Road signs: responsibility and maintenance

Road signs must always be present, correct, and properly maintained, as they are essential for ensuring road safety and proper traffic flow. Responsibility for installing and maintaining signs depends on the type and location of the road.

Outside urban areas, responsibility lies with the road authority, such as the State, regions, or other entities. Within urban areas, the municipality is mainly responsible for all road signs, including those marking the beginning and end of the town, even if the road is not municipally owned.

The municipality is also responsible for signage on private roads open to public use and on local roads. However, in towns with fewer than ten thousand inhabitants, if the road is not municipally owned, the road authority is responsible only for signs related to structural or geometric characteristics of the road, such as curves or slopes, while all other signage remains under the municipality’s responsibility.

For signs indicating road services, such as fuel stations or assistance facilities, the competent authority grants permission for installation, but the installation and maintenance are the responsibility of the service operators.

In some areas, local or regional languages may be used alongside Italian on signs indicating the name of a municipality.

For the theory exam, it is important to understand that road signs must always be clear and properly maintained, and that responsibility varies depending on the type and location of the road.