I grew up in Australia where you drive on the left hand side of the road and, if there are no signs such as GIVE WAY or STOP you have to give way to the right. I have always seen this as sensible. I can't understand the logic of having to give way to the right in countries where you drive on the right. It creates a situation where visibility is more difficult and there is less time to stop or take evasive action once the car on the right emerges on to the through road.

Fortunately most roads are marked for priority in Italy but I was very surprised when Alis told me that the give way to the right rule applies in Italy too.

Italian drivers are generally fairly good but they do rely on their reflexes, they have to. Speed limits and stop signs are considered as advisory, pedestrian crossings are striped so you can better target the pedestrians, most pedestrian crossings are badly marked and would not comply with any recognised standard, traffic lights are often only on the the approach side of the intersection (significantly reducing the chance of seeing that the light has just turned red). All this and we wonder why we have some of the highest insurance costs in Europe

Peter

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