If you plan to travel around Italy by car, it will be useful to find out some features of driving and parking, as well as which cars the Italians themselves prefer.
Italy is a country with a developed automotive industry, and brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Alfa Romeo have long gained immense popularity among foreign motorists. However, Italians themselves prefer to travel on small cars, the engine displacement of which often does not exceed 800 - 1500 cc / cm
What do Italians ride
On the streets of Italian cities, a rare guest is not only a jeep - here even a sedan looks like something foreign. The Italians use microscopic hatchbacks, and the Smart and Fiat 500 are considered to be one of the most popular models. However, in addition to four-wheeled vehicles, almost every self-respecting Italian has a bicycle or scooter in his garage, called Motorini in Italy. With a price of just 1000-2000 euros, Motorini is great for maneuvering in the city, and a driver's license is not required to drive it. Surely the descendants of the ancient Romans and would like to transfer to more comfortable and safer supercars, however, there are a number of important reasons that determine the increased demand for small cars in Italy.
Almost every Italian has a scooter in the garage
Firstly, there are numerous narrow, often one-way, medieval streets. Secondly, fuel: supercars are very voracious, and the cost of gasoline in Italy perhaps the highest in all of Europe. So, for example, in 2011, the price of super 98 gasoline reached 1.55 euros / liter, and diesel fuel - 1.46 euros / liter, respectively. About where to find out the current prices for gasoline in Italy and many other auto-usefulness - in the article Rent a car in Italy: 5 most useful sites for auto trip.
In addition, on a progressive scale of taxation, the authorities in every possible way restrain the number of expensive cars bought by Italians, thus pushing drivers to purchase small cars.
Maintaining a “cool” car is quite expensive, and for other reasons, such as: the cost of insurance, tolls on highways, etc.
Fleet of Italy
It cannot be categorically asserted that Italians do not drive expensive and respectable foreign cars at all. Among popular cars, brands of German manufacturers prevail. Special respect is enjoyed by VW and Audi, followed by Opel and Mercedes, as well as the French Citroens, Fawns and Renault. Japanese cars are much less common here. Of the "Japanese", the most popular Toyota Yaris. And luxury cars can most often be found in resorts - the Ligurian coast and near lakes.
Luxury cars can be found on the Ligurian coast
Of the domestic cars, the Alfa Romeo 156 sedan and station wagon are especially popular, but since Alfa Romeo is traditionally sports-oriented, this car is not suitable for everyone.
Parking in Italy
Parking is one of the eternal problems of Italian motorists. What is the use of a super-powerful car when you can neither drive on it nor park it?
Quite often, the distance between parked cars is calculated in millimeters, and many cars, after not very successful attempts to squeeze in between neighbors, drive with traces of “scars” (scratches, small, and sometimes quite impressive dents) on the bumpers.
The Italian drivers themselves have become accustomed to the "bumped" bumpers for a long time and do not attach much importance to them, but this factor should be taken into account if you rented a car in Italy. Upon receipt of the car, be sure to inspect it for dents and scratches, so as not to prove later that it was before you returning the car: the Italians will argue you anyway.
Often the distance between parked cars is measured in millimeters
When booking hotels on a planned route, inquire about the availability of parking. As a rule, almost all city and suburban hotels have their own underground parking or parking spaces. However, to avoid unforeseen and unpleasant situations, about where your car will sleep, better to worry in advance.
For reference: in the daytime car parking in Italy almost everywhere will cost you 2 euros / hour. In the period from 20.00 to 8.00 in places where parking meters are installed, you can leave your car for free at night, however, to find a free place, you will have to “turn around” for a long time, or even move away from the main location for 3-5 quarters further.
In a multi-level parking, night parking can cost up to 35-40 euros. The price of parking may largely depend on the size and class of your vehicle.
Features of movement in Italy
The traffic rules in Italy largely correspond to ours: if the sign does not indicate otherwise, then the maximum permitted speed in the city is 50 km / h, outside the city - 90 km / h, on the motorway - 130 km / h.
For Italian drivers, when changing lanes from row to row, it is not customary to include a turn signal. As a rule, local drivers only turn it on when they are about to turn.
Italians use microscopic hatchbacks
In Italy, as well as other European countries, instead of crossroads, circular motion is often used: around a flower bed, fountain or just a sculpture. At the same time, according to the rules, the one who enters the circle gives way to other vehicles.
If the car behind you “blinks” headlights, then you should change lanes to the right lane and give way to it.
And one more tip: on the freeway it is better not to go to the far left lane, except when overtaking another car.
Italians on the road
Italians are one of the most temperamental people in Europe. For them, a car is a certain lifestyle, giving each man the opportunity to feel in his element.
And although Italy’s legal system, rich in traditions and laws for all occasions, is almost perfect with regard to traffic rules, they are often largely ignored by both Italian drivers and traffic police themselves.
For example, fastening seat belts is mandatory for everyone, but it is rarely performed by anyone. If desired, in some shops you can buy t-shirts with belts painted on them. The rule limiting the speed to 50 km / h in the city, as well as the prohibition of honking, are equally ignored by both drivers and traffic police.
However, "through the fingers" law enforcers look only at violations of "their own", that is, local drivers. Foreign drivers and even cars with nonresident license plates are considered easy prey and, as a rule, even with minor violations, they win back in full. BlogoItaliano wrote more about this in the article Car rental in Italy: traffic rules features and some fines.
Italians prefer to drive small cars
While in Naples, do not be surprised if local drivers continue driving at a red traffic light, while still chatting with a friend from a nearby car. As the Neapolitans themselves like to joke, the traffic lights here are divided into two types: one for information and the other for decoration only.
A foreigner driving a car in Italy will have to “sweat” more than once, looking at the wonders on the roads that local drivers of two-wheeled vehicles do, often trying to squeeze along with you even on a one-lane road.
And the rest, Italian drivers are quite polite and tidy. They do not get nervous and do not scream out the windows if someone is in no hurry to start at the traffic lights. If you are reconstructing, they will miss, blinking with a high beam. In general, we can say that few Italian drivers violate traffic rules ... By Italian standards, of course:) ...
