Highway Code Changes: Will They Reduce Accidents?
- A proposed overhaul of Italy's Highway Code, championed by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, seeks to address the country's alarming road accident statistics. With over 3,159 fatalities and 223,000...
- The bill,already approved by the Chamber of Deputies and now under Senate review,introduces several significant changes.
- Currently, proving impairment due to drugs requires demonstrating a driver's psychophysical alteration at the time of the traffic stop.
Italy’s Highway Code is undergoing critically important reforms, with the primary goal of reducing accidents by tackling drunk driving and speeding. Minister Salvini’s proposal introduces tougher measures, including mandatory alcohol interlocks for repeat offenders and stricter penalties for distracted driving. The update also addresses municipal autonomy regarding speed limits and cycling infrastructure, impacting how cities manage road safety. News Directory 3 covers how these changes will simplify drug testing for drivers and how they’ll impact tourists. Explore the details of these potential road safety improvements and what critics are saying. discover what’s next for Italy’s motorists.
Italy’s Highway Code Faces Reform: Focus on Drunk Driving and Speeding
Updated May 13, 2024
A proposed overhaul of Italy’s Highway Code, championed by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, seeks to address the country’s alarming road accident statistics. With over 3,159 fatalities and 223,000 injuries recorded in 2022, the reform aims to crack down on key factors contributing to these incidents: drunk driving, speeding, and distracted driving.
The bill,already approved by the Chamber of Deputies and now under Senate review,introduces several significant changes. A primary focus is on combating drunk driving. Motorists caught driving under the influence could face mandatory installation of alcohol interlocks in their vehicles for up to three years. These devices prevent the engine from starting if any alcohol is detected.
Furthermore, the reform targets drug use while driving. Currently, proving impairment due to drugs requires demonstrating a driver’s psychophysical alteration at the time of the traffic stop. The proposed change would simplify this, with a positive drug test alone being sufficient evidence, nonetheless of when the substance was ingested. This could impact tourists, notably those from countries with more liberal drug policies.
Distracted driving,especially phone use,is another key target.The reform increases fines and license suspension periods for drivers caught using their phones. While current fines range from 165 to 660 euros, with a five-point license deduction, the new rules could extend suspensions up to 120 days. However, enforcement remains a challenge, as police are not authorized to use electronic devices to detect phone use, relying instead on direct observation.
The legislation also addresses speeding, though some provisions have drawn criticism. As an example, multiple speeding violations within an hour on the same road segment will be treated as a single offense, with only a one-third increase in the fine. Critics argue this weakens deterrence and undervalues the risk posed to other road users.
Additionally, municipalities face reduced autonomy in setting speed limits and installing speed cameras. A forthcoming decree from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) will restrict the placement of speed cameras to locations where physical stops by law enforcement are not feasible. it also stipulates minimum speed limits for automated enforcement,potentially requiring patrols in areas with lower speed limits,such as near schools and hospitals.
The reform also impacts cycling infrastructure. It narrows the applicability of a 2020 law that facilitated the creation of cycle lanes,potentially hindering the construction of new bike paths and requiring the removal of some existing ones.
the rules dictated by the decree seem to suggest that non -compliance with the limits is to be considered a behavior to be understood more then to sanction
giordano Biserni, president of the Amici della Travel Police Association, expressed concern about the potential impact of fewer speed cameras, questioning who will enforce traffic laws given the existing shortage of traffic police officers.
What’s next
As the Highway Code reform moves to the Senate, its final form and ultimate impact on road safety remain to be seen. The changes spark debate about balancing stricter enforcement with individual liberties and the role of local authorities in managing road safety.