Motorway Rules in Italy

Entering the motorway: You join via an acceleration lane (corsia di accelerazione). You must reach motorway speed before merging left and give way to vehicles already on the motorway. Stopping on an acceleration lane because you cannot find a gap is a violation — use the full length of the lane.

Lane discipline: Italy enforces a strict keep-right rule. You must drive in the rightmost lane that is not blocked. The left lane (fast lane) is for overtaking only — you must return to the right lane immediately after passing. Travelling in the middle or left lane without overtaking is an offence (uso improprio delle corsie).

Minimum speed: The national minimum on motorways is 40 km/h. If your vehicle cannot maintain 40 km/h (due to a fault, not caution), you must exit the motorway or stop on the hard shoulder safely.

Stopping: You may not stop on the motorway carriageway or hard shoulder except in a genuine breakdown. Stopping for rest, a phone call, or a toilet break on the hard shoulder is prohibited — use the service areas (aree di servizio).

Overtaking on Italian motorways must always be done on the left. Overtaking on the right (sorpasso a destra) is prohibited except when traffic is moving slowly in queues and the lanes are moving at different speeds — even then it is only permitted in the same direction of travel.

The distance rule: you must keep at least 100 m distance from the vehicle ahead at speeds over 130 km/h, and a proportionally smaller distance at lower speeds. A practical formula: your speed in km/h divided by 2 gives the minimum following distance in metres at that speed.

Flashing headlights from the vehicle behind you on the motorway are a signal that the driver wishes to overtake — you must move right if you can do so safely. Refusing to move over when the right lane is clear is an offence.

If your vehicle breaks down on the motorway:

1. Switch on hazard lights (luci d'emergenza) immediately.
2. Move to the hard shoulder (corsia d'emergenza) as far right as possible.
3. Exit the vehicle from the right-side door and move behind the barrier — never stand on the carriageway side.
4. Place the warning triangle at least 100 m behind the vehicle (150 m on motorways with three or more lanes).
5. Call the motorway emergency number (displayed on orange signs) or 112.
6. Wear the high-visibility vest (gilet ad alta visibilità) — it is a legal requirement to have one in the vehicle and to wear it whenever you exit a broken-down vehicle on the carriageway.

Towing on the motorway: a broken-down vehicle may only be towed to the nearest exit. You must exit the motorway; towing along the motorway for long distances is prohibited.

Key Exam Points

• ✓Keep right — use the left lane only for overtaking, return immediately.
• ✓Minimum motorway speed: 40 km/h. Maximum dry: 130 km/h, rain: 110 km/h.
• ✓No stopping on the hard shoulder except genuine breakdown.
• ✓Breakdown: hazard lights → hard shoulder → exit from right door → triangle 100 m behind.
• ✓High-visibility vest required when exiting a broken-down vehicle on the carriageway.