Highway Code, here are the new shock rules on alcohol and drugs

19 September 20239 months ago babelfish

What do the changes to the Highway Code approved by the Council of Ministers provide? Here's all the news

Heavier fines for those who drive using a smartphone, stricter rules also for the use of speed cameras and for those who park in spaces reserved for disabled people, in front of public transport stops and on preferential lanes. The factor of recidivism becomes an element capable of significantly increasing the amount of fines. These, in short, are the consequences of the changes to the Highway Code decided by the government, according to a fact sheet from the Agi agency.

AMENDMENTS TO THE HIGHWAY CODE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

The Council of Ministers has approved a new version of the changes to the Highway Code, which will be made through a bill and an enabling law. The text, proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, was approved at Palazzo Chigi last 27 June, today the new green light from the Council of Ministers arrived to validate some of the changes proposed by the Unified State-Regions Conference. The approved package confirms the interventions already planned, the parliamentary process will now begin.

The fines for anyone found driving their car while talking on their cell phone without using earphones or hands-free are becoming steeper. The approved text proposes the tightening of the fine, which goes from 165-660 euros to 422-1,697 euros, with suspension of the driving license from fifteen days to two months from the first violation. In the event of a repeat offense within the two-year period, in addition to the additional sanction of suspension of the driving license from one to three months, already provided for by the current code, the payment of a sum of between 644 and 2,588 euros is envisaged, in addition to a deduction of points from the driving licence: 8 points for the first violation and 10 points for the second.

With a view to regulating the use of speed cameras, we are moving towards a definition of the technical specifications of the devices and their positioning. At the request of the mayors, an increase in the administrative fine of up to 1,084 euros and the suspension of the driving license from fifteen to thirty days is proposed, exclusively in cases in which the same person commits a violation of speed limits within the inhabited center for at least two times within a year

In particular, these are the new features, according to what Mimit reports. The regulatory system, once dismissed by Chigi, will begin the parliamentary process from October.

SPEED CAMERAS

With a view to regulating the use of speed cameras, we are moving towards a stringent definition of the technical specifications of the devices and their positioning.

SPEEDING

At the request of the Mayors, an increase in the administrative fine of up to 1,084 euros and the suspension of the driving license from fifteen to thirty days is proposed, exclusively in cases in which the same person commits a violation of speed limits within the inhabited center at least twice within a year.

MOBILE PHONE GUIDE

For the use of cell phones while driving, it is proposed to increase the fine, which goes from 165-660 euros to 422-1697 euros, with suspension of the driving license from fifteen days to two months from the first violation. In the event of a repeat offense within the two-year period, in addition to the additional sanction of suspension of the driving license from one to three months, already provided for by the current code, the payment of a sum ranging from 644 to 2588 euros is expected, in addition to a deduction of points from the driving licence: 8 in the event of a first violation and 10 points for the second violation.

WILD STOPS

The Conference then asked to increase the fines in case of parking in stalls dedicated to disabled people, raising them, for mopeds and two-wheeled motorbikes, to 165-660 euros (now expected from 80 euros to 328 euros) and for the remaining vehicles at 330-990 (now expected between euro165 and euro 660). Heavier fines even if you park in the lanes reserved for the parking and stops of buses and all public transport vehicles: for mopeds and two-wheeled motorbikes between 87 and 328 euros (now between 41-168 euros) and between 165 and 660 euros for the remaining vehicles (now between 87 and 344 euros).

It will also be possible to contest the violation of the obligation to give precedence to pedestrians and cyclists at crossings through remote checks; as well as the violation of the prohibition on stopping and reserved parking, only in cases where the spaces reserved for traffic police bodies, firefighters and emergency services, pink spaces and spaces reserved for disabled people, electric vehicles, loading/ unloading of goods and public transport services.

CYCLE PATHS

Finally, the Joint Conference proposed to intervene with a regulation to expand the list of roads suitable for the creation of cycle paths.

THE COURIER 'S POINT

But "zero tolerance" also concerns those who drive drunk or after taking drugs, especially if they are repeat offenders. The license will be immediately withdrawn and suspended: up to 3 years for the most serious cases.

Not only that, those who have already tested positive for alcohol will not be able to drive after drinking alcohol, even very little: for them the limit not to be exceeded is 0 g/l (for everyone else it is 0.5 g/l) and will have to install (and at their own expense) the "alcohol-lock", a device that stops the engine if it detects a blood alcohol level above zero. The license may be immediately withdrawn and suspended even in the case of suspected drug use, pending the result of the analyzes to ascertain the psycho-physical state. License revoked for life for anyone who commits a very serious crime while driving, such as fleeing after causing a road accident without providing assistance.

More stringent measures also for very young people. New drivers will have to wait 3 years (no longer 1) before being able to drive a high-powered car and if they drive without being 18 or without a license they will have to wait 24 before they can get behind the wheel again. Traffic education courses are also planned in high schools.

REPUBBLICA 'S CLARIFICATIONS

The most important innovation of the new text approved by the Council of Ministers concerns the elimination of the wording: "Driving in a state of psycho-physical alteration". In its place appears the phrase: «After taking narcotic substances». Regardless of the type of drug and its residence time in the body, well beyond the psychotropic effects. It means that if the inspector suspects that the driver has taken drugs he can carry out a rapid test on the spot and immediately proceed to withdraw the license. Subsequently, tests will be carried out to ascertain the psycho-physical state.

The crackdown also applies to those who drive while intoxicated or after drinking one or more glasses of alcohol: they risk having their license suspended for up to three years. For repeat offenders, the permitted blood alcohol level is lowered from 0.5 to 0. In practice, those who have already been convicted of driving while intoxicated can no longer touch a drop of alcohol before getting behind the wheel. And to renew your driving license you must undergo a medical examination. For him the sentences have also increased by a third. It also becomes mandatory, but always for repeat offenders, to install an "alcohol lock" in the car at their own expense, a device similar to a sort of mobile breathalyser which detects the driver's blood alcohol level by blowing into it as soon as you sit in the car. and, if this is greater than 0, it blocks the engine, preventing the car from starting.

This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/codice-della-strada-nuove-norme-alcol-droghe/ on Tue, 19 Sep 2023 05:31:09 +0000.