Roman traffic isn't so bad... and other Rome, Italy Warning Or Danger Tips

Warning: ignore warnings from other VTs about Roman traffic! In fact, I feel safer driving in Rome than I do in Dallas, Texas. Why? Because Italians pay much more attention to their driving than we do in the States. Yes, it appears crazy, but that's because the Italian drivers are following a different set of rules than those posted on the street signs. Once you learn the rules, it's actually fun to drive there!
How do you learn the rules? Read 'The Italians' by Luigi Barzini, who loves and criticizes his countrymen at the same time. For example, you'll learn that 'passing' someone in a car is 'sorpassare' in Italian. But 'sorpassare' also means 'to surpass', physically, morally, ethically, and sexually. So, as Barzini says, it doesn't matter how fast you get somewhere, what's important is how many people you pass on the way ;-).

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Although most of Rome is no more dangerous than any other major city, there are a few areas in which local thieves like to prey. Be careful at the main train station (Stazione Termini), the Via dei Fori Imperiali (the road between the Collisseum and Piazza Venezia), and similar places that are very crowded with tourists in summer (such as Piazza di Spagna).

Thieves are looking for tourists who are not aware of their surroundings. So before you go out, put your money and credit cards either in a money belt or in a deep front pocket, empty any bags of anything other than what you need today, and in general, make it hard for someone to take something off your person without you knowing it. Then, when you go out, avoid the crowds and look around from time to time, just as you might in any big city.

As I like to say, put on your "New York" face...note that people from large urban settings such as New York normally don't have a problem in Italy.

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