How the Highway Code changes between alcohol, drugs and scooters

The changes wanted by Salvini in the Highway Code:hard fist against alcohol and drugs, alcohol lock arrives for repeat offenders.Narrow even for scooters.

• Change the Highway Code:hard punch for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
• Here comes the alcohol lock, a temporary suspension of the driving license for those who use their cell phones while driving.
• Insurance, license plate and case compulsory for scooters, private and shared.

Updated June 28, 2023.
Alcohol, cell phones and scooters.These are the enemies that the government wants to hunt down through the changes to the Highway Code desired in particular by the Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, and adopted by Council of Ministers.Changes that follow, including sad news episodes that have occurred in recent weeks:one above all, l‘fatal accident occurred in Rome between a Lamborghini driven at 124 km per hour by a twenty-year-old YouTuber and a Smart car in which a mother was traveling with two children on board, one of whom (Manuel, just 5 years old) didn't make it.

The innovations in the Highway Code desired by Salvini 

The bill that modifies the Highway Code contains 18 articles with which, explains the Ministry of Infrastructure and transport, “we intend to guarantee greater protection for road users by combining sanctions and prevention.The aim is to make the roads safer, protect the weakest road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists and rationalize the regulatory jungle as well as give rules for new mobility".

Zero tolerance in the new rules on the highway code for those driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, with particular attention to repeat offenders:for those who have already been convicted of driving while intoxicated, it is predicted zero blood alcohol level to get behind the wheel with the obligation to fit thealcohollock, the device that prevents starting in case of alcohol testing.Anyone who gets behind the wheel under the influence of drugs (in reality the ministry uses the term "junkie") will be punished:it will not be necessary to prove the alteration, it will be enough to test positive in the rapid saliva test, once stopped, to incur the suspension and subsequent revocation of the license with a ban on obtaining it for three years.A minor who drives without a license and is "drunk or drugged", explains the ministry, will not be able to get a license until he is 24 years old.

We introduce the short license suspension for those who use mobile phones while driving or for those who commit violations with statistically high accident rates:from 7 days up to 15 days for those with less than 20 points on their driving licence.New drivers will not be able to drive large-engined cars until 3 years have passed since obtaining the licence:this rule also recalls what happened with the very young YouTubers in Rome.

The squeeze on scooters 

Also arrivesannounced tightening on scooters: we've been talking about it for years, now the obligation to have insurance and license plates becomes reality.Furthermore, anyone who does not wear a helmet will be fined 400 euros.Furthermore, a ban on driving in extra-urban areas is introduced:in this case, remote blocking is triggered for sharing vehicles.

However, in a somewhat generic manner, the bill then prefigures other provisions on micromobility which will concern "less heavy and potentially less polluting means of transport than traditional ones (such as, for example, scooters, skateboards, electric scooters, bicycles) ”, in order to raise safety standards.In short:it is not excluded that in the end, as Transport Minister Matteo Salvini had announced in the Chamber but was subsequently denied, some limitations come also introduced for bicycles.

Speed ​​cameras and safety cars

Another rule that will please motorists is the one relating to the ministry's stop to the so-called speed camera scam:the tools must be approved with homogeneous methods to be established by MIT regulation.To protect the safety of road users there will be greater controls and signs at level crossings, with the possibility of acting remotely.The decree even looks at Formula One, providing for the use of safety cars in the event of accidents to slow down the flow of vehicles and to prevent new accidents.

Lastly, the intervention on road safety education, which had been anticipated by the Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara, but which in fact will be limited to a two point bonus to children who have attended safety courses at school.