Blessed motorists still zipping through Rome's streets

By Meagan Haessig

ROME, March 11 - Roadway safety is promised to religious drivers every March 9 during the annual "blessing of the cars" event held at Santa Francesca Romana church outside of the Colosseum. Due to the high volume of automobile accidents on Italian roads and the well known fact of Italians’ haphazard driving habits it's a blessing many Italians feel is necessary. 

This day accompanies the feast day of Saint Frances, who was declared patron saint of motorists in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. The 14th Century saint, the legend reads, was kept safe in her travels by angels.      

 

Upon hearing of the event, John Cabot University Student Alexandra Lipolis commented, “maybe now I can feel a little safer as a pedestrian. Sometimes I feel like they are actually aiming for me!“ 

The penalties and restriction for Italian drivers are very similar to The United States.   Residential areas are supposedly constrained to 50 km per hour (30 mph) and highways and motorways limit being 130 km per hour (80 mph). 

Despite tough laws on the books, Roman drivers are notorious for their disregard of speed limits and stop lights. Anyone who witnesses maniac moped and motorcycle drivers zipping through the streets of Rome can attest to this.

With this notion in mind, pious drivers converge on Rome with their motorbikes, cars, trucks and taxis to be blessed or to be spectators of the ritual.