A32 Section

How to Behave

In the event of an emergency stop, remember to halt your vehicle in a safe position, if feasible, off the carriageway, and to signal the vehicle and make it visible in any case.

To signal the obstruction, use the warning triangle during the day, and the sidelights or hazard lights at night.

If these do not work, place the appropriate sign (the triangle) in a stable position at least 30 metres from the rear of the vehicle.

Emergency stopping in poor visibility conditions and carrying out operations such as changing a tyre, can expose you to serious risks.

In this case, it is essential to stop as far away as possible from the traffic lanes, and to emphasise the visibility of the vehicle and people by all possible and available means, including by switching on the rear fog lights and front lights, as well as the hazard lights.

On some vehicles, these lights are on the tailgate, which if left open, e.g. after removing the spare wheel, makes them invisible: remember to always close the tailgate.

If you are carrying out emergency operations, remember to make yourself as visible as possible, by wearing – as required by the Italian Highway Code – a high-visibility vest or braces; during all operations, it is also important to keep an eye on oncoming vehicles, so as to notice any dangerous situations in advance and attempt to avoid them.

In the event of an emergency stop at the side of the carriageway, and especially in poor visibility conditions, the driver should turn the wheels of the vehicle to the right side and occupants should exit the vehicle and stand as far to the right of the carriageway as possible, to avoid potential collisions with oncoming vehicles.

Please also note that stopping in an emergency should only last as long as the time strictly necessary to overcome the emergency.

T4 Section

Stopping at tunnel yards

• At the terminal yards of the Tunnel, parking is only authorised in the dedicated spaces.
• The stay must not exceed two hours, unless authorised by the Police or the Concessionaires, particularly in the case of the preparation of a convoy. Beyond this duration, parking is considered illegal.
• For illegally parked vehicles, forcible removal or immobilisation may be implemented.

Parking and stopping

Voluntary parking and stopping is prohibited in the Tunnel.

Drivers who notice smoke or the start of a fire in their vehicle must stop on the right-hand side of the carriageway in accordance with the requirements and procedures set out in the following points. However, if the vehicle is less than 1,000 metres from the tunnel exit, the driver may attempt to continue if this does not put other users at risk.

If drivers must come to a stop on the carriageway in case of traffic, they must keep their sidelights and hazard lights switched on and maintain a safe distance of 100 m from the vehicle in front:

• a punctured tyre does not constitute a reason to stop in the lane. In this case, drivers must move the vehicle to the nearest lay-by on the right in the direction of travel;
• As far as possible, any broken down vehicles must be driven to the external lay-bys. If this is impossible, the vehicle must be driven to the nearest lay-by on the right in the direction of travel; exceptionally, the vehicle may pull over to the right-hand edge of the carriageway;
• the engine of any stationary vehicle must be switched off;
• the driver of a broken down vehicle, even if the vehicle has been moved to a lay-by, must alert the service personnel without delay via the nearest SOS telephone and comply with the instructions given.

These provisions do not apply to:

• security personnel, breakdown assistance staff, Police, Customs officers, Tunnel maintenance and operation staff;
• authorised personnel accessing the Modane Underground Laboratory, under the control and authorisation of Operational Management.