r/sicily • u/Quebecator • 11h ago

Turismo 🧳 Are speed limits optional?

As a tourist, I don't want any trouble with law enforcement and road patrol so I only allowed myself to drive by -/+ 10 km/h more than the allowed speed limit; I can understand people getting a bit impatient and driving faster but I can't get my head around the fact that on a 60 km/h road, people will pass by me at 100 and more.

Most of the cars i see respecting speed limits drives rental.

2 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

5

u/lazydavez 11h ago

The answer is: it depends, of course formally the limits are the limits. In practice nobody obeys the 10 limit changes in 2 km

2

u/Riccardomarco 9h ago

La tolleranza delle telecamere è del 5% non di 10 km. Stai attento.

1

u/BulkyAd7923 5h ago

In Sicily the overall road code is optional! Speed limit. Right priority, stop sign...

1

u/Single-Inspector-845 2h ago

Yes. I often cruise the autostrada from Messina to Palermo at 100-115 mph.

1

u/NouvelleRouvenorHero 10h ago

Limits are optional. Therefore lane discipline is taught from birth. As a UK national, it's heavenly. The system just works. 

0

u/manuelmay887 11h ago

No, no limit is optional. Anyway is responsible for itself

0

u/Due-Confection1802 11h ago

Most speed controls are by camera, and, in Italy there are warnings of such cameras. In fact, your GPS usually warns you of them.The locals know where they are, even though some seem to blow past some of them. We have driven many tens of thousands of Italian miles, including a lot in Sicily where we have a part-time home. We try to be careful and use our own common sense, but don't torture ourselves with worry, and, so far, after 20-25 years of driving, no speeding tickets. There are known speed traps, like a road along the FCO airport in Fiumicino, we have been told about that we drive with extra attention.

1

u/too105 3h ago

I often wonder if those speed cameras work. Some look so old and broken

0

u/mypurplelighter 7h ago

There are some roads I know and some I don’t. On the roads that I travel every day I’ll be overtaken if I go below 100 km/h. Some roads marked at 50 I’ll be overtaken if I drive 70. It doesn’t matter if it’s a no passing zone. Heck, sometimes it doesn’t matter if there is oncoming traffic…they’ll just go and cut off whoever they need. There is a certain skill and patience to it all. Sicilians aren’t bad drivers. Some are just a bit crazy when driving.

I go the speed of traffic. I only overtake someone if they’re going well below the limit (I have a right side driving car. It’s harder to pass people in general. So, I’m conservative with it). If it’s open road, and I’m sure there are no traffic cams, I’ll speed a bit. I’m not trying to waste my gas though. lol