Driving in Italy vs. Jordan: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road rules of Italy and Jordan, travelers should be aware of key variations that impact driving experiences. From lane markings and speed limits to emergency protocols, each country presents unique regulations. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the edge of the roadway. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No specific bus lanes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited; primarily in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicular traffic. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Cycle symbols where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
jordan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
Bus Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
jordan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
italy:
Exclusive for bicycles.
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
jordan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
jordan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes; common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
jordan:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
jordan:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
jordan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
jordan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
jordan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
jordan:
Yes; common.
Signals
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not typically used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | To avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
jordan:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Allowed
italy:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jordan:
To avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
jordan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
jordan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
jordan:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use is common |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
jordan:
Moderate use is common
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Can be substantial |
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
jordan:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
jordan:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
jordan:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Yes, occasionally |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
jordan:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay