I've heard lots of warnings about how bad the driving is in Southern Spain and Portugal. I survived driving in Sicily last summer - is it possible it could be any worse than that??

You'll probably survive driving in Spain & Portugal, too. I did. However, statistically, Portugal is by far the most dangerous country in Western Europe to drive in.

Spain is really quite easy -- not much different than on similar roads in the US. Portugal is a completely different story. Drivers seem like maniacs -- particularly the large truck drivers. There are few discernable "rules of the road" in Portugal -- so stay alert and drive defensively.

We had no problems driving in Spain or Portugal except in Lisbon itself. But because we're used to driving in San Francisco even that wasn't too bad.

Then try driving in Italy, if you say it's bad in Portugal.