Table of Contents:
Increase in penalties: the regulatory environment
From January 1, 2025, Italian drivers could face an increase in road fines of up to 6%. This change is provided for by Article 195 of the Highway Code, which establishes that administrative sanctions must be updated every two years based on the trend of the consumer price index, as certified by ISTAT. This adjustment, which applies from January 1 of the following year, is the responsibility of the Minister of Justice, in collaboration with other ministries
.
The consequences of the adjustment
If there is no government intervention, the amounts of fines will increase significantly. For example, the fine for using a cell phone while driving would increase by 10 euros, going from 165 to 175 euros. The penalties for parking bans and crossing at a red light will also be increased, with an increase of 3 euros and 10 euros respectively. Fines for exceeding speed limits will see similar increases, with penalties that could reach up to 896 euros for those
over 60 km/h.
The opinions of the experts
According to Assoutenti, road fines have already generated a revenue of 1.4 billion euros in 2024, in addition to almost 1.8 billion in 2023. However, the association’s president, Gabriele Melluso, expressed concern about the effectiveness of an increase in sanctions in ensuring greater road safety. Melluso proposes a two-year educational plan on road safety for high school students, considering it a more effective approach than
raising fines.
Appeal to the government
In this context, Assoutenti has launched an appeal to the Meloni government to block the updating of sanctions, to avoid an additional economic burden on Italian drivers. Melluso stresses that prosecuting road violations is essential, but it is not by increasing the amounts of fines that greater safety will be guaranteed. The association therefore asks for an intervention that can alleviate economic pressure on citizens, while keeping high attention on road safety.
