See below for some indications on how to behave in tunnels and how to deal with different situations that might occur:
Tunnel behaviour
- Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front
- Do not exceed the speed limit
- Do not reverse or perform a u-turn
- Pay attention to the three-signal traffic lights at the tunnel entrance
Three-signal traffic lights
There are three-signal traffic lights at the tunnel entrances:
- green lights indicate that the tunnel is passable
- red lights indicate that the tunnel is not passable
- flashing yellow lights indicate that there are unusual situations on the route, such as construction sites or vehicles stopped due to breakdown or accident
Broken down vehicle
If you see obvious signs of breakdowns and/or malfunctions with your vehicle, stop, if possible, in the stretch of road preceding the tunnel.
If your vehicle breaks down:
- if possible, try to bring the vehicle safely out of the tunnel, otherwise stop as far as possible on the right-hand side of the carriageway, even if partially encroaching on the verge or pavement, and switch on your hazard lights
- switch off the engine without removing the keys from the dashboard
- wear a high visibility vest
- place the warning triangle at a distance of at least 100 metres;
- always use the parking lights and emergency lights
- call 112 or move onto the verge or pavement to reach an SOS telephone to call for help and remain inside the recesses with the other passengers if possible.
Fire
Should you find yourself in a tunnel with an ongoing fire, you must follow these simple but important rules:
- stop on the right-hand side of the lane of travel, if possible at an adequate distance from the location of the fire
- switch on the emergency lights (hazard lights)
- move away from the vehicle quickly without necessarily retrieving personal belongings, but leave the keys inserted and do not lock the vehicle
- always pay close attention to vehicles in transit
- find the green arrows on the wall of the overtaking lane that give indications of the distances to the tunnel entrance/exit and to the emergency exits, if present, which allow you to reach a safe place to wait for help to arrive
- if possible, as described in the previous point, move in the opposite direction to the smoke
- help people with limited mobility to evacuate
- contact emergency services via the SOS telephones or call 112, giving all necessary information
Queue or traffic jam in the tunnel
In the event of queues or a traffic jam inside a tunnel, to ensure greater safety for everyone:
- switch on the emergency lights (hazard lights)
- leave space between your vehicle and the one in front
- position the vehicle as far to the right as possible for those stopping in the lane of travel and as far to the left as possible for those occupying the overtaking lane, always leaving a central aisle for the passage of any emergency vehicles
- switch off the engine and do not leave the vehicle
- never reverse or perform a u-turn
The single emergency number is 112.