Today's LEFT v RIGHT debate

[The Large One]

Driving on the Italian autostradas (that's motorways to you), main roads, country roads and mountain roads for the past two weeks can age you about 10 years. Driving on the M25 has nothing on these nutters. It appears to be the rule that tailgating, overtaking at warp speed and not bothering to signal are the norm.

I've also noticed that there appears to be a hierarchy of the cars on the road and what you can do in them. In other words, the big 4x4 bastard cars appear to have a rule for themselves, flattening everything in their path, while tiny Fiat Puntos are allowed to go at such a speed as to risk being pulled over for kerb-crawling. All other cars in between seem to have a set of considerations pertaining to what you are allowed to overtake and what you are not.

It works like this - 4x4s can overtake everything. Mercs and Beemers can overtake everything except 4x4, Lancia and big VWs can overtake everything except 4x4s, Mercs and Beemers and so on, down to everything can overtake a Fiat Punto - in fact, they are obliged to, even on blind corners, which is another aspect of Italian driving which can give you a canary at the wheel.

My point is, we hired a big Fiat Punto (1.6L I think) and constantly overtook 4x4s, Beemers and Mercs, and it really pissed them off. Tailgaiting, jumping red lights, hand gestures all as a result of their fury. I'm telling you now, traffic lights and stop signs are only there as a rough guide.

The debate is, not being familiar with these courtesies until the second week, was I RIGHT to have LEFT these cars in my wake, or should I be more of the Englishman in my considerations?

 

[Del Boy]

Had an italian tailgating me today, he nearly crashed when he didn't see the car infront of mine was truning right and where I was quick enough to indicate and move inside the car he didn't and swerved within inches of a car in the left hand lane, all this whilst talking on his phone!!

 

[Hunting 784561]

The scariest motoring moment in my life, was when I was driving along the Cote D'Azur Autoroute behind Nice, doing at least 100 mph in the outside lane, and somehow being overtaken by an Italian in a Lancia, who managed to squeeze his car through the tiny gap between my car in the oustside lane and the central barrier at 130 mph.

Mrs Mart and the wee ones were speechless, and I needed a clean pair of shreddies shortly after.

 

[The Large One]

The scariest motoring moment in my life, was when I was driving along the Cote D'Azur Autoroute behind Nice, doing at least 100 mph in the outside lane, and somehow being overtaken by an Italian in a Lancia, who managed to squeeze his car through the tiny gap between my car in the oustside lane and the central barrier at 130 mph.

Mrs Mart and the wee ones were speechless, and I needed a clean pair of shreddies shortly after.

I know that road. Quite twisty, in the mountains and loads and loads of tunnels. Going at 100mph there takes some doing. Going at 130mph sounds peasy.

 

[The Large One]

Come on, Algie, where are you?

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Never drieven in Italy (it's scary enough just watching the buggers from the pavement).

I have driven a lot in Morrocco where it appears to be the law that all lorries must drive in the centre of the road, especially on blind bends.

Oh and my favourite in Spain is traffic lights where

Green - GO
Amber - Go a bit faster
Red - Go even faster. Consider stopping if traffic is already passing from the left and right

 

[DTES]

Can't comment on Italian driving, but it's always entertaining watching the crazy French driving from the top of L'Arc du Triomphe. 4 or 5 wide, on a roundabout, with absolutely no road markings...

 

[CHAPPERS]

In Spain last month we were in a three car convoy, all driven by 24/25 year olds on way to a festival. The Spanish seem to be a little less aggressive than the Italains fron the sound of things,. Nobody seemed to want to break the speed limit. Except us, I'm not sure we dipped under it for long on the motorways.

120kph is far too slow consdering how little traffic was on the roads.

 

[Man of Harveys]

This website http://www.factbook.net/EGRF_Regional_analyses_HMCs.htm
...is not uninteresting in the context of this thread - especially seeing that, for example, deaths are far lower on Italian roads than on, say, French or Belgian ones.

Belgium STILL scores highly on west European road death stats, despite its many nicely-lit motorways, due to only introducing those new-fangled driving tests in 1965.

 

[Dave the OAP]

One of the issues I found in Austria was not really tailgating ( as you tend to see them coming and get out of their way) it seems to be the lack of courtesy when trying to pull out into the overtaking lane.

In the UK, 9 times out of 10, if you indicate to pull out, someone will let you out, however I found ( even driving an Austrian registered car - Punto) that you have to indicate and go, never wait for someone to let you out or you could be waiting for ever.

Interesting that the diesel price in Austria was 1.04 Euro's = approx 70p per litre, whereas in the UK its now around a £1 a litre.

The other thing we found is that they are fearless ( or foolhardy) when overtaking and you have to be on your guard and get out of their way.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Today's LEFT v RIGHT debate

Which is better looking?

 

[Man of Harveys]

Is that taken from Up The Arse corner?

 

[The Large One]

Interesting that the diesel price in Austria was 1.04 Euro's = approx 70p per litre, whereas in the UK its now around a £1 a litre.

It's about 1.20 Euros in Italy, but lead-free petrol is about the equivalent as here 1.38 - 1.42 Euros (about 95p-98p). In fact, I am wondering whether the introduction of the Euro has not led to inflation in some countries which were once considered cheaper places to live.

For instance, most goods that were cheaper in Italy once are now on a par with UK prices - the main things that aren't are local produce, such as certain wines, fruit & veg and Morretti beer (69 cents for a 660ml bottle - the equivalent of 41p a pint).

Lord Bracknell's favourite tipple, Brunello di Montalcino, produced a mere 40 miles from where we were staying, was widely avaiable, but still quite dear. Depending on which bottle yougot, it still cost between 21 and 30 Euros (about £15-£22) a bottle in the supermarket, and more in the enotecas.

 

[Lush]

The scariest motoring moment in my life, was when I was driving along the Cote D'Azur Autoroute behind Nice, doing at least 100 mph in the outside lane, and somehow being overtaken by an Italian in a Lancia, who managed to squeeze his car through the tiny gap between my car in the oustside lane and the central barrier at 130 mph.

Mrs Mart and the wee ones were speechless, and I needed a clean pair of shreddies shortly after.

No you didn't. You needed your head examining if you were doing 100mph on ANY road with your wife and kids in the car.

 

[Hunting 784561]

No you didn't. You needed your head examining if you were doing 100mph on ANY road with your wife and kids in the car.

you havent seen my wife drive

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

WRONG!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Lord Bracknell's favourite tipple, Brunello di Montalcino, produced a mere 40 miles from where we were staying, was widely avaiable, but still quite dear. Depending on which bottle yougot, it still cost between 21 and 30 Euros (about £15-£22) a bottle in the supermarket, and more in the enotecas.

They're selling it in SUPERMARKETS?

Good grief!

 

[DIFFBROOK]

I think the scariest experience whilst driving was in Greece. Mountain roads with no rails, yet drivers were still overtaking on corners.

Just to make sure that you shit yourself, all along the roads are shrines. Small ones for non fatal crashes and larger ones for deaths. I mean they were everywhere...........it really doesn't give you confidence

 

[The Large One]

I think the scariest experience whilst driving was in Greece. Mountain roads with no rails, yet drivers were still overtaking on corners.

Just to make sure that you shit yourself, all along the roads are shrines. Small ones for non fatal crashes and larger ones for deaths. I mean they were everywhere...........it really doesn't give you confidence

Did the shrines double up as crash barriers instead?

 

[Dr Q]

Used to spend three months of the year down in southern Italy in the early 90's doing research, and the drive down was one of the fun parts of the trip. In those days less 4x4's but there did seem to be a bit of a heirachy, in those days bloody great Lancias (usually rusty!)and Alfas. Always a bit of as suprise to them when my Fiat Uno pulled out in front and didn't give way to their flashing/tailgating etc. You sort of just had to get into the Italian mindset and join in.

Hand signal were generally not abusive, which was probly why someone took offence when I flicked them a finger and subsequently tried to run me off the road!

Best thing about the Italian motorways are the service stations ... decent coffee & food for bugger all (and beer also on sale!!!.... )