Traffic signsItaly

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.


Traffic signs

A traffic sign is a standardised visual symbol placed along roads to guide, warn, or regulate drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. These signs provide essential information about road conditions, rules, directions, and potential hazards, helping to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow. They come in various shapes and colours—such as triangular warning signs, circular prohibitory or mandatory signs, and rectangular information signs—each designed for quick recognition and clear understanding.


How are traffic signs grouped in Italy?

Article 39 separates danger, prescription and indication signs. Prescription signs cover priority, prohibitions and obligations.

🔗 aci.gov.it • Italy, Road Code — articles 6–7, 38–43, 140–142, 146

🔗 aci.gov.it • ACI official Road Code — article 38

Is a temporary speed limit at roadworks binding in Italy?

Where an authorised temporary regulatory speed limit is in force, you must obey it. A roadworks warning alone should not be mistaken for a new numerical limit, but conditions may require driving more slowly.

🔗 aci.gov.it • Italy, Road Code — articles 6–7, 38–43, 140–142, 146

🔗 aci.gov.it • ACI official Road Code — article 38

151. Public holidays during the time shown

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies on public holidays during the time shown.

Public holidays during the time shown.

English • Model II.3/c • Applies on public holidays. The cross limits application to public holidays during the hours shown; example: 8:00 to 20:00. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.3/c • Validità nei giorni festivi. La croce limita la validità ai giorni festivi, nelle ore indicate; nell’esempio dalle 8:00 alle 20:00. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Normattiva.it • D.P.R. 495/1992 • testo vigente • art. 83, comma 6
🔗 Gazzettaufficiale.it • Gazzetta Ufficiale • Modello II.3/c • pagina 237

SVG source: Gigillo83 • Public domain • Original revision 2024-01-07. Wikimedia original unmodified.

152. Street cleaning on the date and time shown

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign applies for street cleaning on the date and during the time shown.

Street cleaning on the date and time shown.

English • Model II.6/q2 • Mechanical street cleaning. Used with the no-parking sign to show street-cleaning days and hours. Example: Monday to Friday, 21:00 to 4:00. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/q2 • Pulizia meccanica della strada. Abbinato al divieto di sosta, indica i giorni e gli orari delle operazioni di pulizia della strada. Nell’esempio: dal lunedì al venerdì, dalle 21:00 alle 4:00. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Normattiva.it • D.P.R. 495/1992 • testo vigente • art. 83, comma 10
🔗 Gazzettaufficiale.it • Gazzetta Ufficiale • Modello II.6/q2 • pagina 242

SVG source: This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this file: • Public domain • Original revision 2024-08-25. Wikimedia original unmodified.

153. Steep ascent

This supplementary sign indicates that the main traffic sign relates to a steep ascent.

Steep ascent.

English • Model II.6/l • Slow-moving lorries. Indicates a section where slow-moving lorries are likely. The gradient shown may be adapted for downhill sections. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/l • Autocarri in rallentamento. Indica un tratto con probabili autocarri in lento movimento. La pendenza raffigurata può essere adattata per i tratti in discesa. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Normattiva.it • D.P.R. 495/1992 • testo vigente • art. 83, comma 10
🔗 Gazzettaufficiale.it • Gazzetta Ufficiale • Modello II.6/l • pagina 241

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Original: Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici Vectorization: Arbalete • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Source revision 2024-08-25. Wikimedia original unmodified.

154. Narrow roadway

This supplementary sign warns that the roadway ahead is narrow.

Narrow roadway.

English • Model II.6 — inscription • Reduced-width lanes. The inscription specifies that lanes on the signposted section are narrower. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6 — iscrizione • Corsie a larghezza ridotta. L’iscrizione precisa che le corsie del tratto segnalato hanno larghezza ridotta. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

Sources

155. Queues

This supplementary sign warns that queues or slow-moving traffic may be encountered ahead.

Queues.

English • Model II.6/f • Traffic queue. Indicates the possibility of slow-moving or stationary queuing traffic. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/f • Coda. Indica la possibilità di incontrare traffico in lento movimento o fermo in colonna. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Normattiva.it • D.P.R. 495/1992 • testo vigente • art. 83, comma 10
🔗 Gazzettaufficiale.it • Gazzetta Ufficiale • Modello II.6/f • pagina 240

SVG source: Samuele on English Wikipedia Samuele nella Wikipedia Italiana • Public domain • Original revision 2023-11-20. Wikimedia original unmodified.

156. Accident risk

This supplementary sign warns of an increased risk of accidents on the road section concerned.

Accident risk.

English • Model II.6/b • Accident. Indicates that vehicles involved in a collision obstruct the carriageway. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/b • Incidente. Indica l’ingombro della carreggiata da parte di veicoli coinvolti in una collisione. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Normattiva.it • D.P.R. 495/1992 • testo vigente • art. 83, comma 10
🔗 Gazzettaufficiale.it • Gazzetta Ufficiale • Modello II.6/b • pagina 239

SVG source: Original: Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici Vectorization: Arbalete • Public domain • Original revision 2024-08-25. Wikimedia original unmodified.

157. Line painting

This supplementary sign warns that road markings are being painted or renewed ahead.

Line painting.

English • Model II.6/a • Road markings being renewed. Indicates temporarily missing road markings or marking work in progress on the signposted section. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/a • Segni orizzontali in rifacimento. Indica la temporanea mancanza della segnaletica orizzontale oppure lavori di tracciamento in corso sul tratto segnalato. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Normattiva.it • D.P.R. 495/1992 • testo vigente • art. 83, comma 10
🔗 Gazzettaufficiale.it • Gazzetta Ufficiale • Modello II.6/a • pagina 239

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Original: Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici Vectorization: Arbalete • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Source revision 2024-08-25. Wikimedia original unmodified.

158. Mandatory exit

This supplementary sign indicates that drivers must take the indicated exit and may not continue along the current route.

Mandatory exit.

English • Model II.6 — inscription • Compulsory exit. The inscription specifies the obligation to exit in accordance with the accompanying main sign. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6 — iscrizione • Uscita obbligatoria. L’iscrizione precisa l’obbligo di uscire secondo la segnalazione principale cui è abbinata. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

Sources

159. Ice

This supplementary sign warns that the road surface may be icy.

Ice.

English • Model II.6/h • Slippery road due to ice. Indicates that ice may form on the surface under particular weather conditions. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/h • Strada sdrucciolevole per ghiaccio. Indica la possibilità di formazione di ghiaccio sulla pavimentazione in particolari condizioni atmosferiche. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

160. Snowplough

This supplementary sign warns that snowploughs may be operating on the road ahead.

Snowplough.

English • Model II.6/d • Snow clearance in progress. Indicates snow-clearing machinery working on the road. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/d • Sgombraneve in azione. Indica la presenza di macchine sgombraneve al lavoro sulla strada. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

161. Wet

This supplementary sign warns that the road surface may be wet and slippery.

Wet.

English • Model II.6/i • Slippery road in rain. Indicates a section whose surface becomes dangerously slippery when it rains. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/i • Strada sdrucciolevole per pioggia. Indica un tratto con pavimentazione pericolosamente sdrucciolevole in caso di pioggia. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

162. High tide or flooding

This supplementary sign warns that the road may be flooded or submerged during high tide or high water.

High tide or flooding.

English • Model II.6/e • Area liable to flooding. Indicates a section that may flood under particular weather conditions. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/e • Zona soggetta ad allagamento. Indica un tratto che, in particolari condizioni atmosferiche, può essere soggetto ad allagamento. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.

163. Construction traffic

This supplementary sign warns that construction vehicles may enter, leave or travel along the road.

Construction traffic.

English • Model II.6/g • Work vehicles operating. Indicates machinery, mechanical shovels, excavators or lorries that may interfere with ordinary traffic. The plate supplements the main sign and must be read together with it.

Italiano • Modello II.6/g • Mezzi di lavoro in azione. Indica macchine operatrici, pale meccaniche, escavatori o autocarri che possono interferire con il traffico ordinario. Il pannello integra il segnale principale e deve essere interpretato insieme a esso.