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Photos of Road Signs

Pauline Kenny

A Mystery Solved!

Italy, road sign. Slow down for fog. 06/00

When we first started driving in Italy, we would see this sign everywhere. It was hard to read the words as you roared past; all you really saw was the speed of 50 kph. Of course you are usually going over 100 kph when you see these signs. For the first several trips, we would see these signs and wonder if that was the speed limit? Finally we found one on a country road and stopped to have a good look at it. Mystery solved - it just means drive slow in fog if you cannot see. Does this mean if you cannot see for some other reason, that you don't have to slow down?

The sign translates as "Maximum speed of 50 kph with fog and visibility less than 100 meters". In the fall and winter, heavy fogs can settle over parts of Italy. We have seen this on the Autostrada from Tuscany to Rome in October. The Italian drivers are reluctant to slow down, even in this heavy fog.

Road Instruction Signs

	This sign says "Do not blow your horn between 9pm and 6am". This sign is on a white road (rough, dirt road) that goes by the Argiano estate near Pianella. The sign in the distance tells you the road narrows and you must slow down to 30 kph. The road passes right through the estate, close to the buildings. It is wonderful to walk along these white roads - not much traffic and you get to see the estates up close.
	This sign is at the entrance to a white road that goes behind the town of San Casciano dei Bagni, right to the natural hot water baths. It is telling you that there is no entry except for the handicapped and police. That red circle always means "no entry". The sign on the bottom says "No Camping".
	This red circle with the white bar means "no entry". The sign underneath says "authorized vehicles only". So this sign is saying that only authorized vehicles may go down this road. The bottom sign is telling you to turn right to get to the parking area.
	This frightening sign is posted on a dirt driveway to the Il Poeta estate in Umbria. We had to drive over this train track going in and out of the estate. I especially liked the skull and cross bones! The sign translates as: "Stop (Fermarsi) when lit. The train is passing." Trains roared along this stretch of track.