Helpful Driving Information

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GENERAL INFORMATION:

• Driving licence:
  Licences issued by an EU member state are valid in the whole area of the European Union, including Italy.

• Road signs:
  Road signs indicating highways are green, for state roads blue, and the ones indicating points of interest are brown. The signs are printed in both languages of the province, DE and IT.

• Traffic report:
  Here you find the traffic report of the South Tyrolean Traffic Information Centre (in Italian language). It informs about traffic jams and closed mountain passes.

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OBLIGATIONS:

• Children's seats:
  Children between 0 and 12 years of age, smaller than 1.50 metres and with a weight lower than 36 kg, have to be secured with a child safety seat approved with the European seal ECE R 44/04.

• Seatbelts:
  The use of seatbelts in both the front and rear seats is obligatory and failure to keep them fastened may result in fines for both drivers and passengers.

• Low beams:
  Low beams must be used during the daytime while travelling on motorways and major roads out of town. Motorcyclists must use low beams all the time.

• Warning vests:
  Since 2004, warning vests are compulsory and have always to be carried in the car, to have the possibility to show it or to use it in emergency cases. Equally obligatory are the warning triangle and the first aid kit, whereas a fire extinguisher is only recommended.

• Winter tyres:
  Winter tyres (or all-season tyres M+S) are compulsory when travelling on South Tyrolean roads between November 15 and April 15 of the following year. Furthermore, in case of snowfall or ice, you have to carry the appropriate winter equipment, e.g. snow chains.

• Wildlife accident:
  Since November 2019, a wildlife accident must be reported to the responsible authorities (e.g. Forestry Station Caldaro, phone: +39 0471 963147, or Egna, phone: +39 0471 824130) if the wild animal was only hit. Previously, this was only the case if the animal died in the accident.

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SPEED:

• Speed limits:
  Speed limits valid in Italy: 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on minor out-of-town roads, 110 km/h on major out-of-town roads and highways such as the MeBo (in the picture), 130 km/h on motorways. The limits change with a trailer or caravan, or if driving a camper van, bus or truck.

• Brennero Motorway:
  On the Brenner-Bolzano Sud section of the A22, the maximum speed is 110 km/h instead of 130 km/h (as is usually on Italian motorways).

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PENALTIES:

• Fines:
  Exceeding the speed limit is punished with heavy fines: exceeding by 10 km/h with a fine of 100 Euros and more, by 40 km/h the driving license is revoked for several months. Also fined are the disregard of the obligatory use of seatbelts or of the prohibition of overtaking, illegal parking, or not stopping for pedestrians on the crosswalk.

• Drinking and driving:
  The blood alcohol limit in Italy is 0.5 ‰. Even if you are cycling or walking, you can be stopped and punished by the police if you are noticeably drunk.

• Drugs:
  Driving under the influence of drugs results in a driving ban and a report.

• Murder in road traffic:
  In 2016, Italy has introduced the criminal offence called "murder in road traffic", resulting in sentences of up to 18 years. It applies on fatal road accidents (or with personal injury) under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or by not respecting laws such as the prohibition of overtaking, exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h, not stopping at a red traffic light.

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Further information for drivers:

• The use of mobile phones and other mobile devices at the wheel is prohibited.
• Electric cars may only be parked at the charging stations for the duration of charging.
• E-scooters may travel at a maximum speed of 20 km/h and 6 km/h in pedestrian zones. Driving and parking on pavements is prohibited.

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