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Emergency/police vehicles on Italian roads

Hi. What do you do if an emergency or police vehicle comes up behind you on the autostrada or any Italian road? Here we move to the right and stop but I cannot find what to do in Italy. I have seen the SOS pullovers but I thought there are for a breakdown. If the police come up behind you do you pull off at the nearest exit? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Posted by
4535 posts

What do you mean? If you are being pulled over or if an emergency vehicle is trying to pass? If trying to pass, you'd do what you normally would, just try to slow and pull to the side. I'm not sure about Italy, but many places don't actually stop for emergency vehicles the way Americans do. So be cautious and just try to clear the way so they can get past.

If being pulled over, I would think you'd find the nearest safe place to do so. That is likely to be rare, most Italian traffic enforcement is by camera. Follow the posted speed limits and ZTLs or expect to get tickets in the mail and charges from the rental company for passing along your contact info to the authorities.

Posted by
38 posts

Hi Douglas, thank you for your reply to my question. I was asking about both, my being pulled over and emergency vehicles coming up behind me. Sorry that I didn’t make that clear.

Posted by
7448 posts

Good question, I have no idea, but seeing that in Germany, even in the event of no emergency vehicle, if traffic is coming to a standstill, you are required to pull to the side and keep a lane open in case an emergency vehicle should need it., it is worth asking.

I will applaud you in attempting to understand the driving laws before you go, too many people blindly go forth, then complain when they get "caught". You can probably just follow the cues of others if needed, but there are a couple posters on here that have lived in Italy, maybe they know. Somewhat obligatory, if you have not, read up on ZTL's, that probably is the biggest risk to a driver in Italy.

Posted by
38 posts

Thanks Paul. I’ve driven in Italy over the past 20 years and never knew what to do about emergency vehicles. I tried to look it up on the internet but so far haven’t found any answers. I don’t plan on driving in any limited traffic zones! I never liked driving in city centers before they added all the cameras. The only village will will be driving to is San Quirico d’Orcia and the hotel told me which gate to come through to drop our bags. I think we will park the car outside and walk in. I don’t want to take any chances with a ticket violating the ZTL!

Posted by
1507 posts

The idea of pulling to the sides to open up a center emergency lane is a German one, but not in Italy. On highways the rightmost lane is already the emergency lane and it must kept free. Driving the emergency lane when the traffic is stuck - this way obstructing emergency vehicles - has a minimum fine of eur 375 and suspension of the driving license for at least 2 months.

Posted by
337 posts

Police, then they may be insistent you pull over.

Several years ago now, my wife was transported by ambulance in part down autostrada to the hospital in Formia, (half way between Rome and Naples).
Anyway, I got to ride in the front with the driver, as there were two medics and a nurse in the back. I vividly recall a very fast trip, lights and sirens going and he constantly on the horn warning traffic, while cruising along generally at about 240km/hr.
At times, traffic was heavy, and at one point I recall looking down at the car infront, no more than 3 metres in front, with the back seat passenger looking back to see what the noise was, and our heavy braking. No they didn't go the the left. Later our driver changed tack, going to the left and then doing at least 120km/hr along the shoulder for a while, before rejoining and returning to his high speed.
Things did better once off the autostrada.

The trip cleared my jet lag very quickly.

regards

Posted by
38 posts

Thank you to everyone for responding to my post. Debra

Posted by
3514 posts

No matter where I am, if I am driving and see an emergency vehicle with lights on coming up behind me on the road I am going to pull over and get out of the way as much as possible. Why would I not? Is wherever I am driving to more important than where that emergency vehicle is going? (I know people joke about cops in a hurry to get to the doughnut shop, but most of their lights on driving is not a joke.)