Italy summary
Key facts
Official language(s)
Currency
Population
Time zone
Calling code
Drive on the
Member of the EU
Italian
Euro
60,045,068
GMT + 1
39
Right
Yes
Local weather
Rome
-
Sat-2° | 5° -
Sun-1° | 5° - Mon-2° | 6°
-
Tue1° | 6°
Speed limits
- Motorways:
- 130kmh (81mph) Police often monitor speeds of motorists between two tolls on motorways. When heavey rainfall limit may be decreased to 110 km/h
- Open roads:
- 90kmh (55mph) -110kmh (68 mph)
- Towns:
- 50kmh (30mph)
Road Safety
-
Alcohol limit:
- 0.5 grms per litre of blood
-
Use of mobile phone whilst driving:
- It is illegal to use a hand held mobile phone when driving and can result in an on the spot fine
- It is legal to use a hands free unit
-
Seat belts:
- Compulsory for front and rear seated occupants if fitted
- Children under the age of 4 years cannot travel in the front or rear passenger seat unless using suitable child seat
- Children under 1.5 meters and 36kg of weight must be transported in baby seat (until 18 kg of weight) or booster seat (from 19 to 36 kg of weight). Baby seat cannot be placed in the front seat nor against the driving direction
-
Traffic lights regulations:
- Red – Stop
- Amber – Slow down
- Green – Go
Costs
- Road tolls:
- Almost all motorways are toll roads
- The easiest way to pay tolls is to use a major credit card
- Alternatively, you can buy a Viacard from service stations and tourist offices
- On the spot fines:
- There are particularly heavy penalties for speeding offences
- Police officials provide a receipt on payment
General motoring advice
- Rush hour in built up areas:
- 0730-0930hrs
- 1700-2030hrs
- Fuel:
- Petrol stations are generally open 0700 -1300hrs and 1500 –1900hrs
- 24hrs self service stations are available throughout the country
- 24hrs manned service is always available on the motorways
- Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although they may not work at automatic pumps, which are often the only pumps open out-of-hours and at lunch time away from the Autoroutes
- All grades of unleaded petrol (benzina), diesel (gasolio) and LPG are available
- Leaded fuel no longer exists
- You can carry fuel providing it is the same fuel as in the car; it is carried in the correct container; it has no more than 10 litres; the driver carries a 2kg fire extinguisher in the car
- Parking advice:
Ask the Agent at the National Car Rental location for advice on local parking rules and regulations