ABRUZZO4U

Web Site For English Speaking Tourists

Driving In Abruzzo

Car Hire In Italy To get around to all the places mentioned in this Web Site you WILL need a car and you will need to know how to go about hiring a car and picking it up at the airport. Driving On The RIGHT! DON'T forget to DRIVE ON THE RIGHT! Your Hire Car will have the Gear Stick on your Right which takes a bit of getting used to but the the Clutch Pedal and Brakes will be as you are used to. Check out the Indicators and Lights (including Full Beam On/Off) before you drive off for the first time because you will most likely encounter a dark tunnel on your journey. Turning Right stay on your side/Turning Left go to other side At a Roundabout go round to the Right (Anti-Clockwise) Summer Driving Driving in Summer is beautifully relaxing on the quiete windy roads - maybe not if you create a queue behind you though! But don’t worry, they’re Italian, they will get past you when they are ready, even if it is on a dangerous bend! Our kids have been known to get car sick on some of the really windy roads - may try Travel Sickness Pills next time? Winter Driving Driving in snowy mountains requires either a 4-Wheel Drive vehicle or the cheaper option of Snow Chains. Don't forget to order your Snow Chains with the Car Hire (AND USE THEM) in the Winter Months, especially if you intend to visit the Ski Slopes .... Check they are present and correctly fitting before you leave the Car Hire premises! .... while you are at it, check that the demister works and that you have some de-icer or a plastic scraper in the vehicle. For general winter driving, always make sure you always have plenty fuel to keep the heater going if you are held up for long periods; use low gears on slippery or downhill roads; brake gently with short pedal pumps to help your wheels maintain grip; avoid braking on corners; leave twice the normal gap between you and the vehicle in front (6 seconds is a reasonable guide); use headlights and fog lights when it is snowing; give way to vehicles travelling uphill. In a skid .... disengage the clutch and try to control the vehicle by steering rather than braking; turn the front wheels into the direction of the skid (i.e. If back end goes left, turn steering wheel left and vice versa). Apply the brakes gently ONLY after the skid has ceased. Fitting and Driving With Snow Chains When driving with Snow Chains, keep your speed under 65kph (40mph) and go slowly at first to get used to the different handling of a vehicle fitted with Snow Chains. Also, only use Snow Chains in areas where you need them - don't put them on early or leave them on after you are clear of the snow! When fitting the Snow Chains, it will also be useful for you to pack a Plastic Groundsheet to kneel on, a spare pare of Rubber Gloves and a Torch. Fit the Snow Chains to your vehicle as follows: Lay the chains out on the floor, drive the car over them and then fasten the chains around the wheel as per instructions on the box Basically, if you are fitting chains, GOOD LUCK! Using your SatNav To find your way back to the Apartment, type in: “Secinaro” “Via Roma” “Number 1” which should take you through the Piaza to the Farmacia (the chemist), where you can park and then WALK up the hill to the Turning Point, go Right after the big house on your Right, down the little cobbled slope, go Right then Left and you will see our tiled verandah. “Home sweet home!” Warning: Watch out for the SatNav trying to send you down inappropriately tiny roads. Just go on to the next one if you know better - E.g. Going up the hill to Secinaro, ignore the SatNav until you get to the proper T-Junction at the top, then turn Right! Using the AA Route Planner The “Days Out” Pages will give you a basic guide as to which Route to take to get to your chosen destination. But, if you are able to get on-line, then you can use the AA Route Planner as you would in England and then jot down the directions or take a Print if you are in the Apartment. In your From/To Fields you may need to include Italy (or L’Aquila for example)