They don't care if they are blocking traffic for a mile. Only the wimpy Americans. It is against the law to talk on a cell phone while driving here. I followed a guy yesterday for about 10 miles. And since Italians are so animated when they talk, there was much of that drive where I could see both hands in the air while he was driving.
Speed is no issue here.
Italians are either one of two things. In a hurry to get to dinner, or in no hurry because they just ate. In a country that makes some of the fastest cars, you sure wouldn't know it. When I drive across the island of Sicily to visit the catacombs in Palermo, I spend most of my time weaving in and out of traffic. When you try to move over to go around, you notice that in the fast lane cars are traveling anywhere from 55 mph to 150 mph.