Italy Proposes Law Banning Phone Use While Crossing Streets
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago1 MIN
Summary
Italy is moving forward with stricter pedestrian regulations under a proposed revision to its Road Code. The new rules would ban pedestrians from using smartphones, tablets, laptops, and digital cameras while crossing streets, with minimum fines of 75 euros (approximately 685 Hong Kong dollars). The legislation is expected to be finalized by mid-October 2024, driven by court decisions that increasingly found distracted pedestrians partly liable for traffic accidents.
Key Points
- Pedestrians would be prohibited from using smartphones, tablets, laptops, and digital cameras while crossing streets under the proposed law
- Violators face minimum fines of 75 euros, equivalent to approximately 685 Hong Kong dollars
- The new Road Code revision is expected to be finalized by mid-October 2024
- Emergency phone calls and hands-free earphone use remain permitted, provided users can still hear surrounding traffic sounds
- Pedestrians must confirm drivers have seen them and are prepared to stop before crossing
Why It Matters
The legislation reflects a growing trend of courts holding pedestrians accountable for distracted behavior, reversing traditional assumptions that drivers bear full responsibility for road safety . Italy's Road Safety Association chairman Merli emphasized that pedestrians must also follow traffic rules to protect their own lives, signaling a broader shift toward shared road safety responsibility across Europe .
The legislation reflects a growing trend of courts holding pedestrians accountable for distracted behavior, reversing traditional assumptions that drivers bear full responsibility for road safety . Italy's Road Safety Association chairman Merli emphasized that pedestrians must also follow traffic rules to protect their own lives, signaling a broader shift toward shared road safety responsibility across Europe .