Driving in Italy
Discussion
jason s4 said:
Never been to Italy, but just returned from the South Of France using motorways.
Absolute pleasure to drive on, and i really cant believe how much more respectful the French have become on the use of Motorways.
Yes, they do pull out in front of you if they are fast approaching another vehicle, but they pull back in as soon as they can once they have performed their move.
Lane discipline over there makes this countries roads look like India's.
Town driving is a little more tricky but once you get to know how THEY drive, you can adapt.
Completely agree! It frustrated me more than anything knowing that the UK will never be like that - our motorway driving is shocking! About 20% of motorists use the correct lane discipline, half don't bother with indicators, many don't bother with mirrors either! France was much nicer as you say, they use the correct lane, all drive at roughly the same speed but then don't get all defensive when someone wants to go quicker. Maybe we should start using the French driving test Absolute pleasure to drive on, and i really cant believe how much more respectful the French have become on the use of Motorways.
Yes, they do pull out in front of you if they are fast approaching another vehicle, but they pull back in as soon as they can once they have performed their move.
Lane discipline over there makes this countries roads look like India's.
Town driving is a little more tricky but once you get to know how THEY drive, you can adapt.
I love driving in Italy, if you drive like in England it's hell, but if you aim for a space even if it isn't there it will be by the time you get there, they may appear terrible drivers but they have generally good awareness (especially of girls in short skirts which to be honest is to be commended).
In a hire car though Italy is what super level insurance was designed for!
In a hire car though Italy is what super level insurance was designed for!
When I was in Florence on a 6th form art trip a few years ago I saw a fair share of action. First was that our transfer coach driver certainly did his fair share of overtaking on the Autostradas. Their motorways are great as they twist and turn though the mountains.
Next was as we entered Florence then city centre roundabouts and junctions were treated as though they were the first corner of a Grand Prix. Great fun watching everybody jostle for position from the safety of our coach. More exciting than watching F1 itself. The 'lads' on scooters were nutters.
The first morning at a busy junction a cyclist let us cross the road(at I'm pretty sure a Zebra crossing). Most of the group was across but then more and more traffic came which left some of us all of a sudden stuck in the middle of the road with lots of angry Italian's trying to get by and getting annoyed. Some how we made it to the other side, even though I'm pretty sure we became blocked in the middle near the end.
Next was a few of us were milling around the busy pedestrianised parts near the cathedral when a Ambiwlan appeared, lights flashing and everybody had to get out the way pretty quickly with some near misses.
When crossing a road, even the very tiny calm streets, look, look, look and look again. Oh go on, look again. They seem to appear out of nowhere making you hastily retreat to the pavement. Florence taught me how to cross a road properly...
None of that is exaggerated that's how it is. It's a great country though.
Ps: Longtime lurker, thought I may as well join in.
Next was as we entered Florence then city centre roundabouts and junctions were treated as though they were the first corner of a Grand Prix. Great fun watching everybody jostle for position from the safety of our coach. More exciting than watching F1 itself. The 'lads' on scooters were nutters.
The first morning at a busy junction a cyclist let us cross the road(at I'm pretty sure a Zebra crossing). Most of the group was across but then more and more traffic came which left some of us all of a sudden stuck in the middle of the road with lots of angry Italian's trying to get by and getting annoyed. Some how we made it to the other side, even though I'm pretty sure we became blocked in the middle near the end.
Next was a few of us were milling around the busy pedestrianised parts near the cathedral when a Ambiwlan appeared, lights flashing and everybody had to get out the way pretty quickly with some near misses.
When crossing a road, even the very tiny calm streets, look, look, look and look again. Oh go on, look again. They seem to appear out of nowhere making you hastily retreat to the pavement. Florence taught me how to cross a road properly...
None of that is exaggerated that's how it is. It's a great country though.
Ps: Longtime lurker, thought I may as well join in.
vixen1700 said:
The thought of actually driving in Rome itself was the stuff of nightmares.
No it's not. The key to surviving the roads of Rome is to know the roads and drive faster than everyone else...Not done it for a long time, but I'll never forget it...
Yeee Haaaa, and all that...
I love driving in Italy - that said, I've had plenty of training living in the Middle East for 7+ years.
When in Rome, you simply just do your thing and everyone else will fit themselves around you.
Last time I was there we flew to Rome then drove to... Siena, Florence, Genoa, Parma, Venice (via Maranello), Verona, Bolzano, Lake Como (via Stelvio Pass) and ended up in Milan.
Stayed off the Autostradas where possible and had a lovely tour around.
When in Rome, you simply just do your thing and everyone else will fit themselves around you.
Last time I was there we flew to Rome then drove to... Siena, Florence, Genoa, Parma, Venice (via Maranello), Verona, Bolzano, Lake Como (via Stelvio Pass) and ended up in Milan.
Stayed off the Autostradas where possible and had a lovely tour around.
Driven tens of thousands of miles in Italy and its the most enjoyable driving I do - they respect any non-Italian who takes them on at their own game.
Definitely a case of the driving standards worsen the further South you travel. Perhaps I'm stupid but I really enjoy driving around Rome / Florence / Naples etc
Definitely a case of the driving standards worsen the further South you travel. Perhaps I'm stupid but I really enjoy driving around Rome / Florence / Naples etc
i think its fine, grew up there.
favourate experience is the autostrada along past genoa in the driving rain, traffic moving around 100 - 110 mph and tailgaiting to within a foot or too.
as others have said, the italians have traffic law and then their own informal rules of road. follow the rules, not the laws, and you'll be fine, because that is what other drivers will expect you to do.
favourate experience is the autostrada along past genoa in the driving rain, traffic moving around 100 - 110 mph and tailgaiting to within a foot or too.
as others have said, the italians have traffic law and then their own informal rules of road. follow the rules, not the laws, and you'll be fine, because that is what other drivers will expect you to do.
Pah, Rome's not that bad. It's just like Paris - make sure you don't actually drive into anyone directly in front of you and pray that the people behind and to the sides of you are doing the same. Helps if your car looks like it's had a few serious crashes already.
If you really want exciting driving you should try Buenos Aries.
If you really want exciting driving you should try Buenos Aries.
Zod said:
bobo said:
watch out for average speed cameras (tutor) across lombardia, piamonte and veneto..... the days of real fun on the autostrada are long gone unfortunately.
Nothing happens if you have a British plate. I was doing 170-180 km/h on those stretches in July.
Zod said:
Nothing happens if you have a British plate. I was doing 170-180 km/h on those stretches in July.
They often take several months to send out fines, it is way too early to draw any conclusions if you were there in July. I know several people driving a UK registered cars who have received them. They only seem to be after the cash though - although the ticket will probably talk about licence points I know of nobody having had them added to their uk licence.AnotherClarkey said:
Zod said:
Nothing happens if you have a British plate. I was doing 170-180 km/h on those stretches in July.
They often take several months to send out fines, it is way too early to draw any conclusions if you were there in July. I know several people driving a UK registered cars who have received them. They only seem to be after the cash though - although the ticket will probably talk about licence points I know of nobody having had them added to their uk licence.sooperscoop said:
Driving in Italy is like dancing or rape. You really have to join in the action or it's all a bit unpleasant. It's possible to drive like a complete arse and still be relatively safe, if you potter about you'll get cut up all the time and have people up yer chuff pretty much non-stop. Just take no prisoners.
Great post and made perfect sense to meI quite enjoy driving in Italy it's fun, they are not aggressive they just drive to the end if their nose ( if that makes sense), they will drive close and react to what is happening.
Never had a problem with Rome, the scooters down past Napoli can be a bit mental.
Have seen some nasty accidents with big trucks on the The autoroutes at night which were a bit off putting and our motorways are much straighter with plenty more room to spare at the sides/ centre..
Never had a problem with Rome, the scooters down past Napoli can be a bit mental.
Have seen some nasty accidents with big trucks on the The autoroutes at night which were a bit off putting and our motorways are much straighter with plenty more room to spare at the sides/ centre..
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