Limited traffic zone

[1] These areas are relatively abundant in Italy, where they are called zona a traffico limitato (ZTL), but they also exist in Spain, Portugal, France (zone à trafic limité) and Poland with different names.

[5] The zone à trafic limité (ZTL) will be in the first, second, third and fourth arrondissements in an area of 5.5 sq km that includes the Louvre and Tuileries Gardens, and much of Avenue de l'Opéra.

In most Italian cities that have a zona a traffico limitato (ZTL), vehicles transporting people with disability are allowed when displaying the appropriate badge.

As Article 47 of the Italian Traffic Code (Codice della Strada) defines bicycles as vehicles, cycling is only allowed if specified on the road sign.

[15] Since foreign tourists are unaccustomed to ZTLs, and since most navigation software does not alert drivers to avoid them, infringements for entering a ZTL are a particular point of concern for this group.

ZTL infringement notices often reach them by post several months after their stay in Italy, sometimes more than one year later[16] sometimes with an administration fee added by the car rental company.

[18] The process is considered dubious by tourists and consumer associations because the signs indicating the prohibition of access to the ZTL are often not very visible and written in Italian.