Road narrowingItaly

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Italy. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


19. Road narrowing

A road narrowing is a section where the available width of the road or carriageway becomes smaller. The narrowing may occur on both sides, on one side only, or because one or more traffic lanes end.

Drivers should reduce speed, observe approaching and adjacent traffic, maintain sufficient lateral clearance and merge when necessary. Warning signs do not always determine priority, so drivers must follow any priority signs, lane markings and local traffic rules.

Road narrowing
Road-narrowing warning sign in Gabbro. (Rosignano Marittimo, Tuscany, Italy)
Wikimedia.org • Lucarelli • CC BY-SA
What does a road-narrowing warning mean in Italy?

Italian strettoia warnings distinguish narrowing on both sides or on one side. Read any alternating-flow control separately and adapt speed to the actual width and visibility.

🔗 normattiva.it • Normattiva current signing regulation Article90

🔗 normattiva.it • Normattiva current signing regulation Article110

🔗 normattiva.it • Normattiva current Road Code Article141

Warning for a road narrowing. Warning for a road narrowing.

English • Traffic sign II.17 • Road narrows on both sides. Warns of a symmetrical narrowing of the carriageway that is dangerous for traffic.

Italiano • Figura II.17 • Strettoia simmetrica. Presegnala un restringimento simmetrico della carreggiata pericoloso per la circolazione.

Sources

Warning for a road narrowing on the left. Warning for a road narrowing on the left.

English • Traffic sign II.18 • Road narrows on the left. Warns of a narrowing on the left side of the carriageway that is dangerous for traffic.

Italiano • Figura II.18 • Strettoia asimmetrica a sinistra. Presegnala un restringimento sul lato sinistro della carreggiata pericoloso per la circolazione.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (F l a n k e r • CC BY-SA 3.0)
🔗 Normattiva.it • D.P.R. 495/1992 • testo vigente • art. 90, comma 1–2
🔗 Gazzettaufficiale.it • Gazzetta Ufficiale • Figura II.18 • pagina 250

SVG source: F l a n k e r • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Original revision 2011-02-05. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Warning for a road narrowing on the right. Warning for a road narrowing on the right.

English • Traffic sign II.19 • Road narrows on the right. Warns of a narrowing on the right side of the carriageway that is dangerous for traffic.

Italiano • Figura II.19 • Strettoia asimmetrica a destra. Presegnala un restringimento sul lato destro della carreggiata pericoloso per la circolazione.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (F l a n k e r • CC BY-SA 3.0)
🔗 Normattiva.it • D.P.R. 495/1992 • testo vigente • art. 90, comma 1–2
🔗 Gazzettaufficiale.it • Gazzetta Ufficiale • Figura II.19 • pagina 250

SVG source: F l a n k e r • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Original revision 2011-02-05. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Does a narrowing warning give you priority in Italy?

No. A warning describes the reduced width, rather than allocating priority or setting a numerical speed limit. Follow any separate priority signs, signals and meeting rules, and slow enough to pass safely or wait before entering.

🔗 aci.gov.it • Italy, Road Code — articles 38, 141, 143–145, 150, 154, 176

🔗 aci.gov.it • ACI official Road Code — article 39

🔗 aci.gov.it • ACI official Road Code — article 141

🔗 aci.gov.it • ACI official Road Code — article 154

What should you do if traffic lanes merge at a narrowing in Italy?

Read the lane-ending signs and markings, check surrounding traffic and signal any lane change as required. Apply the local merging rule and enter only when safe. Do not assume the driver in an ending lane always has priority, or confuse merging with meeting oncoming traffic.

🔗 aci.gov.it • Italy, Road Code — articles 38, 141, 143–145, 150, 154, 176

🔗 aci.gov.it • ACI official Road Code — article 39

🔗 aci.gov.it • ACI official Road Code — article 141

🔗 aci.gov.it • ACI official Road Code — article 154

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