Thanks for that. I had seemed to remember reading in the past about people touring in Italy, but then, when looking at it again, came across this, which is what made me think:

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-1649.html

I think I found another post somewhere which suggested the same, but I can't seem to find it now.

I come from the UK, though, so should be pretty used to poor infrastructure and ignorant drivers