ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION: IN ITALY POOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEW HIGHWAY CODE AND MISBEHAVIOR THAT PUTS SAFETY AT RISK

Trent, Nov. 5, 2025 – In the month dedicated to the World Day of Remembrance of Road Victims, road safety is confirmed as an unavoidable priority, even in Italy, in light of the goals of the European Union’s Agenda – which aims to reduce accident fatalities by 50 percent by 2030 – and the most recent ISTAT 2024 data, according to which 173.364 road accidents with injuries to people, 3,030 fatalities (-0.3% compared to 2023) and 233,853 injuries (+4.1%), with a fatality rate of 51.4 deaths per million inhabitants, a level that is still higher than the European average and requires urgent reflection.

In this context, Locauto Group, a leading car and commercial vehicle rental company with more than 100 locations throughout Italy, continues its commitment to road education and safety with the second edition of the “Locauto on Tour” project. The initiative is divided into two main directions: a research conducted in collaboration with YouGov, aimed at analyzing the habits, knowledge and behavior of Italians when driving, and a series of eight training meetings at secondary schools throughout the country, aimed at raising students’ awareness of responsible driving and road accident prevention issues.

The tour will kick off in November and December 2025 in the cities of Pescara and Verona, before continuing in January and February 2026 with stops in Palermo and Pisa. The meetings, which will be held in the form of open and participatory discussions, involve experts in the field, representatives of institutions, local law enforcement agencies and associations, to promote a shared culture of safety and respect for the rules of the road.

“The data and the news continue to remind us how road safety remains an open challenge and how crucial it is not to let our guard down”-said Raffaella Tavazza, CEO of Locauto Group. – “With the second edition of Locauto on Tour we want to renew our commitment to promoting a culture of responsibility in driving, starting with the very youngest. Prevention comes from education and awareness: this is why we have chosen to take the project once again to schools and local communities, putting our experience in the mobility sector at their service and involving experts, institutions and associations that work every day to make our roads safer. Only through discussion and sharing can we build solid and lasting change,” Tavazza concluded.

YOUGOV RESEARCH: DATA ON THE DRIVING HABITS OF ITALIANS

Locauto Group has carried out a new survey, in collaboration with YouGov and in continuity with last year’s, with the aim of deepening the knowledge and behavior of Italians when driving, with specific reference to road education and safety. This analysis, conducted on a heterogeneous national sample of more than a thousand adult respondents, revealed a widespread tendency to potentially risky driving behavior, regardless of age, as well as a lack of knowledge of the New Highway Code.

Interestingly, 71% of Italians believe they should brush up on traffic rules (vs. 74% in 2024). Among the lesser-known rules, those concerning novice drivers stand out: 35% are unsure of the displacement, speed and alcohol limits allowed for this age group, a figure that is up from 30% in 2024.

Relative to the New Highway Code, at the national level, there is a widespread lack of knowledge about the new penalties related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. More than half of Italians (57 percent) do not know that a license can be suspended in case of a positive drug test even without signs of impairment. The most severe measures are even less well known: 63 percent are unaware that there is an arrest of up to one year and a fine of up to 6,000 euros for driving with a blood alcohol level above 1.5 g/l, while 71 percent do not know about the obligation to install an Alcolock system in the vehicles of those who exceed the blood alcohol level limits. Vehicle confiscation also remains little known, ignored by 73% of respondents. Finally, 60% do not know that a driver’s license can be immediately withdrawn already at the first positive drug test, even without obvious symptoms. Overall, about 1 in 4 Italians (23%) openly admit that they are unaware of the new rules in force.

The survey also revealed that 32 percent of respondents used to consume alcoholic beverages before driving (in line with 2024), with 11 percent of these doing so not being aware of the legal blood alcohol content limit (vs 12 percent in 2024). This behavior, combined with the fact that 14 percent of respondents admitted to driving under the influence of drugs (vs. 16 percent in 2024), represents an increasing risk to road safety, both individually and collectively.

Driving distraction is another aspect to pay special attention to: 46% of Italians, in fact, admit to having used a cell phone at least once while behind the wheel, with a peak of 59% among 18-34 year olds. Among the most common reasons, 41% said they use their cell phone to set up the navigation system (vs. 49% in 2024) while 27% (vs. 30% in 2024) use it to make phone calls, often without the aid of a speakerphone or voice command (40% of respondents vs. 24% in 2024). In addition, more than half of the sample surveyed (52%) said they have driven at least once when they were sleepy or tired.

Regarding safety devices, 15% of respondents say they do not routinely use seat belts (worsening from 12% in 2024), while 47% do not know the legal parameters for child car seat use (vs. 41% in 2024). Worryingly, 11% have transported children without a seatbelt or car seat (in line with 2024).

In contrast, poor preparedness in the event of an accident remains: 31% of drivers would not fill out the CID (Direct Indemnity Agreement) (vs. 30% in 2024) and 59% would not contact the relevant authorities, even when necessary (vs. 57% in 2024). In addition, 46% of respondents would not provide assistance to people involved in a traffic accident despite witnessing it, a figure that has worsened from 43% in 2024.

LOCAUTO ON TOUR PROJECT: DATES AND THEMES ADDRESSED

In its second edition, the “Locauto on Tour” project includes a series of eight meetings within secondary schools in four Italian cities: Pescara, Nov. 12, 2025; Verona, Dec. 3, 2025; Palermo, Jan. 2026; and Pisa, Feb. 2026. The meetings, aimed at students and focused on the risks of alcohol abuse, drugs and distractions behind the wheel, represent opportunities for direct confrontation with experts, institutions and law enforcement. The goal is to raise awareness among the younger generation about the value of road safety education and to promote greater awareness of good responsible driving practices. This year, the project features the participation of the Italian Association of Road Victims and Accidents (A.I.V.I.S.), which will bring direct testimonies and help raise awareness among the new generations on the importance of road education and responsible driving.

In its first edition, the “Locauto on Tour” project stopped in 2024 in four other Italian cities – Lecce, Parma, Frosinone and Ancona – with free meetings open to the public and schools.