Speeding, distracted driving and driving under the influence: the Italian government wants to reverse the accident curve.
Italy toughens its tone on road safety. With a new highway code approved by the Senate, penalties for speeding, driving while intoxicated or using the phone while driving are skyrocketing. Stated objective: to curb an alarming rate of fatal accidents and establish zero tolerance for irresponsible behavior on the road.
A boost against road insecurity
In Italy, the Senate gave the green light to an unprecedented reform of the highway code, carried out by the government of Giorgia Meloni. With more than 3,000 deaths recorded on the roads last yearthe peninsula displays a tragic toll that the authorities want to stop at all costs. To do this, they are relying on reinforced sanctions and steep fines which aim to deter risky behavior.
First target: drunk driving. The authorized blood alcohol level is set at 0.5 g/Lbut the penalties for exceeding them increase considerably. A fine of up to 2,000 euros and a six-month license withdrawal now await offenders. Repeat offenders or those exceeding the critical threshold of 1.5 g/L face a prison sentence of up to six months.. A strong measure which is accompanied by a policy of zero tolerance towards drugged driving. The sanction? Up to three years of license suspension for drivers who test positive.
The use of the telephone while driving, another scourge, is also in the crosshairs. Calling, sending a message or handling your device could now cost up to 1,000 euros. And in the event of a repeat offense, the bill rises to 1,400 euros, with a license withdrawal of up to three months. The consequences become even more serious if the offense is responsible for an accident: the license may then be suspended for a double period, a sign of a firm desire to punish distracted driving.
The hunt for drivers is open in Italy
This tightening of the rules is necessary in the face of ingrained habits. Italy is not immune to the phenomenon of drivers, and the fight against speeding is becoming a priority. From now on, exceeding the authorized limit of 10 km/h can result in a fine of almost 700 euros ! In urban areas, repeat offenses in the same year expose offenders to a heavier penalty: 880 euros with a license withdrawal of 15 to 30 days. A measure which aims to restore safety in areas with high pedestrian density, where excesses are often synonymous with tragedy. For the government, this stricter highway code is not intended to punish motorists. Leaders want to establish a new road culture. Motorists, sometimes indifferent to prevention campaignswill now be faced with much more dissuasive fines. If the fines are steep, their application must still be guaranteed. On this point, the strengthening of controls, in particular thanks to new radars and increased surveillance of sensitive routes, will be decisive for these measures to produce the expected effect.
However, some voices are raised against this reform. If there is consensus on the objective of saving lives, critics point to the severity of the fines, considered disproportionate to the average income of Italians. Others fear that the application of sanctions will weigh mainly on drivers in rural areas, less equipped with public transport and where the car remains an essential means of mobility. The government fully assumes its hard line. For the authorities, the figures speak for themselves: safer roads require better collective accountabilityand this cannot be done without strong measures. This reform is important for Italy, which aligns with a European trend aimed at eradicating risky driving behavior. As Italian motorists digest these new rules, one question remains open: will they be effective enough to sustainably reduce road accidents?
Source: www.autoplus.fr
