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Rome Warnings or Dangers: Traffic tips posted by real travelers and Rome locals.
Traffic
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Rome Traffic ReviewsTips 1 - 10 of 54  
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Traffic: Beware when you cross the street!
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  • By tere1 on August 25, 2006
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  • Traffic - Rome
    by tere1,
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    Rome has so much traffic and most of the people there drive scooters. The problem is that they don't usulally stop on pedestrian lanes and many times they don't stop with red lights. So beware when you cross the streets in Rome, look very well to your left and right before crossing and make sure there's no scooter or car coming ( even if you are on a pedestrian lane) before moving!

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    Traffic: Don't take your car to Rome
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  • By codrutz on January 21, 2006
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  • Traffic - Rome
    by codrutz
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    As I tried to summarize in the title of this warning or danger tip, you should know about what to expect before thinking of driving to Rome. Traffic, 'crazy' drivers and tight (or better said the lack of) parking spaces, could ruin your holiday if you end up with scratches or dents in your car. Just look at the car in the picture. There were so many like that in Rome. I can bet that no less than 50% of the cars have at least one little scratch and more than 10% have serious damages. Another thing I have observed is that there are no big cars in Rome .. I was kind of surprised when seeing a VW Passat or something that 'big'. Dangers come from everywhere, from buses to motorcycles and scooters. You go to Rome and you will understand what I am talking about. But for the sake of your car, leave it at home or at least well parked at the hotel.

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    Traffic: Crossing the Street
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  • Updated By Callavetta on May 13, 2005
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  • I'm learning a LOT from my new Roman friend, Roberto (ARoman). I hope he doesn't mind my sharing the lesson he gave me for crossing the street in Rome: Actually, I do watch their eyes. You have to be sure they have seen you, then you can play your game. Don't wait on the sidewalk for them to stop, they understand if you are not sure and don't have time to stop completely for some tourists to decide to move in, they will only slow down and move a bit around you when you'll cross. So, start to move in the road, slowly but don't retreat when you conquer a position. Nobody will be happy to hit you, so just consider their possible movements and give them a chance to see you and use brakes or slow down safely. You'll be hit only by mistake, like if they did not understand your moves (or did not see you), that is the point. If you play tough but fair, the worst can happen is that they will honk you, but they won't neither. Determined and safe, there is no risk to cross. If you are undecided or start to run scared or, worst, think to get back, they won't expect that behaviour and you'll be at real danger. If you are concerned at the start of the practice, just stay beside somebody that looks more experienced and learn... at the end, it will be fun :) Grazie Roberto!

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    Traffic: It's not just "crossing the street"
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  • Updated By monorailgold on July 28, 2006
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  • One thing that you cannot prepare for is the traffic in Rome. No matter what anyone here on the forum tells you, until you see it for yourself you won't really understand how bad the traffic is. In fact, it is not just bad, it is scary!!!! The cars and vespas squeeze 4 or 5 across in a two lane road. The vespas zip in between the cars even when they are in motion. I am surprised to have never seen an accident on my trips there. That being said, there is a way to cross these hazardous roads and live to tell the tale. The first step is the most important, literally. Once you decide to cross the street and step out into the traffic you cannot stop. You must continue at a steady pace until you get to the other side. I know this sounds crazy, but the drivers will anticipate where you will be when they arrive at that spot and plan their route around you. They may go in front or behind you but they won't hit you. This is why it's important not to stop, nor to run but keep to a steady pace while crossing. The other technique you can use is to cross with a native italian. If you see a group of people crossing, join in. There is safety in numbers! It is pretty scary the first couple of times but you will get used to it and learn your own pace and techinque. Don't be intimidated just wait for a small opening in the traffic and go.

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    Traffic: Crossing the Street
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  • By nicolettart on June 6, 2003
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  • If you are intent on crossing the street, be sure to walk quickly and surely, and don't turn back if you see a vehicle approaching. This may sound crazy, but I observed most drivers base their speed on the fact that you will be out of their way by the time they reach you. Traffic signals are not always observed, of course, so be careful!

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    Traffic: Australians, and others who drive on the left --
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  • By unravelau on March 11, 2003
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  • Traffic at Campidoglio - Rome
    Traffic at Campidoglio
    by unravelau
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    In Rome, and every time that I was there, I needed to be extra cautious in regard to crossing the road. Here, we are so used to looking to the right, then left then right again before crossing that we can think it safe to cross the road then, in Italy. In Rome though it definitely is different, and not only because the first lot of traffic will actually approach you from the left.........they don't always stop for you -- but once on the crossing vehicles on your right will stop..............So going with a crowd is the best advice, and staying in the middle of that crowd probably affords you the best protection. I was rescued three times whilst in Italy all because I thought that I was home.

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    Traffic: Human traffic!
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  • Updated By Jenniflower on May 23, 2006
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  • Queue after queue after queue... - Rome
    Queue after queue after
    queue...
    by Jenniflower
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    Traffic on the roads and onthe pavements, wherever you go, there are people people people. And with so many people, this can only mean one thing. Queues! Wherever you go, whatever you see, be prepared for loooooooooooooong queues, and hope and pray that it isn't in the direct sunlight (which it normally always is), and that it will move quickly (which it generally doesnt). Ensure you have a bottle of water on you and headache tablets for the inevitable. Alternatively? Go at odd times, when people are less likely to be around.

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    Traffic: Dangerous Crossing - Street at Piazza Venezia
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  • Updated By freddie18 on August 27, 2006
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  • Traffic - Rome
    by freddie18
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    Street at the Piazza Venezia has a big traffic area being the physical centre of the city. It is so busy that crossing the street from the King Vittorio Emanuel II monument becomes really difficult. There is enough tips that has been said about the hazard in crossing the street in Rome and what I am going to share with you is 'how to avoid this difficulties'. While it is true that crossing the street at Piazza Venezia infront of the King Vittorio Emanuel II monument must be very risky, that is mainly because I don't remember traffic lights installed within the area. At any rate, there is no harm trying different techniques so it is recommended to do this to avoid accident while you are in a foreign land: Wait until a crowd of pedestrian starts crossing. Whether there are locals in the crowd who are used to the Italian traffic, it is safer to just join in. If you are on streets with less traffic but you can see fast drivers, then wait a little while and for sure there will be local people you will come across who knows how to deal with it. It is better to wait for a minute or so before crossing the street, than to meet untoward incident. This tip is very useful because in going around the city of Rome, you will need a lot of walking, and a lot of .....crossing! Have a safe holiday!


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    Traffic: Crossing streets is dangerous!!!
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  • By lucyguajardo on September 12, 2002
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  • Be careful when you want to cross a street, in Rome people drive very fast and a lot of them don't follow the street signal, so you can be surprise with cars, taxis, motos. Watch out!!!! And i you rent a car or go in side one, take it easy, you will be have some scare moments!!!


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    Traffic: Roman traffic isn't so bad...
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  • Updated By mccalpin on August 26, 2002
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  • Warning: ignore warnings from other VTs about Roman traffic! In fact, I feel safer driving in Rome than I do in Dallas, Texas. Why? Because Italians pay much more attention to their driving than we do in the States. Yes, it appears crazy, but that's because the Italian drivers are following a different set of rules than those posted on the street signs. Once you learn the rules, it's actually fun to drive there! How do you learn the rules? Read 'The Italians' by Luigi Barzini, who loves and criticizes his countrymen at the same time. For example, you'll learn that 'passing' someone in a car is 'sorpassare' in Italian. But 'sorpassare' also means 'to surpass', physically, morally, ethically, and sexually. So, as Barzini says, it doesn't matter how fast you get somewhere, what's important is how many people you pass on the way ;-).

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