Driving in Sicily

Driving in Sicily is not for the faint of heart! I felt I was well prepared for the adventure of Sicilian driving due to the fact that I learned to drive in Massachusetts, USA.  New Englanders view Massachusetts drivers as a little “pazzo” crazy.

I’m not sure how the situation on the roadways became what it is today, but here are some of my observations.

• Although driving may at first appear to be a free-for-all, there are many rules of the road here, it is just that Sicilians observe rules only when necessary.
• You must have a working horn, as that is the best way to communicate with other drivers.  A short blow of the horn can claim the right-of-way on a narrow street or at an intersection, or can tell another driver to stay in their driving lane.  A long blow of the horn can be only defense to a near-death collision.
• Hazard lights are necessary to alert drivers of a change in speed. Without the warning of flashing lights you will be rear-ended.  This usually works, but it is only effective if the driver behind you is not on their cell phone, texting, reading, lighting a cigarette, or talking to their passenger, or all of the above at the same time.  You may then need to add a blow of your horn to the flashing lights.
• If you do not make eye contact with another driver, you can take the right-of-way without yielding.
• Motorcycles and scooters drive with a me-first attitude, feeling they do not need to wait for anyone/anything, they can push through traffic and to the head of any line of traffic.
• Many drivers who have experience on motorcycles drive their cars in the same manner
• Roundabouts are found at the majority of intersections with the idea of helping traffic continue to flow without interruption.  Most drivers seem completely confused with how a round-about functions, who has the right-of-way, which lane they should be in, and how to signal and merge.  Because of this roundabouts create massive traffic jams, and frequent accidents
  • Here are some examples of the creative roundabouts that were designed to keep traffic flowing… This is in the village of Vizzini. Every car that approaches this series of roundabouts seem completely confused as to how to navigate their way through. Do you really blame them?  Here is another one…We feel like we take our lives into our hands each time we drive through this roundabout. We often drive through  this on our way to Catania during morning or afternoon rush hour, and it is insane!
  • We have seen drivers in a roundabout realize that they missed the exit they wanted.  And what do they do? They stop in traffic an put their car in reverse and work their way back to the turn they wanted.  (They don’t seem to realize that the whole idea of a roundabout is to keep on moving, and if they just keep driving they can get back to the exit they want.)
  • It is not completely unusual to see a driver approach a roundabout and make a LEFT turn (driving in the opposite direction of traffic) if that is the most direct route for them.
  • Directional signs for a roundabout are posted long before you reach the roundabout.  Once you are in the roundabout the exits may not be marked at all, and this does in fact lead to the confusion of many drivers.  Unless you know the route well you may hesitate in the circle wondering which exit you were supposed to take.
• Parking:
  • It is not unusual to see vehicles parked within a roundabout.  Also two cars may stop in order to talk with one another, yes, this too is done within a roundabout.
  • Parallel parking is a great idea, but often drivers will pull into a parking space and leave half of their car protruding out into the traffic lane. Not considered a problem…for them! Too bad if you have to stop and wait to drive around their parked car.
  • Double parking is common, even if it blocks a lane of traffic. Especially acceptable if one is stopping at a bar for an espresso, picking up bread from your panificio, buying fresh produce from a street-side vendor, or any other similarly urgent errand.  If you need to get out of a parking space and someone has blocked you in, just lay on your car horn and the driver will come right out to move.
  • Not unusual either to see cars parked on a crosswalk, on a street corner (even if there is other parking available, if parking on the corner will make it easier when the driver returns to hop back into traffic), and on sidewalks.  In many cities it is impossible to walk on the sidewalk as it will be packed with parked vehicles.
  • One time I when parked in a curbside legal parking space on via Plebicito in Catania, I had a police officer approach to ask me to move my car.  Now, all around me were cars double parked and piled on the sidewalk. He asked me to move my car because IT might block the intersection or interrupt the flow of traffic. Yes, I moved my car.  It is better at times to do as the locals.
• Dropping off and picking up of passengers is frequently done within roundabouts or anywhere  on a city street.  Drivers do not see the need to pull out of the way of traffic because that would be inconvenient for them.

There are so many more driving traits that stand out as bizarre when you first arrive in Sicily, so I’m sure I will add to this list later.