It is easy to be intimidated by the idea of driving a car when on a holiday abroad. When it comes to Italy, this is particularly true given the bad reputation Mediterranean drivers have attracted over the decades.
As the stereotype goes, Italians behind the wheel are passionate, to say the least, and see driving regulations more as directions than laws to abide by.
Having learned to drive in Italy, I believe there is some truth in the fact that drivers in the Mediterranean country are at times over-confident. Equally, describing Italian roads as lawless where the fastest and loudest win is unfair to many and more the result of Hollywood depictions than reality.
Nevertheless, there are a few tips Britons thinking of renting a car in Italy should know to make their experience smoother.
1. Drive on the right side
This is an obvious one – but the most important thing to remember for a British driver when crossing the Channel is that Italians, and Europeans in general, drive on the right side of the road.
As a consequence, drivers are required to remain on the free lane on the right-hand side of the road to allow faster motorists to overtake using the lanes on the left-hand side.
2. Mopeds can be a menace
Mopeds are very popular among Italians as they allow you to move easily through the narrow streets of their historic city centres. They are also the vehicle of choice among the youngest – with teenagers as young as 14 being allowed to ride a 50cc moped.
Some of the Italian riders of these small vehicles don’t appear to be mindful of the fact they aren’t alone in the road, and in congested streets they will often dart in and out of traffic. To avoid accidents, it is best for car drivers to keep an eye out for mopeds every time they are overtaking another vehicle or taking a turn.
3. Double parking is a very Italian thing
Another drawback of city centres is the lack of parking space. This leads some careless drivers to double park their cars for a few minutes. British drivers shouldn’t be enticed to follow the example of Italian motorists, as those caught double parking risk being slapped with a hefty fine.
4. Excessive horn use and flashing lights
Italians love to use the horn to express when they are displeased with another motorist’s action. Britons shouldn’t be alarmed if, particularly in big cities such as Rome, they hear a lot of beeping.
Equally, Italians often communicate with other drivers by flashing the lights of their cars. While sometimes it indicates they are giving way to another driver, other times the use of the lights suggests annoyance at the low speed at which the car in front of them is moving.
5. Bold drivers
I know I said it is largely a stereotype that Italians are crazy behind the wheel, but it is true some of them are particularly bold when compared to other nationalities.
One of the things locals on the road don’t seem to like is leaving unexploited gaps in traffic, particularly in the city centre. Frequent lane changing is also a common feature among some Italian drivers who seem to always be in a hurry.
6. Not all roads are the same
There is a disparity in the condition of the roads across Italy. Streets in the northern part of the country tend to be in a better state than those in the south.
To provide at least a partial boost to the infrastructure in the areas that need it the most, particularly the regions of Sicily and Calabria, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini pledged last August to allocate £24billion (€28bn) to modernise the main roads in southern Italy.
