Give way
Dare precedenza
Give way to traffic on the road you are joining.
What to do: At a roundabout entry it means give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
Priority and junctions
Stop
Fermarsi e dare precedenza
Stop completely at the line and give way.
Priority road
Diritto di precedenza
You are on a priority road. Traffic from side roads must give way to you.
What to do: Carry on, but watch for cars pulling out.
End of priority road
Fine del diritto di precedenza
Your priority ends. Priority to the right applies again at junctions without signs.
Junction with priority to the right
Intersezione con precedenza a destra
Junction ahead where traffic from the right has priority.
What to do: Slow down and give way to vehicles from your right.
No entry
Senso vietato
No entry for vehicles from this direction, usually the far end of a one-way street.
Roundabout
Rotatoria
Roundabout. Drive round it anticlockwise.
What to do: Look for a give way sign at the entry. Without one, traffic joining from the right has priority.
Speed and cameras
Electronic speed check
Controllo elettronico della velocità
A speed camera or police speed check is ahead. The law requires this warning before fixed and mobile checks.
What to do: Check your speed. The camera can be up to 4 km after the sign.
Start of built-up area
Inizio centro abitato
You are entering a built-up area. The 50 km/h limit and a ban on using the horn start here unless other signs say otherwise.
What to do: Slow to 50 km/h or the limit shown.
End of built-up area
Fine centro abitato
End of the built-up area. The 50 km/h limit ends and the limit for the type of road applies.
What to do: From here you must also drive with dipped headlights on.
Speed limit
Limite massimo di velocità
Maximum speed in km/h from this point.
Motorways and overtaking
Motorway
Autostrada
Start of a motorway. The limit is 130 km/h, or 110 km/h in rain or snow, and tolls usually apply.
End of motorway
Fine autostrada
End of the motorway and its limits.
Main road outside towns
Strada extraurbana principale
Start of a main road outside towns. The limit is 110 km/h, or 90 km/h in rain or snow.
Zones and parking
Limited traffic zone
Zona traffico limitato (ZTL)
Entry to a limited traffic zone. During the hours shown, only vehicles with a permit may enter. Where cameras enforce it, a panel reading CONTROLLO ELETTRONICO ZTL is added.
What to do: Do not drive past this sign during the hours shown unless your plate is authorised. Check the electronic panel at the gate.
No parking
Divieto di sosta
No parking. A panel below may limit the ban to certain hours.
No stopping
Divieto di fermata
No stopping at all, even briefly.
Directions
Motorway direction sign
Segnale di direzione autostradale
This way leads to a motorway (autostrada). Most motorways charge a toll.
What to do: Follow blue signs instead if you want to avoid motorways and tolls.
Direction sign outside towns
Segnale di direzione extraurbano
Directions along ordinary roads outside towns, not motorways.
Direction sign in towns
Segnale di direzione urbano
Directions to districts, hospitals, airports and other places within a town. Brown signs point to tourist sights.
Other signs
ZTL active / ZTL not active
ZTL attiva / ZTL non attiva
Tells you whether the zone is in force right now. ATTIVA, or the older VARCO ATTIVO, means it is in force and the camera will fine you.
What to do: If the display is red, do not enter. VARCO ATTIVO means the gate is active, not that you may pass.
No vehicles
Divieto di transito
No vehicles may enter in either direction. It also forms part of the ZTL sign.
Pedestrian zone
Area pedonale
Pedestrian zone. Vehicles are banned, and cameras may enforce it.
Words on the signs
| On the sign | Means |
|---|---|
| Zona traffico limitato (ZTL) | Limited traffic zone Entry without a permit is fined by camera. |
| ZTL attiva | Zone active: closed to vehicles without a permit Shown in red. Do not enter. |
| ZTL non attiva | Zone not active: open to all traffic Shown in green. |
| Varco attivo | Gate active: the zone is closed Older wording still seen on some panels. It does not mean you may pass. |
| Controllo elettronico ZTL | ZTL enforced by camera |
| Controllo elettronico della velocità | Speed camera ahead Also written rilevamento elettronico della velocità. |
| Area pedonale | Pedestrian zone |
| Centro abitato | Built-up area 50 km/h unless signs say otherwise. |
| Fine centro abitato | End of built-up area |
| Dare precedenza | Give way |
| Precedenza | Priority, right of way |
| Senso vietato | No entry |
| Galleria | Tunnel Dipped headlights required. |
| Nebbia | Fog |
Drawings follow the official designs described by Italy's road authorities. Real signs vary a little in size and lettering. The full guide to driving in Italy