Faster appeals, rules for automated driving, limitations for those over 85 are lifted and watch out for roundabouts: we are once again giving priority to those who are already inside. This and much more in a provision that will come into force on January 1, 2028
It could be the most important reform of the Highway Code of the last fifty years, the one discussed for two months and approved by the Government yesterday, 13 October, and from today the subject of the legislative process for its publication, scheduled for March with entry into force on 1 January 2028.
The changes suggested directly to the Ministry of Transport concerned various points, correcting some critical rules considered difficult to apply. Among these, no more requirement for a certified email address for those who own a vehicle and not even limitations on distance and night driving for those aged 85 or over.
However, there remains the possibility of having a digital home on which to receive communications relating to your license and vehicle from the Public Administration. The amounts of fines for those who exceed the speed limits will be proportional: for a few more kilometers per hour there will be no bloodletting, but the money to be paid for those with really heavy feet will be much more. In particular, there will no longer be the automatic biennial adjustment of the amounts, but the change will be automatic if the consumer price index rises above 5% since the last update at the discretion of the government but on the proposal of the competent ministries.
What’s new in the Highway Code
The old cost band system will be updated and will remain for additional sanctions, for the deduction of points or the suspension of the driving licence. The latter will change its name: it will become a real ban on driving. The destination of the proceeds of the fines raised by agents and soldiers employed by the State will be collected 30% by the State and 70% by the owner of the road.
In the case of fines made by agents employed by local authorities, 70% will end up with the entity they depend on, which will not be able to use that money for purposes separate from aspects of road traffic and safety. and 30% to the road owner. Finally no more cunning foreign license plates, who will finally pay the fines in Italy, extension of the validity of the permit for disabled drivers and passengers throughout the national territory.
However, the Municipalities will be able to access the National Archives free of charge vehicles (ANV) of the Civil Motorization and the Public Automobile Registry (Pra) managed by the Aci. On the more practical front, something new concerns motorcyclists: on the motorway they will be able to use the emergency lane on the motorway in the event of slowdowns and accidents. However, it will always take 18 years to obtain a B license and 17 to drive accompanied on vehicles with a maximum weight of 3.5 tonnes.
On board the vehicles modifications to the infotainment systems will be prohibited to be able to view videos, a crime for which there is now a penalty. Unfortunately, the rule that prohibited pedestrians from using cell phones, tablets and especially headphones while crossing the road was mysteriously removed, a measure that, in addition to being truly safety, was also urgent.
Further transformations compared to the old Code
Another novelty concerns the circulation in parallel rows on extra-urban roads and on the motorway with at least three lanes in each direction: even if there are no congestion situations, overtaking on the right will be possible but not overtaking; while where not otherwise indicated, on the motorways where there is traffic there is three lanes in each direction, on the left one it will be forbidden to proceed at less than one hundred per hour.
On urban roads and motorways, on extra-urban roads with separate carriageways and multiple lanes, but without an emergency lane, in the event of traffic jams or queues, drivers in the left lane will have to move as much as possible to the left while those on the right will have to move to the right side to free up a central portion of the road on which motorbikes and emergency or law enforcement vehicles can pass.
The text also specifies that while driving you must constantly keep your attention on the road, avoiding any distractions. We go back to the old way on roundabouts: unless otherwise indicated, drivers who use them have priority over those who enter them. So no more signs giving precedence over the latter. More comfort in summer: today during the break you cannot keep the engine running to power the air conditioning.
With the new Code, however, it will be possible on electric cars and in the case of cars with combustion engines but for the time strictly necessary, if there are children, pregnant women, elderly or frail people on board, or for technical stops of goods transport vehicles. Small news also on the tire front: in anticipation of significant snowfalls, road owners will be able to return the use of winter tires is mandatory.
Facilities for drivers with disabilities
Among the innovations that have been needed for some time, finally to favor drivers with disabilities, the municipalities, within six months of the entry into force of the Code reform, will have to use the Cude Platform, the Single European disabled permit of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. And if the municipalities were late, they could no longer use the systems to ascertain violations of reserved parking and limited traffic zones. If a motorist is traveling with expired insurance, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport will inform him and add him to the list of uninsured vehicles, inviting him to regularize their position within a month. Then the indefinite driving ban.
They’re coming too Police auxiliariespeople adequately trained to deal with prevention, traffic regulation, contesting violations, detecting accidents, albeit with limitations on secondary urban and extra-urban roads. The Register of Foreign Vehicles (Reve) will be created to certify that a vehicle is covered by a policy stipulated with an Italian insurance company or authorized to operate in Italy. So no more “bins” from foreign companies that are not represented or recognized in Italy.
What changes for two-wheeled vehicles
Some news also for two wheels: fortunately there is no compulsory helmet for drivers and passengers, although it is highly recommended especially for those under 14. This is a rule that will cause discussion, but if poorly applied it would cause the use of pedal two-wheelers to collapse, especially in the city.
Fines, however, for those who cycle while wearing headphones for music and telephone. In the electric bikes chapter, “propelled bikes” powered only by electric motors appear. To ride it you will need to request a “tag” and wear a helmet. But helmets will not be required on vehicles with three or four wheels, but children under five years of age cannot be brought along. But everyone will need seat belts.
Bicycles with a seat up to 39 centimeters above the ground must be signposted with a flag to indicate its presence.
The category of automated guided vehicles also appears in the new Code. There will always be an obligation for human presence as a controller to be able to intervene in the event of an emergency and he will be responsible for driving even when it is in automatic mode.
The issue of fines
Fines chapter: the reports will be notified within 45 days instead of 90 but only if the violation is ascertained with devices that allow remote detection. In other situations the term will remain unchanged. In the event of errors, the Command on which the officers who carried out the assessment depend will file the reports. The archiving may be decided either ex officio or at the request of the alleged infringer or owner of the vehicle. But the possibility of appealing to the prefect or justice of the peace will remain.
But be careful: the appeal to the prefect must also be sent to the Police Headquarters that raised the fine via registered mail or certified e-mail. And in case it is rejected, the fine will be increased by one third. In case of non-payment, before starting the recovery procedure, the offender or the owner of the car will receive a good-natured notice with the warning that, in case of non-payment within the following 60 days, compulsory collection will be initiated. The citizen will remain able to pay in installments.
