Police Checks Make Phone Use While Driving Expensive

Summer Period: Increased Road Accidents and Police Controls

Statistics show a dangerous increase in road accidents during the summer period, both in Italy and abroad.
This rise is due to a combination of factors that occur during the summer, with the main causes of accidents being related to reckless driving.
Speeding often goes hand in hand with distractions, frequently caused by cellphone use while driving.

Police Intensify Checks on Drivers

With the arrival of warm weather, police patrols on the roads intensify in an effort to prevent collisions.
Similar to Germany, in Italy too, the Traffic Police enhance their presence, focusing particularly on the month of August, the hottest and busiest month of the summer.

Increased Fines and Sanctions

Sanctions for violations are increasing significantly and will become even more expensive.
The upcoming reform of the Highway Code is expected to tighten fines and penalties for offenders and introduce stricter rules.
According to the President of the Transport Committee in the Chamber, Mario Valducci, the Senate’s approval could come in the first week of August, “in the interest of the entire country, especially during the summer exodus.”

Penalties for Cellphone Use While Driving

Currently, the use of cellphones while driving is prohibited by Article 173 of the Highway Code, which bans the use of all electronic devices (such as smartphones, tablets, PCs) that require hands to be taken off the steering wheel, even temporarily.

The same rule also prohibits the use of earphones, allowing only earpieces and hands-free devices that do not impair hearing or require the use of hands.
The only exceptions apply to drivers of the Armed Forces and Police Corps vehicles.

Violators face a financial penalty ranging from 165 to 660 euros and a deduction of 5 points from their driver’s license.
The points deduction doubles for new drivers, as well as in case of a proven accident.
In the latter case, the license suspension also doubles, otherwise set for a period of 1 to 3 months in case of a recurrence within two years.

Smartphones Behind the Wheel Are Expensive

The upcoming reform of the Highway Code will tighten regulations on various fronts, introducing additional bans and imposing harsher penalties.
Among the key elements of the new Highway Code is smartphone use, a significant cause of road accidents.

Under the new rules, the fine for cellphone use will range from 250 to 1,000 euros, while the points deducted from the driver’s license will remain at 5 outside of specific cases mentioned.
A rather hefty fine, but not the worst part, as license suspension will be applied from the first violation for a period of 15 days to 2 months.

Recidivism within two years (committing the same violation within 2 years) is punished even more severely.
The additional administrative penalty of license suspension increases to a period ranging from 1 to 3 months.
There is also a fine of 350 to 1,400 euros, along with a deduction of 10 points from the license.
In short, using cellphones while driving becomes expensive both economically, hoping to reduce the consequences of distraction.

Distracted Driving: An Alarming Issue

According to Istat data, distraction, especially due to smartphone use in cars, accounts for between 15% and 25% of all accidents.
Annual reports demonstrate that road accidents of varying severity caused by inattention due to smartphones are continuously increasing, a highly concerning statistic.
This is where the reform comes into play.

Meanwhile, repressive checks continue, with a significant increase expected in August.
As data shows, fines are likely to be issued during this period, with the hope that there will not be a parallel increase in road tragedies.