I find the highways in better quality in Italy than they are in my home state of Massachusetts (Italy also has very expensive tolls on their highways)
and I find the highway driving far more civilized in Italy than anywhere in the us ; left lane is for passing only which works perfectly and not sure why the us cannot adopt that concept.
to be clear I am promoting protecting oneself from getting a ticket not driving recklessly

it is once you get off the highway that depending where you are in Italy the driving can get hairy