Driving in India vs. Italy: Key Differences for Safety
When exploring the roads of India and Italy, travelers will encounter distinct driving practices that significantly impact safety and navigation. Key differences include the side of the road each country drives on, speed limits, and road etiquette, all of which play a crucial role in ensuring a secure journey. Prepare for an enlightening comparison that enhances your awareness on international roads.
Lanes
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
india:
Left
italy:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
india:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
italy:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
italy:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
italy:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
italy:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
italy:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
italy:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
italy:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
italy:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
italy:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
italy:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
india:
No
italy:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
italy:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Used; prepare to go when green appears |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | Italian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
italy:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
italy:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
italy:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
italy:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
italy:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
italy:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
italy:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
italy:
Substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
italy:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
italy:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 113 (State Police) |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | 116 (ACI) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
italy:
113 (State Police)
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
italy:
116 (ACI)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
italy:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Varies; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines apply, strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines apply, may include points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Possible, especially for foreign drivers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
italy:
Varies; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days