TRAFFIC RULES IN ITALY

It would be a pity if your trip to Italy was with a fine. Check out our tips on how to enjoy the Formula 1 race in Monza without extra costs.

Italy's roads are absolutely littered with automated speed cameras, but there is one advantage - they are always indicated by traffic signs marked "controllo velocita della velocita" and a policeman symbol. The motorways have a Tutor system which measures the average speed of vehicles between sections. In short, it pays to keep to the speed limit. 

SPEED LIMITS

Highways 130 km/h
Roads 100 km/h
Cities 50 km/h

VIGNETTE/TOLL

• Travelling on motorways in Italy is quite expensive. The charges are paid through tolls, and the amount depends on which company operates the section and how difficult it was to build. For example, crossing Alpine sections with many tunnels and bridges is more expensive than flat sections.
• You can calculate how much the toll will cost in advance on the website of the Italian motorway company Autostrade per l'Italia.
• The good news is that the toll collection system is not too onerous. You take a ticket at the toll booth when you enter the motorway and pay when you leave the motorway - hundreds of kilometres away. You can pay very quickly by card, and we recommend this option as the fastest. You can also use the Telepass subscription system, but this is not very convenient for a single journey. 
• Watch out for the A36 Pedemontana Lombarda motorway, located north of Milan. There are no toll gates. Instead, there is a so-called free-flow system. This means that only the number plate is scanned, and the toll has to be paid online.
• Trying to avoid motorways on the way to the Italian Grand Prix is very inconvenient. The parallel roads often run through towns, the speed is very often reduced to 60 km/h and the travel time is very long.

ALCOHOL BEHIND THE WHEEL

Italy? It's great for wine! The good news is that during the Formula 1 race weekend in Monza, you can drink it while you drive. But don't overdo it;the limit is only 0.5 per mille, that's about two glasses of wine. 

But be careful because the penalties are severe if you exceed this benevolent limit. The minimum rate is €1,300, and the maximum is €3,000. You also risk having your licence revoked, and if you go significantly over the limit, you’ll be jailed. 

WHAT TO DO IF I GET A FINE

Italian police officers (polizia) and gendarmes (carabinieri) are very communicative and friendly but can be very tough if you break the rules. And it's not just in traffic. 

If you get a ticket for the speed measured by the automatic system, the police will notify the car owner by letter. We recommend that you pay the fine, which is usually no more than a few tens of euros unless the speeding was serious. And it's safer than risking unpleasantness with the police on your next visit to Italy.