The Council of Ministers approved the bill «Interventions regarding road safety and delegation for the revision of the Highway Code». Inside there are many new features, which are not yet definitive, but in general the government is moving towards tightening.

For example, anyone found with the phone in their hand while driving risks fines ranging from 422 to 1,697 euros , with suspension of the driving license from fifteen days to two months. In case of repeat offenses in the following two years, in addition to the accessory sanction of suspension of the license from one to three months, you will have to pay from 644 to 2,588 euros. Points will also be deducted.

Anyone found driving while intoxicated or after taking drugs risks having their license suspended for up to 3 years. Repeat offenders will not be able to drink if they want to drive: in their case the permitted blood alcohol limit is lowered to 0 g/l (for all others it is 0.5). The "alcohol-lock" is mandatory, a device that stops the engine if the blood alcohol level is above zero.

Among the new features are also fines of up to 1,400 euros (almost triple compared to current regulations) for those who exceed speed limits.

As for scooters, we are moving towards obligatory license plates and helmets. It is forbidden to go up pavements or turn on pedestrian areas and extra-urban roads with limits exceeding 50 km per hour.

Good news for cyclists: we are considering expanding the areas with cycle paths while motorists will not be able to overtake a cyclist without a mandatory distance of one and a half metres.

(Unioneonline/D)

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