Safest way to cross the street by etruscangirl
The safest way I found to cross the street in Rome was to follow the nuns. Especially near the Vatican, flocks of nuns are everywhere, and seem to have a heavenly force field which causes otherwise maniacal Roman drivers to yield to them. If you can find a group about to cross, follow closely behind them! Make sure to stay close enough to be in the nun safety zone, but not so close as to be creepy.