in advance - best leave that to just happen.
Route I have planned is a week on maggiore / como / a night or so each in moderna / milan / st moritz / and a week over in Switzerland at a friends chalet. Plan to do the route of the famous hillclimb at Villars, as well as a few mountain passes (probably Suta, Grimsel at least).
Car will be running around 400bhp (347bhp per tonne) so should have enough poke to put a gap between me and a punto where the road allows. I guess it's just a case of being sensible and letting the locals get on with it
Route I have planned is a week on maggiore / como / a night or so each in moderna / milan / st moritz / and a week over in Switzerland at a friends chalet. Plan to do the route of the famous hillclimb at Villars, as well as a few mountain passes (probably Suta, Grimsel at least).
Car will be running around 400bhp (347bhp per tonne) so should have enough poke to put a gap between me and a punto where the road allows. I guess it's just a case of being sensible and letting the locals get on with it
petrol station tips
keep an eye out for the words 'FAI DA TE' at the pumps - it means self service and will stop the attendants mucking about with the car
I'm 1 winsdcreen wiper and a fuel flap down due to these cretins
also, watch very carefully exactly how much fuel you put in the car, they have been known to zero the pump and charge more
if you do speak italian, make it known - they're less likely to try and pull one over you
keep an eye out for the words 'FAI DA TE' at the pumps - it means self service and will stop the attendants mucking about with the car
I'm 1 winsdcreen wiper and a fuel flap down due to these cretins
also, watch very carefully exactly how much fuel you put in the car, they have been known to zero the pump and charge more
if you do speak italian, make it known - they're less likely to try and pull one over you
No such thing as road rage in Italy (IME) - which is very refreshing. As per post above, any flashing/gesticulating is normally a request rather than an act of aggression.
"Roundabouts" require an assertive approach and operate on a first come, first served basis, rather than by giving way to the left.
Enjoy your trip!
Driving in Italy is superb. A load of head to Stelvio and various passes every year. The Italian driving standards can be interesting, but generally they're fine. Last year we skirted Turin and headed to The Nivolet pass, where they filmed The Italian Job ending. What a day that was
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHgW01aUjak&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHgW01aUjak&fea...
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