A drive shaft comprising: an outer hollow shaft , comprising a first end and a second end; an inner shaft inserted slidable into the outer shaft and comprising a first end and a second end; wherein the outer shaft and the inner shaft are torsionally coupled and form a telescopic shaft ; a first universal joint with a first inner fork connected, by means of a respective sleeve , to the first end of the inner shaft ; a second universal joint with a second inner fork connected, by means of a respective sleeve , to the first end of the outer tubular shaft ; an accident-preventing protection comprising: a telescopic tubular protection surrounding the outer shaft and the inner shaft and comprising a first protection tube and a second protection tube , one of which is inserted slidable into the other, and sliding with respect to each other; and an end protection for each of said first universal joint and second universal joint ; wherein each end protection is constrained to the telescopic tubular protection; wherein each end protection comprises a rigid annular structure , through which the end protection is constrained to the inner fork of the respective universal joint ; wherein the rigid annular structure comprises an annular sliding block slidably engaged in an annular groove (63.3) of the sleeve of the inner fork of the respective universal joint (5; 7); wherein the sleeve of the inner fork comprises an annular bearing track (63.4) for the end protection ; characterised in that : the annular bearing track (63.4) and the annular groove (63.3) are offset with respect to each other in the direction of the axis (A-A) of the drive shaft ; and between the annular bearing track (63.4) and the annular groove (63.3) a lubricant reservoir is provided, delimited radially inwardly by the sleeve of the inner fork of the respective universal joint (5; 7) and radially outwardly by the rigid annular structure of the end protection. an outer hollow shaft , comprising a first end and a second end; an inner shaft inserted slidable into the outer shaft and comprising a first end and a second end; wherein the outer shaft and the inner shaft are torsionally coupled and form a telescopic shaft ; a first universal joint with a first inner fork connected, by means of a respective sleeve , to the first end of the inner shaft ; a second universal joint with a second inner fork connected, by means of a respective sleeve , to the first end of the outer tubular shaft ; an accident-preventing protection comprising: a telescopic tubular protection surrounding the outer shaft and the inner shaft and comprising a first protection tube and a second protection tube , one of which is inserted slidable into the other, and sliding with respect to each other; and an end protection for each of said first universal joint and second universal joint ; wherein each end protection is constrained to the telescopic tubular protection; wherein each end protection comprises a rigid annular structure , through which the end protection is constrained to the inner fork of the respective universal joint ; wherein the rigid annular structure comprises an annular sliding block slidably engaged in an annular groove (63.3) of the sleeve of the inner fork of the respective universal joint (5; 7); wherein the sleeve of the inner fork comprises an annular bearing track (63.4) for the end protection ; characterised in that : the annular bearing track (63.4) and the annular groove (63.3) are offset with respect to each other in the direction of the axis (A-A) of the drive shaft ; and between the annular bearing track (63.4) and the annular groove (63.3) a lubricant reservoir is provided, delimited radially inwardly by the sleeve of the inner fork of the respective universal joint (5; 7) and radially outwardly by the rigid annular structure of the end protection. <EOS>