Should you obey the speed limit in Italy?

The funniest thing happened last night. We were headed out to dinner and bel fidanzato was driving. We were going to a small restaurant in one of the mountain top villages near Malito. The road leading up was dark, a little wet from a light shower, and windy. Bel fidanzato was driving up the road at a decent speed when a car behind started driving really close behind, obviously wanting us to drive faster, or wanting to over take us. I understand that some people can handle the roads better than others, but I don't understand why they don't just overtake rather than sitting on our tail.

Bel fidanzato cursed a little, as you do, and continued to drive at his normal pace. The car behind then started flashing it's lights - a rather rude sign that it wanted us to move off the road and let them over take. But as I said above - if you drive like a crazy person, on our tail, on a dark, windy mountain road then why the hell do you just not overtake... Ahh...because people may be impatient on Italian roads, but then don't like overtaking (naturally) when they cannot see in front of them, so rather they annoy the driver in front.

Bel fidanzato was getting a little miffed off (he is a patient man who hardly ever loses his temper.) Finally, finally this rude, flashing light, tail gating car over took us....they started honking their horn as they did it - another rude sign....and low and behold who was it impatiently overtaking us, as they sped up a dark, wet, mountainous road....well none other then the carabinieri!

So, it seems that maybe you should not obey the speed limit in Italy as it will just make the impatient police behind you angry!