The Italian Council of Ministers approved today, Monday, September 18, the bill for the revision of the Italian Traffic Code. If approved by parliament, it could bring substantial changes to local traffic rules.
The proposed measures mainly aim to toughen penalties for using a cell phone while driving and for speeding, with the aim of improving safety on the country's roads.
With the definitive approval of the bill, the parliamentary process begins, and the Italian government is considering finalizing approval this year.
Cell phone use while driving and fines tripled
One of the most significant changes proposed by the Italian government is the intensification of rules for those using cell phones while driving, unless they are using a hands-free device.
The new rules establish fines at least three times greater, ranging from 422 to 1.697 euros (from R$2.187 to R$8.796), with the suspension of the driver's license for a period of fifteen days to two months for the first violation.
In case of repeat offense within a period of two years, in addition to the suspension of the driver's license (a penalty already provided for in the existing code), the offending person will also have to pay a fine ranging from 644 to 2.588 euros (from R$ 3.338 to R$ $13.415) and will have points deducted from your driver's license — 8 points for the first violation and 10 points for the second violation.
The suspension of the driver's license (for those who have less than 20 points on their license) will also be applied in cases of dangerous driving, driving the wrong way, running a red light and driving the wrong way on motorways.
Driver's license revoked for 3 years for drunk drivers
The Italian Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini, emphasized the policy of “zero tolerance for drivers drunk or under the influence of drugs”. Therefore, the rules will be stricter for anyone caught driving under the influence of alcohol or “after consuming narcotic substances”, subjecting themselves to suspension of their driver's license for up to 3 years.
For repeat offenders, consuming any amount of alcohol before driving will be prohibited, with the permitted blood alcohol limit decreasing to 0 g/l. For all other drivers, the limit remains at 0,5 g/l.
The new text replaces the terminology “driving under the influence of psychoactive substances” with “driving after consuming narcotic substances”. In cases of suspected drug use, the driver's license will be immediately confiscated, and tests to assess the driver's psychophysical state will be carried out later.
Blocking by alcohol content
According to the newspaper Corriere della Sera, another significant change is the mandatory introduction of “alcohollock”, a device that drivers will have to install on their own in their vehicles. This device will block the engine if a blood alcohol content above zero is detected.
Additionally, the driver's license will be permanently revoked for those who commit serious infractions while driving, such as fleeing the scene of an accident.
Higher fines for speeding in urban areas
There have been no changes to the speed limits on Italian roads, which remain at 130 kilometers per hour for motorways and 110 kilometers per hour for superhighways and main roads.
These limits can be increased to 150 kilometers per hour on three-lane highways. plus the emergency lane, depending on the type of road and traffic conditions.
However, penalties for speeding have become substantially more severe.
The idea is to triple the fines in the most serious cases and for repeat offenders. At a Unified Conference meeting, mayors called for increased fines, especially for those who exceed speed limits in urban areas.
As a result, the fine can now reach 1.084 euros, with the suspension of the driver's license for 15 to 30 days for those who exceed the speed limit in urban areas at least twice a year. (Photo: Depositphotos)
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