Patente Quiz B
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Lesson and quiz, category B licence

Road safety culture and the environment (Educazione stradale e ambiente)

On the exam this topic tests respect for pedestrians, cyclists and vulnerable road users, horn use, driving that uses less fuel and pollutes less, the ban on idling while parked, litter and sustainable mobility; this site has 22 true or false statements to practise on it.

The theory exam has 30 statements in 20 minutes and you pass with at most 3 mistakes. Source: Codice della Strada.

Skip to the quiz Study the rules

The real theory exam is in Italian, with French or German available on request. Lessons here keep the Italian terms in italics, and the quiz shows each statement in Italian with English help underneath. Switch to Italian only in the quiz to practise under exam conditions.

The rules

Question 1 of 1

Rule 1

Pedestrians, cyclists and vulnerable users

The Codice della Strada applies to all road users, pedestrians and cyclists included, but asks drivers of vehicles to take particular care of those most exposed. Children and older people have different reaction times and judge distances differently, so their behaviour must be anticipated. Where traffic is not controlled by officers or lights, you give way to pedestrians on or right next to a zebra crossing. When overtaking a cyclist you keep a suitable side gap and, where the road allows, at least 1.5 metres, on every kind of road.

Example

Outside a school a ball rolls into the road. You brake at once, because a child may follow it.

Legal reference: CdS art. 191; CdS art. 148, c. 9-bis (L. 177/2024)

Side gap when passing a cyclist cyclist overtaking car at least 1.5 m
Where road conditions allow, on every type of road.

Exam traps

  • «The Codice applies soltanto (only) to motor vehicle drivers»: false.

Rule 2

The horn in town

In built up areas the horn may be used only in immediate danger, not to hurry the driver in front or to say hello. The limit serves safety and keeps down noise, which the law recognises as a form of pollution.

Example

At a green light the car in front does not move because its driver is looking at a phone. You wait, without sounding the horn, until it goes.

Legal reference: CdS art. 156

Exam traps

  • «In town you may use the horn freely to hurry the driver ahead»: false.

Rule 3

Driving to use less fuel

A smooth style, without harsh acceleration, cuts fuel use, emissions and wear on brakes and tyres. Air resistance grows with the square of speed, so driving faster uses more fuel per kilometre. At motorway speeds open windows add more drag than the air conditioning costs. An empty roof rack slows the car and should come off. Tyres at the right pressure use less fuel. Warming the engine up at a standstill wastes fuel: set off straight away, gently.

Example

Back from holiday you take the roof box off instead of leaving it on until next summer.

Exam traps

  • «On the motorway open windows use less fuel than air conditioning»: false.
  • «Driving fast saves fuel because you arrive sooner»: false.

Rule 4

Idling when parked and in queues

While parked it is forbidden to keep the engine running to power the air conditioning. The ban concerns parking, not short halts such as at traffic lights. In a queue that has been stationary for several minutes, switching off cuts fuel use and emissions, because an idling engine pollutes without moving the vehicle.

Example

In August you wait for a friend in a car park with the engine running for the air conditioning. It is an offence: switch off and wait in the shade.

Legal reference: CdS art. 157, c. 7-bis

Exam traps

  • «During a long stop the engine may run for the air conditioning»: false.

Rule 5

Maintenance and emissions

The catalytic converter turns part of the pollutants in exhaust gas into less harmful compounds and must be kept working. Clogged filters, worn spark plugs and old oil make combustion worse and raise fuel use and emissions. Even a modern diesel engine produces nitrogen oxides and particulates: filters reduce them but do not remove them.

Example

The service is a year overdue and fuel use has risen. Changing the air filter and oil brings combustion back to what the engine was designed for.

Exam traps

  • «A modern diesel produces no harmful substances»: false.

Rule 6

Litter, oil and batteries

Throwing litter from a vehicle is banned and penalised in every case, even if biodegradable and even a stubbed out cigarette end, whose filter takes years to break down. Used oil and batteries contain substances that contaminate soil and groundwater and are taken to authorised collection centres.

Example

After changing the oil at home, the used oil goes into a can and is taken to the municipal recycling centre.

Legal reference: CdS art. 15

Exam traps

  • «Allowed if biodegradable» or «if the cigarette end is out»: false.

Rule 7

Restricted zones, noise and sustainable mobility

Restricted traffic zones (ZTL) cut traffic, emissions and noise in the most sensitive parts of cities, such as historic centres: you enter only at the permitted times and with the required permit. Car sharing and public transport reduce congestion. On short urban trips walking or cycling replaces cold engine journeys, the most polluting per kilometre. Traffic noise is a recognised form of pollution, affecting the sleep and health of people living along roads.

Example

To get from the park and ride to Bologna's historic centre you take the bus instead of driving into the ZTL.

Legal reference: CdS art. 7

Exam traps

  • «Traffic noise is not pollution»: false.

Rule 8

What can go wrong

Three scenes show that a lack of respect for others has concrete consequences. First scene: in Ferrara, a city of bicycles, a driver passes a cyclist in a central street with half a metre to spare, because the street is narrow and he does not want to wait. The cyclist swerves to avoid a drain cover, touches the mirror and falls. Art. 148 of the Codice della Strada, as amended by law 177/2024, requires a suitable side gap and, where possible, at least 1.5 metres; if there is no room, you stay behind. Second scene: in Florence a tourist in a hire car follows the sat nav into the historic centre ZTL during restricted hours, passing several camera gates. In the following months several fines arrive through the hire company for the passages recorded by the cameras. Art. 7 lets municipalities restrict access, and the sign at the entrance applies to visitors who do not know the city too. Third scene: in Rome in July a driver waits for a client, parked outside a hotel with the engine running for an hour to keep the car cool. A local police officer records a breach of art. 157, which bans keeping the engine running while parked to power the air conditioning. Beyond the fine, an hour of idling burned fuel and filled the street with exhaust. The shared lesson is simple. Drivers look after those more exposed, respect the protected zones of cities, and do not leave the engine running for no reason.

Legal reference: CdS art. 148; CdS art. 7; CdS art. 157

CdS: Codice della Strada (d.lgs. 285/1992). Reg.: its implementing regulation (d.P.R. 495/1992). c.: comma, the numbered paragraph of an article.

Full text of the Codice: www.aci.it/i-servizi/normative/codice-della-strada.html

Trap words

False statements on the exam often repeat a true rule and change a single word. These are the Italian words to read carefully in this topic. They stay in Italian because that is how they appear on the exam.

Words that appear in every topic

sempre
always. An absolute: the statement is true only if there is no exception at all.
«Keeping to the limit sempre (always) guarantees a safe speed»: false, in fog or on ice you go slower.
solo, soltanto, esclusivamente
only. It rules out every other case, so a single exception makes the statement false.
«The children sign is placed soltanto (only) outside primary schools»: false, it also appears near parks and sports grounds.
mai, in nessun caso
never, in no case. The statement is true only if the behaviour is not allowed in any situation.
«A driver with priority may in nessun caso (never) give it up»: false, they may, as long as they make it clear.
ovvero
In the language of the Codice it means «or» and introduces an alternative. It does not mean «that is».
Emergency stop: the vehicle has broken down ovvero (or) the driver must stop because they feel unwell (art. 157). Two separate cases; either one is enough.
obbligatoriamente, è obbligatorio
compulsory. A duty: it is not enough for the behaviour to be allowed, it must be required.
«Overtaking on the left is obbligatorio (compulsory) even past a driver turning left»: false, in that case you pass on the right.
è consentito, è ammesso
allowed, permitted. A permission, not a duty. «È consentito» does not mean «è obbligatorio», and the reverse.
«It is consentito (allowed) to pass on the right a driver who has signalled a left turn»: true, and art. 148(7) actually requires it.
di norma, di regola
as a rule, normally. It states the general rule, which allows exceptions, so the statement does not claim to hold in every case.
«Outside built up areas warning signs are placed di norma (as a rule) 150 metres ahead»: true, and a panel gives any other distance.
anche
also, even. It stretches the rule to one more case; ask whether that added case really belongs.
«The no parking sign anche (also) bans stopping»: false, a brief stop is still allowed under a no parking sign.
automaticamente, di per sé
automatically, in itself. It suggests an effect that applies on its own, when the effect usually depends on a sign or a specific condition.
«In fog the motorway limit automaticamente (automatically) drops to 90 km/h»: false, the automatic cut applies to rain and snow.
qualsiasi, qualunque, in ogni caso
any, in every case. It generalises; look for the category or situation the rule leaves out.
«The safe distance is the same at qualunque (any) speed»: false, it grows with speed.
corsia
lane. The part of the carriageway wide enough for one line of vehicles (art. 3).
A two way carriageway (carreggiata) usually has two corsie (lanes), one for each direction.
carreggiata
carriageway. The part of the road for vehicles, made up of one or more lanes (art. 3). It does not include the verge or the pavement.
A speed limit applies to the whole carreggiata (carriageway), not only to the lane next to the sign.
banchina
verge, hard strip. The strip beside the carriageway and outside it, not meant for driving (art. 3).
Outside built up areas you park off the carriageway, for example on a suitable banchina (verge) (art. 157(3)).
fermata
stop. A brief halt to let people get in or out, with the driver present and ready to move off (art. 157).
Pulling in to drop off a passenger and leaving straight away is a fermata (stop), not a sosta (parking).
sosta
parking. A prolonged halt during which the driver may leave the vehicle (art. 157).
A divieto di sosta (no parking) does not ban stopping; a divieto di fermata (no stopping) bans parking too.
arresto
halt. An interruption caused by traffic, such as a red light or a queue. It is not the driver's choice (art. 157).
Stopping at a red light is an arresto (halt); no stopping ban prevents it.

Check yourself

Three statements on the topic. Answer and see straight away whether the rule has stuck. These answers are not saved.

Question 1 of 1

  1. Durante una sosta prolungata il motore può restare acceso per tenere attivo il climatizzatore.

    While parked for a long time the engine may be left running to keep the air conditioning on.

  2. Nei centri abitati il clacson può essere usato liberamente per sollecitare chi precede.

    In built up areas the horn may be used freely to hurry up the vehicle ahead.

  3. In autostrada viaggiare con i finestrini aperti consuma meno che usare il climatizzatore.

    On the motorway driving with the windows open uses less fuel than running the air conditioning.

Topic quiz: 22 statements

Untimed. After each answer you see the solution, the explanation, the trap words highlighted and a link back to the rule. At the end you get your score and can retest just the ones you missed.

Question 1 of 1

  1. Uno stile di guida regolare, senza accelerazioni brusche, riduce i consumi e le emissioni.

    Smooth driving without harsh acceleration lowers fuel use and emissions.

  2. Durante una sosta prolungata il motore può restare acceso per tenere attivo il climatizzatore.

    While parked for a long time the engine may be left running to keep the air conditioning on.

  3. Il portapacchi lasciato vuoto sul tetto non incide sui consumi di carburante.

    An empty roof rack left on the car does not affect fuel consumption.

  4. Gettare rifiuti dal finestrino è consentito se si tratta di materiale biodegradabile.

    Throwing litter from the window is allowed if the material is biodegradable.

  5. Nei centri abitati il clacson può essere usato liberamente per sollecitare chi precede.

    In built up areas the horn may be used freely to hurry up the vehicle ahead.

  6. Il catalizzatore riduce le sostanze inquinanti presenti nei gas di scarico.

    The catalytic converter reduces the pollutants in exhaust gases.

  7. Un comportamento corretto verso ciclisti e pedoni fa parte degli obblighi del conducente.

    Behaving correctly towards cyclists and pedestrians is part of a driver's duties.

  8. La condivisione dell'auto e l'uso del trasporto pubblico riducono la congestione urbana.

    Car sharing and public transport reduce urban congestion.

  9. Spegnere il motore durante una coda ferma da diversi minuti riduce le emissioni.

    Switching off the engine in a queue that has been standing for several minutes cuts emissions.

  10. Le zone a traffico limitato servono a ridurre il traffico e l'inquinamento nelle aree più sensibili delle città.

    Limited traffic zones exist to cut traffic and pollution in the most sensitive parts of a city.

  11. Gli spostamenti a piedi e in bicicletta riducono le emissioni per persona trasportata.

    Walking and cycling reduce emissions per person carried.

  12. La manutenzione regolare del motore riduce i consumi e le emissioni.

    Regular engine maintenance lowers fuel use and emissions.

  13. Uno pneumatico gonfiato alla pressione corretta riduce il consumo di carburante.

    A tyre inflated to the correct pressure lowers fuel consumption.

  14. Il conducente deve prestare particolare attenzione agli utenti più vulnerabili, come i bambini e le persone anziane.

    Drivers must pay particular attention to the most vulnerable road users, such as children and older people.

  15. Gli oli esausti e le batterie del veicolo vanno conferiti a centri di raccolta autorizzati.

    Used oil and vehicle batteries must be taken to authorised collection points.

  16. In autostrada viaggiare con i finestrini aperti consuma meno che usare il climatizzatore.

    On the motorway driving with the windows open uses less fuel than running the air conditioning.

  17. Il rumore prodotto dal traffico non è considerato una forma di inquinamento.

    Noise from traffic is not considered a form of pollution.

  18. Un motore diesel moderno non produce sostanze nocive.

    A modern diesel engine produces no harmful substances.

  19. Riscaldare a lungo il motore da fermo prima di partire riduce i consumi.

    Warming the engine up at length before setting off lowers fuel use.

  20. Gettare dal finestrino un mozzicone di sigaretta è consentito se è stato spento.

    Throwing a cigarette butt from the window is allowed if it has been put out.

  21. Viaggiare a velocità elevata riduce i consumi perché si arriva prima a destinazione.

    Travelling fast lowers fuel use because the destination is reached sooner.

  22. Il Codice della Strada riguarda soltanto i conducenti di veicoli a motore.

    The Codice della Strada concerns only the drivers of motor vehicles.

What next

All exam topics

Educational content. For the official rules, see the Codice della Strada and legal notes.