New traffic rules: green light from the Chamber on March 27, 2024 91

The Accounts Chamber gave the green light to new Traffic Rules. The government’s road safety bill was given the green light with 163 votes in favor and 107 against. The process is not yet complete. Now the text is transmitted to the Senate. The vote was not without controversy: the opposition voted unanimously against it. FDI, Lega and Forza Italia voted in favor. Against Pd, M5s, AVS and Action.

The process is not yet complete, and it is possible that further clarifications will be made to the text if the government does not force it after the Senate begins consideration. Bill introduces a ton of new features that we’ve talked about several times over the past few months. Some changes have been made through a series of amendments. Let’s remember some of the main innovations.

✅ The House APPROVES the road safety bill.
An excellent result, the result of an in-depth discussion – in Parliament, but also with technical specialists, associations and local administrators – which reforms a decades-old code, with greater prevention and… pic.twitter.com/lVkP37Z8dS

— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) March 27, 2024

With new traffic rules he arrives tightening the rules for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, as well as the use of mobile phones while driving.. For example, liability for driving a car with a blood alcohol content above 0.8 g/l will be tightened. Within two or three years there will be an obligation to comply with the ban on alcohol consumption and to drive only vehicles equipped with an alcohol lock. This obligation will last for two years if the crime is “mild” (0.8-1.5 g/l), or three years if the crime is serious (over 1.5 g/l).

However, in relation to using a smartphone while driving, if you commit this offense and if your license scores at least 10 but less than 20 points, your license will be immediately suspended for one week. However, if the remaining points are less than 10, the disqualification will be longer and reach 15 days. In both cases, the suspension time will double if the use of the mobile phone results in an accident. Fines range from 250 to 1000 euros. For repeat offenders, the fine will range from 350 to 1400 euros.

News also for new drivers. The restrictions will be in effect for three years rather than one year. Limits that, however, will change, as we have seen. In fact, for three years, the movement of vehicles with a specific power relative to their own weight of more than 75 kW/t will be prohibited. In the case of M1 category vehicles, including electric or hybrid vehicles, an additional maximum power limit of 105 kW applies.

With the reform of traffic rules for motorcycles, an important and long-awaited innovation will appear. In fact, today it is illegal to drive motorcycles on highways if the engine capacity is less than 150 cc or the power is less than 11 kW if it is equipped with an electric motor. The new standard reduces these limits to 120 cc and power to 6 kW. However, in order to be able to travel on the motorway, motorcycles must be driven by adults.

For micromobility there is an obligation to have a license plate and insurance for electric scooters. The text includes news that also covers sanctions for using cell phones while driving, short-term driver’s license suspensions, pet refusal, speed cameras, pink tickets and much more.