The AutoScout24 observatory: reform of the highway code and active debates on the subject of mobility, indicates not only driving habits. Road safety, limits of speed on the motorway and in the city, assessment on Italian motorways. Use of alcohol and mobile phone while driving, driving license at 17, blocking the production of petrol and diesel cars from 2035 and much more.
The sector of mobility in recent months, also thanks to the announced reform of the highway code, it has been at the center of the media debate, with a close confrontation between experts, opinion leaders and institutions. A discussion that often does not involve those directly involved: motorists. Because of this AutoScout24the largest pan-European online automotive marketplace, has involved its community to get an opinion on issues that concern them directly, also investigating their driving habits.
From a first analysis emerges the photograph of a Italian driving careful, cautious, in favor of increasing the speed limits on the motorway and the tightening of penalties for driving with a mobile phone or under the influence of alcohol, contrary to the proposal to grant a driving license at 17 and to stop the production of internal combustion engines powered by petrol and diesel in 2035. But much still needs to be done on the road safety front, given that there are many motorists who today tend not to respect the limits on the motorway and in the city, who use their cell phones while driving or who get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.
AutoScout24: reform of the highway code and active debates on the subject of mobility, source Pixabay
AutoScout24: motorway limits at 150 km/h, driving habits and assessment of infrastructure
Let’s start with the question of speed limits: three quarters of motorists, as in the last survey, are in favor of a possible increase in speed limits to 150 km/h on three-lane motorways and with the presence of the Tutor system, convinced that with current technology it is possible to travel in complete safety.
On the other hand, the detractors, who in any case represent the minority share (25%), see the increase in the limits as a potential increase in accidents (45%).
An important issue, that of road safety, also considering the behavior of motorists on the motorway: more than a third often or rarely tend to exceed speed limitsespecially when traffic (63%) or road (34%) conditions permit.
AutoScout24: 30km/h limit in cities and towns
In the 2021 il European Parliament has asked member countries to reduce speed in cities to 30km/h for journeys within cities and towns, even though at the moment in Italy only a few cities have followed this indication. The Italians declare themselves against the reform (80%), as they are convinced that traffic would increase and that the project cannot be applied to all urban sections. Surely the data should be related to road conditions, judged negatively by 78% of the sample, and to the fact that almost half (45%) of motorists sometimes or rarely do not respect the speed limits.
AutoScout24: cellulare alla guida
Another issue that has probably seen the greatest attention from the legislator in recent years is the use of mobile phone while driving without a headset or speakerphone, with almost nine out of ten users declaring themselves in favor of increasing the penalties. Among the main reasons for those who are in favour, a research by AutoScout24 shows that 81% indicate this “bad habit” as a very high risk for themselves and for others and for almost one out of two Italians (44%) it is an act serious.
Despite their strong positions, 10% say they often or sometimes use their cell phones while driving, and 28% rarely. According to the Italians, when is it possible to use the mobile phone? For 19% it is justified when the phone call is short, for 5% if one pays attention.
AutoScout24: driving under the influence of alcohol
Another very heartfelt theme is that of driving under the influence of alcohol. For Italians it is considered the most serious issue among driving behaviors (by 61% of the sample), yet there are some contradictions. 6%, in fact, say they drive often or sometimes after drinking, and 27% rarely.
Furthermore, there is 15% who justify the use of alcohol before driving, especially if they tolerate alcohol (11%) or if the distance is short (3%).
AutoScout24: reform of the highway code and active debates on the subject of mobility, source Pixabay
AutoScout24: driving license at age 17
Regarding the proposal by the European Commission, about the possibility of apply for a licencewith limitation of accompanied driving, upon reaching the age of 17, 6 out of 10 Italians confirm their opposition. Among the reasons, users cite the high number of road accidents involving minors to date and the perception of a responsibility that is not strong enough in the younger ones.
AutoScout24: Stopping the production of internal combustion engines powered by petrol and diesel in 2035
AutoScout24 also wanted to investigate the opinion of Italians on one of the issues that has seen Italy as a protagonist at European level: the stop the production of internal combustion engines powered by petrol and diesel in 2035 in favor of electric and e-fuel.
64% are against it mainly because they believe that electric cars or cars running on renewable fuels still have a high environmental impact, that the infrastructure of charging stations will hardly be comparable to that of filling stations and because by 2035 the technology will not reach the levels of autonomy of thermal cars.
However, it must be considered that on the subject of renewable fuels only 45% of the interviewees answered correctly the question relating to the definition of e-fuels, while there is greater knowledge on biofuels (68%), a solution promoted by Italy.
But what if 2035 was six months away? It would be a race to grab the latest generation of petrol and diesel models, new or very recently used, so that for a reasonable period of time after the blockade, motorists will be able to continue to use this type of fuel. The Italians thus confirm that they do not want to give up traditional engines.