My experiences of driving in Italy were very painless. In Summer 2004, we hired a car (Alfa 147) from Marco Polo airport, Venice, and drove to Torbola on the Northern tip of Lake Garda, a few days local running about, and back again. Nowhere near as bad as I was led to believe it would be. That said, most of it was on the Autostrada or in small towns.
The few cars we saw being driven recklessly were actually German registered.
Cheers
DP
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I've never really understood the fuss people make about driving in Italy or France. Or anywhere else for that matter.
Certainly the conventions are a bit different, but so what? You expect them to be, don't you?
All part of the fun.
That said, I still remember a Rome taxi driver in 1969 swerving deliberately towards a curvaceous woman pedestrian, who twitched her hip out of the taxi's way leaving a 2mm gap, and didn't even turn her head. Brought bullfighting vividly to mind.
However, once in my hire car I didn't try anything like that. For advanced Rome drivers only.
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Just a quick addition to this post to say that on the whole I found driving in Italy OK. Lane discipline on the Autostrada is dreadful (tested the the rental car brakes well!) and everyone seems to completely ignores the speed limits/parking restrictions/etc. Enjoyed seeing lots of original Panda 4x4s still buzzing about and even a coupe of old 600s. DB
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This thread has amused me... I long thought that Italians were somewhat spirited drivers after driving in Rome, Naples and Northern Italy... but all I can say to some of your comments is: go to Romania! I know now someone will say "It's nothing compared to India/Malaysia/somewhere I've never heard of : ) but for European appalling driving, I think Romania is up there. Nothing compares to the adrenalin rush of being overtaken by a double-articulated lorry carrying a full load of cars into oncoming traffic, with a horse and cart coming up on the right hand side. Through a village. With the lorry's speed restrictor well and truly switched off. Or, my other fave, being overtaken whilst driving through a flock of sheep!
Truly an experience. When I got back to Blighty, I couldn't believe how disciplined we are...
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Driving? You want to try cycling round Milan every day for 2 years. Madness.
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Doesn't matter which country you are in when in Rome do as the Romans do and you won't have any problems.
Many of the comments I read on here about road manners and 'safety' come from a painfully limited point of view.
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Just got back from two weeks in Italy myself. Flew to Verona (Brescia) and drove to Malcesine on the East coast of Lake Garda.
Admittedly the area had as many (traditionally, apparently, well behaved) German drivers as Italian?s but I found the whole experience quite civilised. I had the same thoughts after we went for a weekend trip last October when it was predominantly Italian cars on the roads. The Autostrada driving was civilised with as much lane discipline as on UK motorways and several drivers were polite, patient and courteous. I did notice a general disregard for speed limits and seat belts though.
We were getting married in the castle at Malcesine and our photographer commented that the driving gets worse the further South you go (and to areas less industrialised / more remote). Not sure if this holds true but like I say, my experience wasn?t as bad as feared on both occasions.
For anyone who hasn?t ever driven on the ?wrong? side of the road (like me up until last October), buy a sat nav with European maps on it. Not only does it result in you knowing where you?re going (meaning you have less signposts to spot etc), it also proves a good reminder as to which way to go round roundabouts!!
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For anyone who hasn?t ever driven on the ?wrong? side of the road (like me up until last October) buy a sat nav with European maps on it. Not only does it result in you knowing where you?re going (meaning you have less signposts to spot etc) it also proves a good reminder as to which way to go round roundabouts!!
This brought a smile to my face remembering Peugeot forgot to take this into account on their 407 Coupe when converting to RHD :)
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Perhaps I should have titled the original post "Driving in Southern Italy" because like others here I have also driven in the Verona/Lake Garda region and found it relatively stress-free.
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Doesn't matter which country you are in when in Rome do as the Romans do and you won't have any problems. Many of the comments I read on here
>>about road manners and 'safety' come from a painfully limited point of view.
I know I'm feeding the Troll, but, surely so much better than a painfully limited life. Italian road deaths are twice those here. www.safespeed.org.uk/italy.html For a very similar population.
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That new limit never made it in as far as Im aware. Thankfully! I drive over there most years, to a village between Rome and Naples, and would agree the driving seems to get worse the further south you go. Its ok though as long as you are ready for it!
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Troll yourself klootzak.
Of course road deaths are higher in Italy, likewise France, Portugal and many other European countries.
My point was people seem to expect the same driving standards to apply when they go to another country. It isn't going to happen.
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Doesn't matter which country you are in when in Rome do as the Romans do and you won't have any problems. Many of the comments I read on here about road manners and 'safety' come from a painfully limited point of view.
If you say so:
"Road accidents are the top cause of death among Italians aged between 15 and 29.
The number of people killed on Italy?s roads is 97 for every one million inhabitants compared to 92 in France, 71 in Germany and 56 in Britain.
A further 20,000 people in Italy are severely disabled and 300,000 injured in car accidents every year."
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all I can say to some of your comments is: go to Romania!
I have driven in Romania several times - didn't notice the driving being too bad - certainly no less 'spirited' than in Nice. However it was a tad hazardous - unlit cycles on the roads after dark, unlit animal drawn carts loaded high with straw after dark etc.
That said,it is maybe just that my memory fails me. I was younger and more 'spirited' myself at the time, and probably thought that the way Romanians drove was absolutely normal for non-wimps.
(I realise this is off-topic. I've never driven in Italy. Sorry.)
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Well, I've driven extensively in France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, in my own car and hire cars, with few problems.
You have to remember that the further south in Italy you go, the poorer the country, and the higher proportion of first generation drivers.
In Italy remember that in Florence, Traffic lights are mandatory, in Rome, Advisory, and in Naples of passing interest!
We had the advice to take the train into Florence, but drove there anyway. Yes it's very busy, yes the scooters are a menace, yes the lane discipline is less than perfect, but a good, alert driver can negotiate this.
I find that Italian drivers may be selfish, drive to fast, too close, but they are generally alert.
Their main fault is poor anticipation, which I think is the main essential to safe driving.
Anyway, I'll drive you down there any day.
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I'm with Neailtoo on this one. I have only driven in the Northern Lake area and the dolomites thru to Germany and Austria. The road don't lend themselves to speeding although packs of motorcyclists take up a lot of space, riding well I might add. Still some loont overtakers ib cars but overall a tolerable experience - OOP North!
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You cannot judge Italian driving by our own standards. Having just spent 8 months working in Turin I can offer these observations???
First, I would agree that we are more structured and generally safer but they are much less anal and self righteous than us. It is every man for himself??if you are in a hurry then weave in and out of the traffic; if you see a mate, stop in the road and have a chat; if there is a short cut down a one-way street that?s fine. Traffic lights?.....strictly for show. As for zebra crossings, you have to understand that an Italian will only stop if you are directly in front of his car, as a pedestrian you need to be assertive, if you hesitate, that?s your problem. All this doesn?t make them bad, selfish or inconsiderate it is simple their psyche?.this is their usual, expected behaviour?to them it is perfectly normal. It has already been said but ?when in Rome?? etc.
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My point was people seem to expect the same driving standards to apply when they go to another country. It isn't going to happen.
No it wasn't. You said, actually:
Doesn't matter which country you are in when in Rome do as the Romans do and you won't have any problems.
Which, as demonstrated by the statistics, is patently untrue. If you 'do as the Romans do' you'll have a signifigantly higher chance of not returning from La Dolce Vita - which would seem to be a problem to me.
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That's your reading of what I wrote. I explained what I actually meant in a further posting. The fact you chose to ignore it is an issue for yourself and not me.
By not having 'any problems' I meant if you drive as people do in their own country the likelyhood of you experiencing difficulties would be lower than if you drive as you would in the UK. Local statistics nothwithstanding.
Next time you want to be obtuse I won't even bother replying.
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