The numbers of road accidents in our country are always very high. A piece of data recently in our possession tells us, for example, that 440 pedestrians were fatally hit in 2023 alone.
These are figures that capture our attention, and do not make us pay attention to another important fact: what is the perception that Italians have of the highway code and the road network.
A recent research conducted by the Research Center of AutoScout24, the main car advertisement portal in Italy and Europe, delves into the topic.
Let’s find out what research tells us about the relationship between Italians and the highway codeand not only.
Movements and accidents in Italy
AutoScout24’s research opens by recalling the mobility numbers in Italy: almost 100 million journeys per day, with an average time of around 60 minutes and 26.7 km travelled. These figures would be enough to make the issue of road safety urgent.
Added to this are road accidents. After a 2022 with increasing accidents (165,889, +9.2% compared to 2021), equal to 281.2 per 100,000 residents in Italy, and the first six months of 2023 which confirm the trendthe new road code is ready which will provide, among others, the tightening of penalties for using a cell phone while driving or for those who consume alcohol.
Italians and the highway code
Research by AutoScout24 tells us that almost six out of ten Italians judge the highway code positively in terms of safety.
However, there is still a cultural problem: 14%, in fact, continue to at least partially justify those who drive after having consumed alcohol, and 12% those who use their cell phones without a headset or hands-free, as in the case of an urgent phone call. However, awareness of these behaviors has grown, so much so that alcohol and cell phones are considered the most serious aspects of driving.
The concerns of Italians driving
Italians are worried not so much by the highway code but by the state of the roads, judged negatively by over half of those interviewed. Furthermore, due to poor road conditions, more than a quarter of the sample interviewed had caused or suffered at least one accident, even a minor one, in their life.
Further reasons for concern for those who drive are other drivers (73%) and pedestrians (38%), that is, possible distractions from other people. The presence of potholes is also a great source of apprehension, indicated by over half of the sample.
For those who regularly use bicycles, there is a strong fear of heavy vehicles (for 38%, compared to an overall average of 15%). But only 3% think that exceeding speed limits is dangerous: seven out of ten users declare that they sometimes or often exceed the limits imposed at urban or extra-urban level.
As regards the motivations of those who caused an accident, the main cause appears to be distracted driving (for 64%)followed by failure to comply with signs or traffic regulations (18%).
Road accidents, comparison between regions
According to the ACI-Istat regional comparisons, relating to 2022, in first place in terms of number of accidents we find Lombardy (28,786), followed by Lazio (20,275) and Emilia Romagna (16,679).
But if we move from absolute numbers and evaluate the data on the resident population, the situation changes: Liguria ranks first with 521.5 accidents per 100,000 residents, a figure significantly higher than the national average (281.2). This is followed by Tuscany (412.6 accidents per 100,000 residents), Emilia Romagna (375.9) and Lazio (354.4). The most virtuous regions are Molise (152.1) and Calabria (154.2).
Italians and the reform of the highway code
A previous survey showed Italians in favor of the road code reform promoted by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini: 61% of our compatriots agree.
This is research carried out by the Quorum/YouTrend research institute for SkyTG24, which also shows an interesting subdivision by political area to which they belong: if over 90% of the centre-right electorate supports the reform, the voters of the center-right also appreciate it PD (47% for, 40% against) and the M5s (60% for, 35% against).
Among the reform proposals, 80% are in favor of zero blood alcohol level, the withdrawal of licenses for those driving under the influence of drugs and new limits for new drivers.
73% like the requirement for helmets, license plates and indicators for scooters and bicycles.
86% of the sample feels unsafe when using a bicycle, and 64% think that their compatriots drive badly. The percentage grows among those under 35 (70%) and in the South (72%).
