I think any insane mind would not agree to the suggestions you gave years ago. But out of my own experience of how italian work, I would say they would be laughing out at your suggestions because they just want to grab money one way or the other without caring for the visitors. Instead they would make all efforts to multilply the fines.

Please don’t give italian any sensible suggestions because these are not meant for them.

You have some excellent suggestions. I fully agree that the authorities should install conspicuous ZTL warning signs, proper traffic management so drivers don’t find themselves inadvertently shoved into the ZTL with no escape route, and clearly signed parking around the perimeter. Failing that, at the very least they could – really easily, quickly & cheaply – paint a thick line across the road at the ZTL border, with “STOP” on one side and “ZTL” in a red circle on the other. It’s been suggested that a line across the road would cause lots of rear end shunts as Italian drivers are not too keen on using brakes. But in my experience they like to create a big empty fuss with lots of futile shouting, gesturing & toot-tooting, but will avoid actual collision at all costs (just think of all the bureaucracy: form-filling, police reports, fees, bribes etc – not to mention higher insurance). Thus your choice is to risk causing a few tantrums by stopping & turning, or potentially throw away several hundred €/£/$ by continuing into the ZTL – a no-brainer for me!

A common theme in your “Speeding, and other traffic fines in Italy” thread is disgust at the underhand methods used by the traffic authorities to generate fines. I wholly support the objective of ZTLs to keep traffic out of historic city centres and help reduce damage & pollution. However, I don’t see how letting traffic into a ZTL through inadequate signage achieves this; in fact it worsens the problem, as more traffic gets in than otherwise would if properly signed. And it beats me how pollution is prevented by issuing a fine a year later! Significantly, the vast majority of posters regard ZTLs as nothing more than a revenue-raising scam, but I suspect the real reason is just inept organisation & management.

Italian city authorities could benefit from visiting the London Congestion Charge Zone to see how ZTLs should – and could – work. Drivers in London are in absolutely no doubt that they are about to enter the CCZ, and can easily divert away from it without incurring a charge or penalty. ZTL fine income could easily finance a fact finding mission to London, but that may be a bit too sensible for Italy.

Best regards,

PabloUK