The picture below you can see the tourist train (I’m sure they are safe?) and look at how all the cars are parked on the sidewalks and in the middle of the driving road..
Next, this picture was taken on what is called, a roundabout. The city bus moved in quickly, which is actually how most of these roundabouts function with cars, buses, and mopeds squeezing in on the least amount of gap possible.
By now, you have figured out that no basic road laws apply in Italy. A new passage comes about by creating another right of way or lane regardless of incoming opposite traffic. All mopeds and pedestrians freely join in without concern to how fast the vehicles are moving and/or the direction the vehicles are driving.
Yet if all else fails, just hop the curb and keep going…. (Yikes!)
There is no point to even mention the actual road conditions (potholes galore), which some of them are so deep, it would be like falling into the black hole.
I bet your thinking there must be A LOT of road rage. Nope. This is an everyday way of life in Italy. Some people here drive extremely fast and weave in and out of lanes to get wherever they are going, others don't. From my perspective, it is normal for here and they are accustomed to it, which probably makes them better defensive drivers. I do not think by any means they are intentionally being careless. It is rumored that one of the main highways we travel on daily as been claimed to fame as “the highway of death.” It is very sad and not really a joking matter.
I am thankful that we have not had any accidents. I love Italy, just not the traffic conditions.
Happy (safe) driving…
