Okay, so I've been here for a week, driving around Umbria and Lazio. I was warned by multiple sources before arriving to make sure to drive the speed limit. There are hidden traffic cams everywhere and the fines are steep. So why is it I've got cars tailgating me, & honking at me for doing the posted limit, on highways and smaller roads? Some cars are not just going over the limit, they're going double the limit! Do they ignore fractions? Wheras an American will have to pay the ticket due to our insurance company? I'm not a shy driver and I'm tempted to do as the Romans do.
Posted by
Washington DC
28462 posts
I assume the other drivers are locals who know where the speed cameras are (or think they do). Or maybe they're tourists who don't know they're setting themselves up for multiple very expensive traffic fines.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7179 posts
You have options. You could do as the Italians (or whoever the other drivers are) and ignore the limits and possibly get several speeding tickets. Then you could either ignore the tickets or pay them. If you get tickets you have to pay a fee to the rental car company for each of them (usually 35-45 € each) who will charge your cc, even if you don't pay the tickets themselves. Personally it's not worth it to me to pay (or risk paying) for the privilege of driving a little faster so I just obey the limits. Now, know that I'm also not a shy driver and I do exceed the speed limit on most of our highways here at home, although I'm a stickler for not speeding through towns or residential neighborhoods.
Posted by
Tucson
4183 posts
My husband has a heavy foot and we've paid for 2 tickets in France and 1 in Switzerland. "I was only keeping up with traffic," he whined. Oddly, he got no tickets from Italy, but we were driving on small roads in Alpine areas. We did have some people pass us. They obviously weren't enjoying the scenery as much as we were.
If you think he's an old, white-haired fuddy duddy, he hobby races a Formula Ford and did 2 race weekends on the road course at Indy this month. He raced in Spokane the weekend before and is there again this weekend. He often races at Portland and at Oregon Raceway Park.
But those tickets convinced him that it wasn't worth it to try to keep up with anyone on European highways and roads.
If you truly want to go fast, rent a race prepped car at the Nurburgring Nordschliefe and drive there.
BTW, if you are ticketed, you will be charged by your rental company for giving your information to the authorities so they can issue the citation directly to you. You pay the authorities directly. This will happen for every single infraction. You won't have a hint that you've done anything wrong until you see the charges from the rental agency on your CC bill. It may take months for you to receive the actual "ticket" from whoever controls the area where you broke the traffic rules.
Just a little heads up.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
488 posts
Are you doing the speed limit in any lane other than the right lane?
I believe Rick describes Italy as a country of frustrated race car drivers. So, if you are not to the right and there is faster traffic, yield and get over.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
What Max said above. And, pull over to let cars pass if you're on a two lane road.
Posted by
OP
Saint Helens, OR, USA
304 posts
I always travel in the right lane unless passing. Anyone who doesnt shouldn't have a license
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16227 posts
Locals know where the active speed machines are (many are just relicts that are no longer in use). Most of those (fixed or mobile) that are active have police presence onsite, so if you see a police car or motorcycle, slow down (I know easy to say, sometimes it's too late to slow down).
Most speed machines (both active and inactive) are placed inside built up areas, after you enter the town, generally signaled by the white sign here. The speed limit inside built up areas is always 50 km/h unless a lower speed in indicated. It's really important that you don't speed too much when you drive through the towns (50km/h limit), that is where they get you (especially as soon as you pass the town sign).
In most places outside built up areas the speed limit is 70 km/h. Machines are rare there. If there are, they generally put them where the roads have a speed limit of 90 km/h (people tend to speed a lot in those).
The Speed Tutor system calculates the average speed. But those are placed on the toll freeways only where the speed limit is 130km/h (80 mph), so I doubt you can exceed those unless you really press the pedal to the metal.
Posted by
OP
Saint Helens, OR, USA
304 posts
Excellent info Roberto. I've been concentrating on staying within the limits.
Just one question...Will you be ticketed for going say 5 kmh to 10 kmh over? Speed limit signs are not posted as often as in the states. And, well I've been over on occasion.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23656 posts
There has been reports here of tickets from 1 km over. There is no magic 5 to 10 grace. If you are over, you are over. Also keep in mind that some of the express roads will use a rolling average.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Frank, In Italy the tolerance is 5 km/h under 100 km/h and then 5%. In cities you must drive 56 km/h to be fined.
Those reports are wrong.
Ray, in Europe you are supposed to know the speed limit for the type of road you're driving on. Here it takes months to get a driving license and you must know tons of things by hearth to pass the exam.