How to Cross the Street in Rome

What a hair-raising challenge! In Italy, one has to make the cars stop, if there is no traffic light. Cross at pedestrian crossings or at traffic lights, but that doesn’t mean the traffic will stop for you. You have to throw yourself out there, but SENSIBLY, make sure the car or scooter has enough stopping distance before you start walking and the motorists are not going fast.

Once you start crossing the street, don’t stop, run, hesitate or turn back – that will surely cause an accident and infuriate the motorists, and they will tell you so. One has to learn how to cross the road as they do!! One trick is to make eye contact with the drivers, they don’t like it, but they respond. Another way is to raise your hand as you cross, and remember there is safety in numbers. 

Lastly, don’t be afraid of them weaving in front or behind you, it keeps the traffic moving and some just like to live on the edge.  Basically, one of the basic unwritten rules on the road in Italy is to keep things flowing, moving, thus the reluctance to stop for pedestrians, but you always have the right of way, except at a traffic light.