Page 21 - DK Eyewitness: Back Roads Northern and Central Italy (Travel Guide)

Driving in Italy 19

Left Petrol pumps near Lake Garda, Lombardy Right Road signs near Costigliole d’Asti
recommended in mid-winter, and Breakdown and Accidents DIRECTORY
it would be foolish to ignore such In the event of an accident or
advice. For advance weather break down, switch on your hazard GENERAL DRIVING INFORMATION
warnings that might affect your warning lights and place a warning
journey, always check one of the triangle 50 m (164 ft) behind your ACI (Italian Automobile Club)
www.aci.it
Italian weather websites, such as car. If you break down and do not
www.meteo.it or www.ilmeteo.it. have pan-European breakdown Autostrade per l’Italia
www.autostrade.it
cover, you will need to call the
Taking a Break ACI – the Italian Automobile Club. Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Service stations on Italian motorways This organization offers free tows www.gov.uk/driving-abroad
are less frequent than in the UK and to anyone driving in Italy with foreign RAC
other parts of Europe, and they can number plates. If you are in a hire car, www.rac.co.uk
be pretty basic, with little more than call the rental company and follow Touring Club Italiano
a toilet and a bar where you can get their advice; the ACI should still www.touringclub.it
a coffee and a heated-up pastry or offer a free tow, as long as you can EMERGENCIES
a toasted sandwich. Service stations produce your rental contract and
with fast-food restaurants are on the flight tickets. If you do have pan- Fire Brigade
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increase – in particular the Autogrill European cover, your provider will
chain, which offers decent sandwiches contact the nearest garage and Medical Emergency/Ambulance
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and usually has a small supermarket make arrangements for you.
where you can pick up basic supplies If you are unfortunate enough to Police (Carabinieri)
112
and even some local specialities. On be involved in an accident, depending
the back roads, however, you are more on its severity, call one of the emer- Police (Polizia Statale)
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likely to find a pretty village with a bar gency services listed in the Directory. Roadside Assistance
where you can have a good coffee If there is any damage to a vehicle or 116
or snack at a fair price, so if you are to passengers, it is obligatory to call
getting tired, consider leaving the the police. You will then need to fill
motorway and taking a break in the out a European Accident Statement
nearest town or village. Well-priced (see p16) and take the contact details
set-lunch deals aimed at local workers and vehicle registration number of
(pranzo di lavoro) are worth looking any other cars involved. If you have a Below far left Mountain road in the Dolomites
out for; service will be fast, and you camera, it is a good idea to take photos Below left Symbol of Agip, a petrol company
can get a simple, well-cooked three- of the accident from all angles before Below middle Road through the Val d’Orcia,
course meal for under €20. any of the vehicles are moved. Tuscany Below Road signs near Lake Como

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