ROAD EDUCATION: IN ITALY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE RULES AND MISBEHAVIOR THAT PUTS SAFETY AT RISK
Milan, Sept. 24, 2024 – Road safety is a priority not to be neglected, even in Italy, according to the goals of theEuropean Union’s Agenda, which aims to reduce road accident fatalities by 50 percent[1] by 2030. In this regard, according to ACI-ISTAT data[2], in the first six months of 2023, an average of 437 road accidents per day occurred in our country, with a daily toll of 7.6 deaths and 588 injuries, giving Italy an average of 52 deaths per million inhabitants, compared to 46 in the European Union.
In this context, Locauto Group, a 100% Italian leader in the mobility sector with more than 45 years of experience in car and commercial vehicle rental, has launched the “Locauto on tour” initiative, a four-stage project aimed at raising awareness among local communities, citizens and students about good driving practices and road safety. The initiative, which will take place in October and November 2024 in the cities of Lecce, Parma, Frosinone, and Ancona, is based on thematic and in-depth discussions in the area and will involve experts and professionals in the field, local institutions and law enforcement, doctors, and associations.
“National data and daily reports tell of a scenario in which road safety is too often taken for granted,” said Raffaella Tavazza, CEO of Locauto Group. “Prevention comes from education and awareness, at any age. That is why we chose to make these events open to all citizens, free of charge, inviting local schools to participate and involving experts and professionals from different fields. Thanks to their experience, and the testimonies that the associations involved will be able to share, we will be able to take an important step in spreading the importance of safe driving,” Tavazza concluded.
YOUGOV RESEARCH: DATA ON THE DRIVING HABITS OF ITALIANS
To mark the occasion, Locauto carried out a survey, in collaboration with YouGov, with the aim of investigating the knowledge and driving behaviors of Italians, with specific reference toroad education and safety. This analysis, conducted on a heterogeneous national sample of more than a thousand adult respondents,[3] revealed a widespread tendency toward potentially risky driving behaviors, regardless of age.
In this regard, an interesting fact concerns the fact that 74% of Italians believe they should brush up on the rules of the highway code. Among the lesser-known rules, those concerning new drivers stand out: 30%, in fact, do not know with certainty the displacement, speed and alcohol limits allowed for this age group.
The survey then revealed that 31 percent of respondents used to consume alcoholic beverages before driving, with 12 percent of them doing so not being aware of the legal blood alcohol content limit. This behavior, combined with the fact that 16 percent of respondents admitted to driving under the influence of drugs, poses a high risk to road safety, both individually and collectively.
Driving distraction is another aspect to pay special attention to: 52% of Italians, in fact, admit to having used a cell phone at least once while behind the wheel, with a peak of 62% among 18-34 year olds. Among the most common reasons, 49% said they use their cell phones to set up the navigator while 30% use them to make phone calls, often without the aid of hands-free or voice command (24%). In addition, more than half of the sample surveyed(54%) said they had driven at least once when they were sleepy or tired.
Regarding the use of safety devices in the car, 12% of the respondents, including drivers and passengers, are not used to use the seat belt while 41% do not know the parameters required by law for the use of a child car seat. Among them, 11% of them have transported children in the car without a seat belt or car seat.
Finally, this is compounded by a lack of preparedness in the event of an accident: 30% of drivers would not fill out the CID (Direct Compensation Agreement) while 57% would not contact the relevant authorities, even when necessary. This picture is further aggravated by the fact that 43% of drivers would not assist those involved in a road accident although they witnessed it.
LOCAUTO ON TOUR PROJECT: DATES AND THEMES ADDRESSED
In its first edition, the “Locauto on tour” project will include a series of four free meetings open to the public and schools in as many Italian cities: Lecce, Oct. 3, where the risks of alcohol and drug use while driving will be discussed; Parma, Oct. 17, with rules and advice for young people and novice driversFrosinone, Nov. 7, dedicated to delving into the topic of distractions while driving, with current regulations and penalties; and Ancona, Nov. 21, where the correct procedures to follow in case of road accidents involving animals, which are also potentially very dangerous for drivers, will be discussed. An aspect, this one, too often underestimated but very topical and of great relevance.
[1] “Zero casualty target in 2030” www.mit.gov.it
[3] Locauto research in collaboration with YouGov on a representative sample of 1,039 Italian adults (+18). June 2024
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