Car driving etiquette

[Charles Phillips]

Good point that - he who hesitates is lost! If there is zero visibility (in a town) when you're trying to make a right turn onto a 'major' road, just do it. The chap who you think has the right of way has been in this position before, and will be forgiving (and anyway, maybe it's one of those towns where priority to the vehicle approaching from your right still prevails - this is a difficult one to call). But being 'mumsy' really does mean you will find driving much more difficult: hire the most potent looking car you can afford, because driving an old Panda is such a brutta figura that even if it's got a 1.8 16v engine inserted other drivers will assume you are doing 30kph, and cut you up.

About flashing lights. It is always a warning call - either there are police up ahead (so turn off into a side road if your docs are dodgy, or slow down to the limit) OR there is something much more exciting awaiting you. Like a herd of stray cattle, a load which has fallen off a trailer - if someone coming towards you flashes, you really MUST take heed. (It's also polite to reciprocate - don't worry if you flash a carabinieri car to warn them of another pattuglia, they won't mind, you are just obeying the unwritten highway code of Italy!)

[debswad]

Originally Posted by Hopla

Writing as someone who has only ever driven in Italy, I cannot compare it with driving in Britain..
I drive a minimum of 200km a day, I have not yet encountered any major problems.
A word of advice go with the flow and do as the Italians do..

so right.....

Also when I first arrived and drove here I lost my temper more with the erratic driving and the rudeness of not queuing in a traffic jam
Especially as I drive a right hand drive, they see the GB sign and think I am driving like a brit . I remember how they tried to overtake me as I am taking the turning on t junction and I would feel so frustrated and angry ..


On the italian roads we use our hooter more and that would have made me cross because I felt they were telling me I was driving badly, its just a warning that they are there so I dont pull out in front of them.