The main border crossings with France, Switzerland, Austria,
and Slovenia are open 24 hours a day year-round. Some mountain
passes are closed during the winter. State and provincial roads
are distinguished by blue signs with white letters.
Highways and Roads Highway
There is an extensive and well maintained road network. Tolls
are charged on the autostrade (highways). As in the rest of continental
Europe, vehicles travel on the right and overtake on the left.
The wearing of seatbelts is compulsory for front and back seat
passengers as well as for the driver. The use of portable telephones
is prohibited if they require intervention by hand to function.
Highways and Roads Highways are indicated by the letter "A"
followed by a number written in white on a green background. They
are almost all subject to tolls, except for some brief stretches,
especially approaching urban areas. Tolls are paid in cash at
highway exit points. It is also possible to pay by Viacard Telepass
cards (systems that make automatic payment possible without stopping
at the toll booths) or Viacard a highway toll payment card which
can be bought, at a value of either 50,000 or 90,000 lire, on
the highway, in many banks or in ACI offices.
ACI provides complete car service throughout the country. Calls
for assistance can be made 24 hours a day by calling 116 or by
using the emergency booths located every 2 km along the roadway,
They have buttons with a wrench symbol, to be used in the event
of a breakdown, and with a red cross symbol for a first-aid emergency.
Service areas are very frequent along all of the highways. The
rest stops are always open, and, in addition to refueling, they
also offer other services such as restaurants, bars, information
offices, and banking windows.
Gasoline
Gasoline is called benzina, unleaded gasoline is benzina senza
piombo and diesel is gasolio. Almost all the service stations
in the country are equipped with pumps for lead-free gasoline
(95 octane) and diesel fuel. Service stations are open from 7:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. They follow a shift
system on weekends and holidays
Driving License Regulations
Italy recognises driving licenses and other traffic documents
that are valid in other countries. U.S. and Canadian driving licenses
are valid in Italy but the license must be accompanied by a translation.
For motorists not in possession of an International Driving license,
the ACI (Automobile Club Italiano) will issue a declaration upon
presentation of a U.S. or a Canadian license. The declaration
is obtainable at any ACI frontier or Provincial office for a small
fee. Seat belts are compulsory in Italy.
Traffic Tips
Speed limits are fixed at 50 km (31 miles) per hour in urban areas,
90 km (56 miles) per hour on secondary and local roads, 110 km
(68 miles) per hour on main roads outside urban areas and 130
km (80 miles) per hour on highways, with penalties for violation
in proportion to the amount of the excess.
On highways (autostrade): no U-turns are permitted and stopping
is permitted only in emergency parking areas or parking lanes.
The Italian Highway Code follows the Geneva Convention and Italy
uses international road signs. Driving is on the right, passing
on the left. Violators of the highway code are fined; serious
violations may also be punished by imprisonment.
Lanes: On three-lane roads, the middle lane is reserved for passing,
which must always be signalled in advance with the directional
signal which must be kept on while passing. |