And there are lots of them, especially on the highways! Police officers usually do not patrol the roads instead, cameras are set up to register a car’s speed, automatically issuing a ticket. Mind the speed limit, or get stungĪll Italian roads – from city streets to highways-have speed limits, usually indicated by a white and red circle with the number (by kilometers, NOT MILES, per hour) written in the center. While driving in Italy, some useful words to know include destra (right), sinistra (left), dritto (straight), uscita (exit) and pedaggio (toll). Zona traffico limitato and zona pedonale indicate pedestrian streets that are not open to cars.Īn inverted red and white triangle means that you do not have the right of way at the intersection. Traffic lights and stop signs work the same as most other countries, but, like most of Europe, right turns during red lights are ALWAYS ILLEGAL. That may seem basic, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t know. Italians drive on the right side of the road, just like Americans. Roundabouts, intersections, and exits off main roads often have signs indicating restaurants, hotels, and sights of interest… but you’ll have to be a quick reader to scan them all. GPS systems are programmed in English as well as Italian, and can be a godsend for guiding you through winding roads and small streets. We recommend having a good map or, better yet, rent a GPS with your car (if it’s not already included), at the cost of about 10-15 euros a day. So if you want to drive north from Rome, for example, you might look for a sign for “Firenze” or “Milano.” As you might expect, this can be incredibly confusing for anyone not intimately familiar with Italian geography (especially when you get to smaller roads, which often indicate their direction with smaller towns and villages!). ![]() On the road in Italy, signs often won’t indicate north, south, east, or west instead, they’ll use a city sign. This means… you can’t drive here! (flickr: Elliott Brown) 04. But technically, you’re supposed to have it (along with your normal license) when you drive, and it’s easy to get applications are open through the AAA website, and permits are valid for one year. When you rent a car, you probably won’t be asked for it. Technically, you need an international driving permit Read More: How to Travel Italy with Kids 03. And never, ever try to learn to drive a scooter for the first time in a foreign city. Motorcycles and scooters are also available for rent, but we do not suggest them for long-distance trips, or in areas you are unfamiliar with. ![]() (Another good reason to book in advance!). That means automatics often have a limited availability, and usually cost more. Remember that automatic cars don’t come, well, automaticallyĭon’t drive a stick shift? You might be surprised to know that most Italians do-so the majority of cars in Italy are stick-shift (aka: manual), not automatic. There are lots of benefits to driving in Italy! 02.
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