tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43656426679551174472024-03-13T04:10:48.575-07:00Tips for travellersLynn and Nick Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10395070657948107200noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4365642667955117447.post-1045841687445954922015-01-19T17:04:00.002-08:002015-01-24T23:05:28.605-08:00Driving in Italy<br />
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This is a collection of information about driving in Italy, based on
what I have learned in driving some 10,000 km in that country. It does
not try to cover every Italian road law.<br />
Starting with the most basic fact: <strong>Italy drives on the right-hand side of the road. </strong>If
you normally drive on the left (as I do), this is terrifying for the
first hour or so. For the first few days, concentration is needed to
avoid drifting to the left. After that, it starts to be easy. The pedals
are the same way round, so you brake and accelerate with the right
foot, and change gear with the left. The gear lever is still in the
centre of the car, with the same shift pattern. If you do not drive a
European car, you will find that the controls on the steering column are
the other way round: direction indicators on left, windscreen wipers on
right. You may find yourself trying to indicate turns with the wipers.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>International Driving Permit</strong></em><br />
To drive in Italy, you must have an International Driving
Permit as well as your driving license, unless your driving license is
issued by an EU country. The car rental company may or may not ask to
see your IDP, but the Police certainly will if you are involved in an
accident or stopped for a routine check. The IDP is usually issued by
motoring organisations: the AAA in the USA, or NRMA, RACV, etc., in
Australia.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Kinds of roads</strong></em><br />
<em>Autostrade </em>are motorways: divided roads with two or
three lanes in each direction, no at-grade intersections and limited
access. Many of them are toll roads. Usually you take a ticket from a
machine as you enter a toll road. When you leave the toll road, look for
a lane that does not have signs indicating that it takes only cards.
Give the ticket to an attendant or put it into a machine, and pay the
toll. Both will give change. When driving on an autostrada, <em>stay in the right lane unless you are actually overtaking</em>.<br />
<em>Other roads </em> vary greatly in standard from really good wide
roads to narrow winding mountain roads. Most of them are perfectly
adequate two-lane country roads.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Autostrada tolls</strong></em><br />
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Most autostrade (motorways) in Italy have tolls, and these can add up to a substantial amount. You can get toll costs from <a href="http://www.viamichelin.com/">ViaMichelin</a>.
There is always a free alternative to a toll autostrada, but it may
take much longer to drive. Usually when you enter a toll road, you take a
ticket from a machine. Some of the gates are reserved for people with
an electronic tag, so you need to use a gate that has a sign reading <em>Bigliette</em>
(tickets). The illustrations below show a gate with one of these signs,
and an example of a ticket, which is about the size of a standard
airline boarding pass.<br />
<br /></div>
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<table border="0" style="width: 30%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/italypay0.jpg" height="194" width="250" /></td>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Autostrada1.jpg" height="173" width="400" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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When you leave the tollway, there are three ways of making payment. <em>Telepass </em>is
an electronic tag that has to be associated with a European bank
account or card, and so is not useful for tourists. Payment can be made
by credit or debit card at gates marked <em>Carte, </em>but there is
always doubt about the acceptance of a card issued outside Europe. I
always head for the gates where I can pay with cash. The illustration
shows the signs used for each kind of payment. Although it is not very
obvious in the photo, each gate has a red or green light to indicate
whether that gate is in use. If you look closely, the leftmost gate has a
red light, so you cannot use that gate.<br />
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<img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/italypay1.jpg" height="168" width="570" /> </div>
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At the gate you will usually find a machine. Put the
ticket into the obvious slot in the machine, and the amount of toll will
be shown on a display level with the driver's head. Pay with notes
and/or coins. The machine will give change if necessary. You will
sometimes find a human attendant.</div>
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There are a few toll autostrade that do not use tickets:
they have toll plazas across the road charging a flat rate of tolls.
One is the link between the A11 and A12 just west of Lucca, and another
is the A9 between the A8 and Como.</div>
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<em><strong>Italian drivers</strong></em><br />
There is a lot of nonsense around about Italian drivers. It is true
that in major cities, they drive too fast, pay little attention to lane
markings, and generally play by local rules; but tourists should not try
to drive into major cities anyway. Outside towns, they will generally
drive as fast as road conditions allow or a little faster. If you find
you are being followed too closely, just look for somewhere to pull
right and let the car get past. In the narrow streets of old towns,
Italian drivers slow right down and are very courteous.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Driving in major cities</strong></em><br />
It is a very bad idea to try to drive into any major city in Italy. Quite apart from the hazards of <a href="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/ZTL.htm" target="_blank">Limited Traffic Zones</a>,
traffic is fast and heavy, and parking is expensive. If you are
travelling by car and want to visit a major city, leave the car in a
nearby small town and take a bus or train into the city.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Driving outside major cities</strong></em><br />
Outside built-up areas, vehicles should use dipped headlamps at all
times. There are many speed cameras in Italy, so do not exceed the
posted limit; even if a 50 km/h limit seems unnecessary.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>General road signs</strong></em><br />
<em><strong><table border="0" cellpadding="4" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">Italy uses European standard signs to give warnings and instructions. These are illustrated on a <a href="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/RoadSigns.htm" target="_blank">separate page</a>.<br />
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<em><strong>Road direction signs</strong></em><br />
Italy has fairly good signage telling you which road to take, but it
follows Italian conventions. People from UK complain that the signs do
not show road numbers (apart from autostrade). People from USA complain
that they do not show the compass point followed by the road. Instead,
the signs show the places that the road will take you to. Quite logical,
when you think about it.<br />
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<table border="0" style="width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle" width="16%"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/ItalySign7.JPG" height="157" width="150" /></td>
<td width="1%"></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle" width="83%">Typical advance direction sign although, as it is in a major city (Milan), it has graffiti. But still quite clear.<br />
Unlike most other countries in Europe, Italy uses white on green signs for autostrade and white on blue for ordinary main roads.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/ItalySign4.jpg" height="123" width="100" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Some advance direction signs are very graphic. This one seems to be showing a very strange road junction.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/ItalySign1.jpg" height="109" width="100" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Typical direction sign at an intersection.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/ItalySign3.jpg" height="96" width="150" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Just to be different, this sign shows the road numbers.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/ItalySign10.JPG" height="130" width="150" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">You will often find a sign like
this in towns. "Tutti le direzioni" means "all directions", so the sign
is pointing the way out of the town. Further along, there will be signs
pointing to different destinations. In this case, the sign is not really
necessary as the white-on-blue arrow indicates that all traffic must
turn left. The bottom sign indicates that trucks are prohibited.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Centro.gif" height="75" width="75" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">This sign is the opposite of the
one above: it indicates the way to the town centre. It will usually have
the text "Centro" or "Centro storico" next to it.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/ItalySign2.jpg" height="252" width="180" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Italy sometimes uses far too many signs.</td>
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<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/ItalySign11.JPG" height="65" width="150" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">And sometimes gets a little confused. In this case, all roads lead to Perdifumo.</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<em><strong><br />
Autostrada direction signs</strong></em><br />
Some people have expressed concern about taking the correct
autostrada exit. There is good directional signage, as shown in these
pictures.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" style="width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle" width="34%"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Autostrada4.jpg" height="150" width="207" /></td>
<td width="2%"></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle" width="64%">One kilometre before a
junction, there is an advance information sign like this one, which
shows that you take the exit to go to Catania or stay on the autostrada
for Palermo.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Autostrada2.jpg" height="162" width="250" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Advance signs may also be suspended over the road, as shown here.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Autostrada5.jpg" height="200" width="339" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">This sign tells you which lane you
should be in: left three lanes for Naples and L'Aquila, right two lanes
for Rome, airports, and Civitavecchia. Yes, I know there are only four
lanes marked on the road (plus a breakdown lane at extreme right), but
do not under-estimate Italian drivers.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Autostrada3.jpg" height="200" width="268" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">When you intend to change from one
autostrada to another, take note of the number of the autostrada that
you want. As you can see, this sign is right before an exit. You want to
go to Pisa. Do you take the exit or not?</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Autostrada6.jpg" height="200" width="392" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">You will also find illuminated
signs over the autostrada, warning about hazards ahead. If you have no
Italian, they will not help you very much. This one is just warning that
there may be speed cameras ahead.</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Limited Traffic Zones (ZTLs)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Almost every settlement in Italy has in its centre a Zona Traffico
Limitato (Limited Traffic Zone). Only authorised vehicles are allowed
into this area, making it more pleasant and safer for pedestrians. These
areas are clearly indicated with the standard European "No vehicles"
sign of a red circle with white centre, like an Italian speed limit sign
with no numbers. <em>Do not drive past such a sign.</em> Except perhaps in Rome, there is always a way to make a turn and avoid the ZTL.<br />
Note that using a GPS device will <em>not</em> guarantee that
you avoid ZTLs, nor will planning a route using Google Maps or
ViaMichelin. As you drive into any settlement, be prepared to see a ZTL
sign and make a turn.<br />
<br />
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<img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/577-Mantua-Ztl.jpg" height="611" width="984" /></div>
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<br />
This excellent collection of signs is at the
entrance to the ZTL in Mantova, and illustrates a number of points.
Let's look at each sign in turn.<br />
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle" width="13%"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Mantua1.jpg" height="287" width="150" /></td>
<td width="1%"></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle" width="86%">This sign
relates to a small off-street parking lot. The white P on blue
background is the standard sign indicating that parking is permitted. On
the next plate, the parking meter symbol indicates pay parking, the
crossed hammers indicate that the rule applies on weekdays (i.e. not
Sundays or public holidays), and the figures show the rule applies from 8
am to 1 pm and from 2.30 pm to 8 pm. The tiny print says cars must
display a ticket obtained from the parking machine. "Nei limiti
tracciati" means "In this area". <br />
The parking lot provides the means of avoiding the ZTL.
Turn left into the car park, circle around it, then out and back up the
street.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Mantua2.jpg" height="149" width="150" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">This marks the entry to a zone with a speed limit of 30 km/h.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Mantua3.jpg" height="462" width="150" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">This is the sign to pay attention to.<br />
The top two plates say that this is entry 7 to the Mantova ZTL. Note the "No vehicles" sign on the second plate.<br />
The third plate lists exceptions: authorised vehicles,
bicycles, motorised bicycles, and deliveries at any time. Trucks between
06.00 and 10.00 and between 15.00 and 16.30.<br />
The bottom plate warns that access is monitored by a
camera, and that disabled people can go through the ZTL by making an
advance booking by phone.<br />
On the main photo, note that there is a camera mounted
above this sign. This camera notes the number plate of every vehicle
going past, and the local police issue tickets to any unauthorised
vehicles.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/Mantua4.jpg" height="250" width="150" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Finally, this sign on the
right of the street says that no vehicles of any kind may enter between
06.00 and 14.00 on Thursdays, because of the weekly market.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" colspan="3" valign="middle"><br />
For good measure, here are a few more signs relating to ZTLs.<br />
<br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/VicenzaLTZ.jpg" height="219" width="150" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">From Vicenza: an advance direction sign warning that the turn to the right leads to the ZTL.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"><img src="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/Images/ItalyZTL2.jpg" height="216" width="150" /></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle">Here is one from Besenello with a lot of wording. You may not understand the words, but the "No vehicles" symbol is very clear.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="middle"></td>
<td></td>
<td align="left" valign="middle"></td>
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Copyright © 2011-15 by Nick Booth. Please <a href="http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Pages/Contact.html">contact me</a> if you have any comment.</div>
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</strong></em>Lynn and Nick Boothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10395070657948107200noreply@blogger.com11