Statistics for How Many Cars and Busses Fall Off The Amalfi Coast Road
Nov 17th, 2004, 10:08 PM
#1
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Statistics for How Many Cars and Busses Fall Off The Amalfi Coast Road
The other post on bus-fear gave me the idea to look up how many vehicles actually fall off the Amalfi Coast Road in a year.
I can't find any statistics at all on this, does anyone know where to look?
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Nov 18th, 2004, 12:52 AM
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Spectacular accidents of this nature would be widely covered in the Italian press. In 14 years in Italy, I can't remember a one, though it's possible that something happened when I was out of the country on whatever travels of my own.
In general, you're more at risk in holiday traffic on any of the major autostrade, especially in foggy weather in the Po Valley. Although Italians mostly drive well, they also drive too fast and too close, so when accidents happen, they are often fatal. Recent crackdowns up on speeding have helped reduce fatalities.
best regards,
Deirdré Straughan
http://www.straughan.com
In general, you're more at risk in holiday traffic on any of the major autostrade, especially in foggy weather in the Po Valley. Although Italians mostly drive well, they also drive too fast and too close, so when accidents happen, they are often fatal. Recent crackdowns up on speeding have helped reduce fatalities.
best regards,
Deirdré Straughan
http://www.straughan.com
Nov 18th, 2004, 05:38 AM
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I would suggest that the number if quivalent to that of the number of people eaten by wolves since they have been reintroduced into some of the US national parks.
The danger is not that you will fall off and be killed. The only real risk - during high season - is that you will die of boredom while stuck in traffic on a packed bus.
The danger is not that you will fall off and be killed. The only real risk - during high season - is that you will die of boredom while stuck in traffic on a packed bus.
Nov 18th, 2004, 01:24 PM
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Peeky, my friend on the Amalfi Coast said that motorcyclists sometimes fall off the road if they are (were) traveling at high speed and something happened.
I don't think you need to worry though. Depending on the time of your trip you might be in such traffic you will be inching along as nytraveler wrote.
If you are driving just be careful or hire an experienced driver.
I don't think you need to worry though. Depending on the time of your trip you might be in such traffic you will be inching along as nytraveler wrote.
If you are driving just be careful or hire an experienced driver.
Nov 18th, 2004, 02:29 PM
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I haven't driven down there but I have driven from Genova to Monaco. It is a cliff hanging switchback white knuckles ordeal. Be ready for anything. Did Princess Grace run off the road near Monaco?
Nov 18th, 2004, 02:55 PM
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I researched a while back and found that Italian auto death statistics in general are not good at all. I can't say anything about the Amalfi Coast in general, though, and I don't remember the details.
Take a look here:
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=...aths&meta=
Take a look here:
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=...aths&meta=
Nov 18th, 2004, 03:36 PM
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I looked for information before our Sept. trip and found little. We took a taxi from Positano-late morning on a weekday. We really sailed along. The driver said that he makes 3 round trips a day to Naples. Princess Grace went off the road at La Turbie, driving down the mountain to the Palace in Monaco from her country home in Roc Agel.
Nov 18th, 2004, 06:06 PM
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Oh peeky, this sounds like something I would worry about! 
We were in Jamaica one year on a crazy one lane road up a mountain and I never thought we would make it back down alive.
I would advise anyone with this worry not to watch the movies that take place in Mexico or Costa Rica where the bus full of people and chickens goes flying around a corner!!
Or for that matter, It Takes A Thief with Cary Grant and poor Grace Kelly on that deadly road in Monaco.
We were in Jamaica one year on a crazy one lane road up a mountain and I never thought we would make it back down alive.
I would advise anyone with this worry not to watch the movies that take place in Mexico or Costa Rica where the bus full of people and chickens goes flying around a corner!!
Or for that matter, It Takes A Thief with Cary Grant and poor Grace Kelly on that deadly road in Monaco.
Nov 19th, 2004, 04:03 AM
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I don't know about statistics, but I've traveled the Amalfi Coast road often, in a private car driven by a local friend, in the Sita bus, and driving myself.
I haven't seen any accidents myself, but my friend says when they do happen, it;s more likely tourists who are not familiar with the driving protocol.
As far as falling off the road, I saw this happen once. It was staged for the movie "Beat the Devil" (old movie with Bogart, and co.) Many years ago, there weren't any guardrails or walls, so it probably was more dangerous, but less overrun with traffic.
It was a great scene which also had an old-timey bus and great balck and white shots of the Amalfi Coast, as well as Ravello and Amalfi. After all, this area has been a tourist vacation spot for decades!!!
Traffic can be slow, and buses do not "fly around the corner". They sound the horn to alert oncoming traffic. Many times, if the road is too narrow on a turn, you will see drivers backing up to let a bus through.
The busdrivers are experts, or they wouldn't last long on that job, some of them sing while driving, some have great personalities. I've never seen a live chicken on a bus there, though there are plenty of them around, and you can always hear the roosters crow at sunrise. Sure, they are crowded, they are public transportation for the locals and then add the throngs of tourists to the mix, and how could it ever be different? I've not seen much rude behavior from local people riding them, but have seen panicky tourists become very pushy and agressive on buses, both on the Amafli Coast and in Rome.
Italians drive fast, and with bravado.
I see many more accidents and road rage on the highways and roads of the US.
In another part of the world years ago I drove a van on narrow unpaved mountain roads in Guatemala. That WAS scary (deep mud, no towns, heavy rain, no guardrails) Amalfi Coast road is more beautiful than scary!
I haven't seen any accidents myself, but my friend says when they do happen, it;s more likely tourists who are not familiar with the driving protocol.
As far as falling off the road, I saw this happen once. It was staged for the movie "Beat the Devil" (old movie with Bogart, and co.) Many years ago, there weren't any guardrails or walls, so it probably was more dangerous, but less overrun with traffic.
It was a great scene which also had an old-timey bus and great balck and white shots of the Amalfi Coast, as well as Ravello and Amalfi. After all, this area has been a tourist vacation spot for decades!!!
Traffic can be slow, and buses do not "fly around the corner". They sound the horn to alert oncoming traffic. Many times, if the road is too narrow on a turn, you will see drivers backing up to let a bus through.
The busdrivers are experts, or they wouldn't last long on that job, some of them sing while driving, some have great personalities. I've never seen a live chicken on a bus there, though there are plenty of them around, and you can always hear the roosters crow at sunrise. Sure, they are crowded, they are public transportation for the locals and then add the throngs of tourists to the mix, and how could it ever be different? I've not seen much rude behavior from local people riding them, but have seen panicky tourists become very pushy and agressive on buses, both on the Amafli Coast and in Rome.
Italians drive fast, and with bravado.
I see many more accidents and road rage on the highways and roads of the US.
In another part of the world years ago I drove a van on narrow unpaved mountain roads in Guatemala. That WAS scary (deep mud, no towns, heavy rain, no guardrails) Amalfi Coast road is more beautiful than scary!
Nov 19th, 2004, 04:28 AM
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Peeky, you'll never get out of the house on an European trip if you keep wondering about sad things! First it was dying, now busses falling off cliffs? Don't worry. The bus ride is very beautiful and the drivers DON'T drive like maniacs. As mentioned, they honk horns around the bends to warn drivers of their approach. It's okay!
Nov 19th, 2004, 06:00 AM
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Peeky -
I think you have some major misconceptions about the Amalfi Drive. It is a narrow road with lot of twists and turns cut into the side of a cliff. However, there is a large stone wall between the outer lane and the drop to the sea. I can't see how a car could go through that wall - and could only go over it if the driver were dead drunk and driving at maniacal speeds - and somehow managed to get the car airborne. I suppose it might be possible for a bus to go through if the driver were really determined - but can;t imagine how it could happen by accident.
It is easy to have a minor fender bender there - because the lanes are so narrow - and its relatively easy to scrape your mirror on the cliff or the wall. But since your average speed is about 25 it would be hard to have a serious accident - unless you somehow manage to run head on into a bus.
Really, its a scary drive only if you're afraid of heights - or a really bad driver.
I think you have some major misconceptions about the Amalfi Drive. It is a narrow road with lot of twists and turns cut into the side of a cliff. However, there is a large stone wall between the outer lane and the drop to the sea. I can't see how a car could go through that wall - and could only go over it if the driver were dead drunk and driving at maniacal speeds - and somehow managed to get the car airborne. I suppose it might be possible for a bus to go through if the driver were really determined - but can;t imagine how it could happen by accident.
It is easy to have a minor fender bender there - because the lanes are so narrow - and its relatively easy to scrape your mirror on the cliff or the wall. But since your average speed is about 25 it would be hard to have a serious accident - unless you somehow manage to run head on into a bus.
Really, its a scary drive only if you're afraid of heights - or a really bad driver.
Nov 19th, 2004, 10:24 AM
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Thanks for all the replies, I was trying to respond yesterday but I couldn't.
I was reading alot of posts about how steep it is and how is scares so many people. If you regulars aren't afraid then I won't be either!!
I was reading alot of posts about how steep it is and how is scares so many people. If you regulars aren't afraid then I won't be either!!
Nov 19th, 2004, 01:13 PM
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I just visited the Amalfi Coast for the first time in September, and took the infamous ride on the SITA bus along the coast from Positano to Amalfi.
While it *is* a bit scary if you look down, because you are so high up on the cliff and the water is soooo far down, I never actually felt that there was any danger of the bus going off the road. The cab ride in Naples was *much* scarier! I had to close my eyes several times because I thought for sure we were going to run over a pedestrian or hit a motorcyclist.
The ride along the Amalfi Coast is more exhilarating than scary. As everyone has said, the bus drivers know what they are doing, and you can't go that fast. And the scenery is beyond spectacular. It was one of the highlights of my trip!
While it *is* a bit scary if you look down, because you are so high up on the cliff and the water is soooo far down, I never actually felt that there was any danger of the bus going off the road. The cab ride in Naples was *much* scarier! I had to close my eyes several times because I thought for sure we were going to run over a pedestrian or hit a motorcyclist.
The ride along the Amalfi Coast is more exhilarating than scary. As everyone has said, the bus drivers know what they are doing, and you can't go that fast. And the scenery is beyond spectacular. It was one of the highlights of my trip!
Nov 20th, 2004, 08:34 AM
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I don't have the statistics, but I did ask this question when I visited recently in September. The answer that I got was that fatal accidents are very rare (once every 10-15 years), and happen because of bad weather or DUI.
A more common driving risk on the AC are rock slides, which are more common than I realized. During my stay, a rock slide caused the SITA busses to be suspended between Positano and Sorrento for a couple of days.
A more common driving risk on the AC are rock slides, which are more common than I realized. During my stay, a rock slide caused the SITA busses to be suspended between Positano and Sorrento for a couple of days.
Nov 20th, 2004, 08:51 AM
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I know of no cases off cars falling off the Amalfi Coast Road,it is virtually impossible.I drive the road in a car and on a scooter almost every day and all you see is the occasional scrape.
You should be more scared of Italian Autostradas
You should be more scared of Italian Autostradas
