Traffic, Rome

Crossing the streets in Rome is hazardous. Don't do it by yourself, going with a crowd is the best advice. Drivers do not believe in giving way to pedestrians and the traffic signs are ignored (specially the STOP sign).
I would not recommend driving in Rome.

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!

Before leaving for Rome last week, I read a lot about how hard it is to cross the street. so I was nervous about that. But i'm here to say, don't be! they have crosswalks, the traffic does stop for pedestrians. I DID almost get creamed by a scooter when crossing in the middle of the street where there was no crosswalk, so be careful with that!

Crossing the street is hazardous even to those of us who have years of practice since we let go of our parents' hands.
The best advice I ever got in regards to crossing streets in Rome was "Do as the Romans do." Honestly, if you want to cross in a place where there is no light (and you will) you might be safer if you cross with someone who looks like they know what they're doing. Cars usually stop.
But always, always watch out for the Vespas! Yes, those little, loud, zooming things don't stop at the lights if they can help it and they can appear from behind cars and trucks in the blink of an eye.

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.

Watch out on the streets of Rome, the traffic can drive you crazy. There is need to acclimatize to the rules of the street. The mixture of million pedestrians, loud motor vehicles, buses and motor cars is enigmatic. Don’t rely so much on your basic knowledge about a Zebra crossing, in Rome its contrary, both vehicle and pedestrian have the right of way. It ends up in a sort of organized chaos. Just take it easy, but take it. You can always retreat to the “Piazza” or to the parks.

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!!!

Look every way before crossing the street! People will come from every direction on a bike, moped or in a car. Just because the light is red doesn't mean that they will actually 'see' it. The best bet is to follow the lights as they change. Don't try that last minute spring across the street because you might not see that bus coming around the corner.