Oh, yes. Italian drivers. We thought things in Spain were on the wild side. We hadn't seen anything yet! If Ireland proved to be good training for Spain, Spain was just a taste of things to come in Italy. Having said that we must say that there seems to be a significant difference in the Italians when they are NOT driving a vehicle. Everyone we have met has made us feel welcome and in most cases have gone out of their way to make us feel at home. Now, if we could just get that kindness transferred to the way people drive. So, here’s our impressions of driving in Italy:

• In and out of the rain. It make no difference. Italians do not alter their driving style based on the prevailing conditions - there is only one speed and that is throttle wide open. If you drive 10 to 20 KMH above the speed limit you will be run off the road because you are going too slow - in town or on the highway.
• Cars pass going up hill around corners that they cannot see around. What is even more amazing is that many of them do this in cars that are grossly under powered - there is no way they will be able to get out of the way of oncoming traffic.
• One car came so close to Jim on the Autostrada that he could feel the wind ruffling his pants as it went by. This is really quite terrifying as you watch these people driving at 80+ MPH and not being able to control their car well enough to keep it in one lane. They just wander into the adjacent lane - makes no difference if it is occupied by another vehicle or not.
• In town it is even worse. In the short space of two days we have had four different incidents of cars trying to run us off the road.

The only thing we can determine is that it is a form or road rage associated with the unbelievable number cars and motor scooters here which are all suicidal as far as we are concerned. The city streets are in complete anarchy. People do not stop for stop signs, the scooters run red lights constantly. Cars and scooters make right turns from the left side of cars by cutting in front of the cars doing 30+ MPH. Italy is beautiful but it is a very dangerous place to drive.

Italian rules of the road:

• No Italian has EVER obeyed a speed limit.
• No Italian has EVER obeyed a no passing zone.
• No Italian has EVER obeyed a traffic signal (light or sign).
• When a signal light turns green it is every drivers responsibility to immediately press the horn button.
• If a car is stopped in front of you at a stop sign and sits there more than 5 seconds it is your responsibility to press the horn button - it make no difference if it is safe for the car to move forward to cross the road or turn onto the road.

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