As Italy’s summer holidays draw to a close, the nation faces a familiar but formidable challenge: the great return home, or "controesodo." This weekend, from Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24, 2025, over 12 million vehicles are expected to hit the country’s highways and state roads, as vacationers make their way back to city life and work routines. The surge, detailed by Anas—the national road authority—promises heavy congestion, weather complications, and a renewed focus on road safety across the peninsula.
According to the Osservatorio Mobilità Stradale, a staggering 12 million and 255 thousand vehicle movements are forecast nationwide over the three-day period. Since July 25, when the summer exodus began, Italy has already logged 203 million road movements, two-thirds of which occurred on weekdays, while weekends have consistently seen the highest traffic peaks. This weekend, however, is set to be the second major wave of returning travelers, and authorities are bracing for impact.
In Sicily, traffic is expected to be particularly intense along the A19 Palermo-Catania and A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo highways, as well as on the state roads 106 Jonica and 18 Tirrena Inferiore. But the congestion won’t stop there. As reported by Citynews CataniaToday, main arteries throughout Calabria, Sardinia, Lazio, and northern regions—including the A2 "Autostrada del Mediterraneo," state road 131 "Carlo Felice," and the bustling state road 148 "Pontina"—will also see a constant stream of vehicles heading north toward major urban centers. The E45 route connecting Umbria, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna, as well as several key northern connectors like the RA13 and RA14 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia leading to border crossings with France, Slovenia, and Croatia, are on red alert.
The Italian road authority has issued a "bollino rosso"—red alert—for the afternoon of Friday, August 22, the morning of Saturday, August 23, and the entirety of Sunday, August 24. This designation signals the highest level of expected congestion, with authorities urging drivers to plan their journeys carefully and anticipate significant delays, especially near urban centers and popular border crossings.
Adding to the logistical headache, the weather is expected to split the country in two: while the south will bask in hot sunshine, central and northern Italy are bracing for rain, potentially exacerbating already difficult driving conditions. As noted by Il Quotidiano del Sud, this meteorological divide may influence both travel patterns and road safety risks, as drivers contend with slick highways in some regions and high temperatures in others.
To manage the surge, Anas has bolstered its nationwide personnel deployment, with approximately 2,500 staff—including technical, operational, and monitoring teams—working in shifts to ensure 24/7 traffic surveillance. In a bid to minimize bottlenecks, the authority has also suspended or closed 1,392 construction sites, representing about 83% of all active worksites, until September 8. This proactive move, as highlighted by Citynews CataniaToday and Il Quotidiano del Sud, is intended to keep Italy’s vital arteries as clear as possible during this critical period.
Another key measure is the nationwide ban on heavy vehicle transit during peak hours: trucks and other large vehicles are prohibited from using major roads on Saturday, August 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and again on Sunday, August 24, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. This ban, confirmed across all major outlets, is designed to reduce congestion and improve safety for the millions of families and solo travelers making their way home.
But even with these interventions, the human factor remains the most significant variable. Anas CEO Claudio Andrea Gemme has issued a heartfelt appeal to all drivers, emphasizing the importance of prudence and responsibility behind the wheel. “It is fundamental to guarantee road safety. The melancholy of the end of the holidays and the desire to return quickly to your destination can lead to risky behaviors,” Gemme cautioned, as quoted by multiple sources including Citynews CataniaToday and Il Quotidiano del Sud.
Gemme’s concerns are underscored by the results of Anas’s latest study on Italian driving habits. According to the research, a worrying 51% of Italians do not consider exceeding speed limits to be dangerous. Even more troubling, 11.4% believe it’s acceptable to multitask while driving—whether that means checking a phone, eating, or engaging in other distractions. Only 55.4% are convinced that traffic accidents are primarily the result of driver error. These statistics, repeatedly cited in national coverage, paint a sobering picture of the challenges facing road safety advocates.
“I urge everyone to respect speed limits and to plan their journeys,” Gemme continued. “Above all, never drive with a mobile phone in your hand—everything else can wait. Nothing is as urgent as safeguarding your own life and that of others.” His message is clear, direct, and, given the context, impossible to ignore.
Local authorities and traffic police will be out in force, particularly on state roads near densely populated areas, where the volume of vehicles is expected to be especially high. Anas’s operational centers will be monitoring flows in real time, ready to respond to incidents or sudden changes in traffic patterns. The aim is to keep things moving as smoothly—and safely—as possible, even as millions of Italians converge on the same roads at the same time.
For many, the end of summer brings a sense of nostalgia and a rush to squeeze every last moment from their vacations. But, as the statistics and expert warnings make clear, that rush can have serious consequences. Road safety, Gemme and his colleagues insist, must come before convenience or haste. The numbers from previous years, as well as the findings of Anas’s research, suggest that a change in mindset is needed if Italy is to reduce its annual toll of road accidents and fatalities.
As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on Italy’s highways, state roads, and border crossings. The stakes are high—not just for the smooth flow of traffic, but for the safety and well-being of millions of travelers. With patience, planning, and a bit of luck, the great summer return can be remembered not for its gridlock, but for the collective effort to arrive home safe and sound.
