Right of Way in Italy
Master Italian right-of-way rules for the Patente B theory exam. Understand priority roads, unmarked intersections, roundabouts, and yield situations in plain English.
Right-of-way rules (regole di precedenza) are the single most tested category on the Patente B exam. Italian candidates fail most often on intersection priority questions. This chapter explains every scenario you will face, with clear logic for each rule.
The Golden Rule: Right Before Left
At unmarked intersections — those with no signs, no traffic lights, and no road markings that indicate priority — the rule is destra (right takes priority). The vehicle arriving from the right has absolute right of way.
This rule has no exceptions at truly equal, unmarked intersections. The exam presents confusing-looking scenarios but the logic is always: if there are no signs or markings, who is on your right? That vehicle goes first.
The rule does not apply when:
- One road is marked with a priority road sign (yellow diamond) — the priority road driver always goes first regardless of direction
- There is a STOP or Give Way sign — that driver must yield regardless of position
- You are leaving a private property, driveway, or unsurfaced track onto a public road — you must always yield to all road traffic
Common trick: a vehicle exits a petrol station forecourt and claims the right-before-left rule applies. It does not — private exits must always yield.
Priority Roads, Roundabouts and Traffic Lights
Priority roads (strade con diritto di precedenza) are marked with the yellow diamond sign. A driver on a priority road has right of way at every intersection until they see the black-crossed version of the sign ending the priority.
Roundabouts (rotatorie): Since 2001, vehicles already inside the roundabout have priority over vehicles entering. Before that date Italy used right-before-left inside roundabouts too — a source of confusion in older study materials. Always use the current rule: give way to vehicles inside the roundabout.
Traffic lights (semafori):
- Green: proceed if safe
- Amber: stop if you can do so safely; do not accelerate through
- Red: stop before the stop line — not on it, not beyond it
- Green arrow alongside red: you may proceed in the arrow direction only, with caution
- Flashing amber: proceed with caution, right-before-left rules apply at intersections
Police officer signals override all signs and lights.
Special Yielding Situations
Several road users always have right of way regardless of signs:
Trams always have priority over cars at unguarded crossings, even if you have a green light. If a tram is approaching you must stop.
Emergency vehicles with lights and sirens active always have absolute right of way. You must pull over to the right, stop, and wait, even if you are on a priority road with a green light.
Pedestrians have right of way on marked crossings. You must yield to a pedestrian already on the strisce pedonali. You must also yield if a pedestrian is clearly waiting to cross — the exam version of this rule specifies pedestrians on or stepping onto the crossing.
Cyclists in cycle lanes have priority over turning vehicles. If you are turning right and a cycle lane is on your left approaching the junction, cyclists going straight have right of way.
Key Exam Points
- ✓Unmarked intersection: vehicle from the right has absolute priority.
- ✓Priority road (yellow diamond): you have right of way regardless of direction.
- ✓Roundabout: vehicles already inside have priority — give way when entering.
- ✓Trams always have priority over cars at unguarded crossings.
- ✓Emergency vehicles with sirens: pull over, stop, wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has right of way at an unmarked intersection in Italy?
The vehicle arriving from the right (destra) has absolute priority at a fully unmarked intersection with no signs, lights, or markings. This is called the regola della destra. The only exceptions are vehicles leaving private property, driveways, or unsurfaced tracks — they must always yield to road traffic.
Do vehicles inside a roundabout have priority in Italy?
Yes, since 2001. Vehicles already circulating inside a roundabout have priority over vehicles entering. When approaching a roundabout you will usually see a Give Way (triangolo invertito) sign or markings that confirm this. Beware of older study materials that still show the pre-2001 right-before-left rule inside roundabouts.
What do you do when a tram approaches at an intersection in Italy?
You must stop and give way to the tram, even if you have a green light or are on a priority road. Trams run on fixed tracks and cannot swerve — the law always gives them priority at unguarded crossings. Moving through an intersection when a tram is approaching is one of the most serious violations tested in the exam.
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