Italy has drastically increased fines for a range of traffic offences. The changes are part of its new Highway Code, which came into effect on Saturday 14 December.
Italy is cracking down on drink-driving, speeding and phone use while driving as part of its long-awaited revision of the Highway Code. It came into effect today (Saturday 14 December). The changes are part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government's aims to reduce Italy’s high number of traffic fatalities, which exceed 3,000 per year.
The new rules focus on increasing fines and make it easier to suspend the license of people caught driving with a phone in hand or under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
People caught driving under the influence of alcohol now face fines ranging from €573 to €6,000, depending on the blood alcohol level. Drivers caught in the act also risk licence suspensions – from three months for the lowest blood alcohol level to up to two years, and in severe cases, imprisonment of up to a year.
Those driving under the influence of drugs will no longer have to be in a "state of psycho-physical alteration" to risk a penalty. Testing positive for a drug test alone will be enough for the revocation of the license and a three-year suspension to occur.
Smartphone use and speeding
Using a smartphone while driving will also be penalised more severely. This offence now carries a minimum fine of €250 and a maximum of €1,000. Repeat offenders could be fined up to €1,400. Automatic licence suspension of one week is also introduced if caught with the phone while driving and the license has at least 10 points. Italy works with a points-based penalty system: for each offence, the driver loses points.
Speeding will also be met with significantly harsher penalties. Anyone exceeding the maximum speed limit by more than 10 km/h and not more than 40 km/h will face a fine ranging from €173 to €694. If a driver is caught speeding in populated areas or violates the rules at least twice within a year, the fine can increase up to €880 with a license suspension of 15 to 30 days.
To better protect cyclists, a new rule requires drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres of space when overtaking. A similar rule is already in place in Belgium: 1 metre distance in urban areas and 1.5 metres outside urban areas.
