Italy’s summer “counter-exodus” is underway following the long August holiday weekend, triggering red alert traffic conditions nationwide. Road agency Anas reported a staggering 23.5 million vehicle transits recorded between August 15th and 17th. Sunday morning alone saw approximately 6.5 million vehicles in circulation, marking an increase of half a million compared to the same period the previous Sunday.
Despite the immense volume, critical incidents were limited. One serious crash occurred between the Chiavari and Rapallo toll booths on the Genoa-bound carriageway, involving a rollover and subsequent collisions. The accident caused nine kilometers of tailbacks and resulted in four injuries, two severe. The injured were transported partly to San Martino Hospital in Genoa and partly to Lavagna Hospital. Another crash caused delays on the A14 Bologna-Taranto motorway between Bologna San Lazzaro and the junction with the Casalecchio link road towards the A1.
To manage the heavy travel period, Anas intensified operations with around 2,500 staff on rotation nationwide, including technical personnel, operations staff, and operators in its 24/7 Territorial Operations Rooms and National Situation Room. Furthermore, 1,392 roadworks sites (over 83% of the total) have been suspended or removed until September 8th to facilitate traffic flow.
Traffic is particularly heavy on the A2 “Mediterranean Highway” as the first holiday returns begin, with northbound flows more than doubling in the Campania and Calabria-Lucania Apennine sections compared to the previous weekend. Increases of between 40% and 70% were recorded on other Calabrian stretches. Between Friday and Saturday alone, 110,680 vehicles passed through the section between the A30 junction and the Salerno interchange. Notable traffic peaks included Pontecagnano (173,442 transits), Salerno (150,546), Battipaglia (125,592), and Campagna (73,380) on the A2.
Significant volumes were also recorded elsewhere: Sicily’s A19 saw 127,876 vehicles at Palermo (Via Giafar) and 86,897 at Altavilla Milicia; the GRA ring road near Rome recorded 241,763 transits between Laurentina and Pontina and 223,562 at Romanina. On the Pontina state road, 167,466 vehicles headed towards Rome. The Adriatica highway registered 61,558 transits at Ravenna, 58,631 at Rimini, 48,770 at Alba Adriatica, and 121,770 at Brindisi. Consular roads also saw high numbers: 56,035 vehicles on the Aurelia at Grosseto, 55,104 on the Flaminia at Foligno, and 73,227 on the Appia at Ciampino.