Why are there zebra crossings in Italy?

[susiespider]

I had a day in Naples recently (a cruise stopover) and we were advised that pedestrians have no right of way on zebra crossings there and sure enough it soon became apparent that Neapolitan drivers would quite happily mow down any pedestrians daft enough to try and use them. So what has been puzzling me ever since is why on earth have they got zebra crossings there if they don't mean anything? Could it be a peculiar Neapolitan sport -put in some zebra crossings to fool the British tourists, and see how many they can run over? Can anything tell me why the crossings are there?

[Ethel]

It's just the same in Paris. I try and cross with a nun or priest.

[coccinelle]

The difference in France Ethel is that drivers can be fined if they don't stop for a pedestrian on a zebra crossing. This has only been law the last couple of years so isn't impregnated in the french way of doing things... After what susiespider says, in Italy pedestrians haven't got the right of way.

[auntiebertie]

I think they get more points if they hit you on the white stripe as opposed to the black stripes.....

[Buenchico]

It's the British who're peculiar. Throughout Europe (and probably elsewhere as well), black and white stripes on the road simply indicate 'recognised crossing places'. In a few countries it's actually illegal to cross the road other than at these points but (to the best of my knowledge) there are no countries, other than the UK, where pedestrians actually have right of way. They simply seek to direct pedestrians to places where they stand a chance of being seen. (e.g. they're usually positioned well clear of lines of parked cars).

Chris

[susiespider]

I think the British have the better idea, pedestrians need some consideration.
The crossings didn't seem to be away from parked cars but then again there didn't appear to be anywhere without parked cars - they were left sticking out into traffic, double parked, just dumped anywhere. Most seemed to have an impressive collection of dents. I still recall vividly the most frightening journey of my entire life where I made the mistake of sitting in the front seat of a taxi from Citivecchio to Rome a few years ago. I spent the return journey in the back seat with my eyes shut and my hands together in prayer..

[Buenchico]

Thanks for the reply.

The other thing to watch out for, when crossing the road in other European countries, is at main crossroads. (This certainly applies in France and in Italy). If the 'green man' is on, it means that traffic going directly across your path will be held at red lights. However, turning traffic will still have green lights. Local drivers know that they must give way to pedestrians who're crossing in front of them as they turn. I just pray that there won't be a British driver (who won't expect to see his path obstructed by pedestrians) coming around the corner!

If you want to take an 'interesting' taxi ride, try Lille. I took a ride from the Eurostar station into the old town area. The driver had a DVD player permanently fixed to his dashboard and I'll swear that he managed to negotiate the busy roads without ever taking his eyes off the film that he was watching ;-)

Chris

[dustypuss]

I think that the canadiens must be the most courteous drivers in the world
all you had t do is stand by the side of a road looking like you wanted to cross and drivers would stop for you even if it was a freeway

[Narolines]

Technically, here in Cyprus pedestrians have precedence on zebra crossings, and, to be fair, most drivers do observe the law; the snag is that some don't, and despite Cyprus having more police per head of population than practically anywhere else in Europe they seem reluctant to take any action against traffic offenders except for the ones they catch speeding through their radar traps.