Useful advice for motorway travellers

BEFORE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY

have your tyres checked (wear, pressure, etc) by your tyre-dealer and your engine checked (oil level, belts, lights, etc.) by your mechanic;
distribute load of the vehicle equally in order to enable the best performance while breaking and on bends;
avoid leaving during warmest times of the day or late at night and never after heavy meals or big dinners;
phone the Motorway Companies who manage the stretches on which you have to travel in order to find out the road and weather conditions;
ask your insurance broker about coverage of the removal and towing of the vehicle, by specified garage, in case of breakdown or accident.

read any messages transmitted on electronic panels at motorway entrances;
to take your ticket use the ordinary or double function toll lanes which may be used by all vehicles independently of the type of payment that will be made at the exit (whereas Telepass lanes may only be used by Telepass owners), drive at a speed below 30km/h.

check messages on digital panels for information on stretches ahead.
maintain safety distance;
respect speed limits
wear seat belts;
avoid alcoholic substances;
tune in to the radio stations which transmit traffic and weather information;
plan to stop several times (at least every two hours), especially during long journeys in order to "rest" the vehicle and to check your level of tiredness.

In the cases in which you are involved personally:

compulsory use of reflective waistcoat;
If there are no wounded and where possible, move the vehicles to a safe position (emergency lane or lay-by), otherwise leave vehicle at once and seek shelter behind a guard rail (be careful of steep slopes);
place triangle at a distance of at least 50 m and turn on the flashing warning lights of the vehicle.
request emergency services at an SOS point or by telephone.

When you are not directly involved but are driving towards the scene:

for safety reasons the stop must not exceed the time needed to resolve the emergency;
in any case, position the vehicle as close as possible to the hard shoulder;
compulsory use of reflective waistcoat when stopping on the emergency lane;
place the portable warning sign (triangle) at a distance of at least 100 metres from the vehicle and leave stop lights on at night or in conditions of poor visibility;
get out of the vehicle and walk to the nearest lay-by and wait for emergency services.