Italy raises speed limits
Discussion
Taken from todays Sunday Times
IN A novel road safety measure Italy aims to raise the speed limit on some motorways to 93mph, despite having one of Europe's worst records for accidents. The transport ministry says higher speeds improve traffic flow and help motorists pay attention.
"All psychologists and doctors say people who go faster drive better and are more careful," said the transport minister Pietro Lunardi. Only 9% of fatal accidents were caused by speeding, he noted. "Where it is safe to go faster, it is the right thing to do."
The change will come into force on three-lane motorways from January 1 next year, when the speed limit will rise from 130 to 150km/h. An article in the
official journal of the Carabinieri police politely questioned whether this made sense in a nation where most drivers "believe they are closely related to Michael Schumacher".
EU figures show Italy is second only to France for annual road deaths, with 112 per million inhabitants. But the government says that is probably well below the actual figures, which it believes top France's.
In 2000, the latest year for which statistics are available, 6,410 people died on Italian roads, compared with 3,580 in the UK.
Last week Schumacher, Ferrari's Formula One world champion, joined a campaign to get Italians to drive safely and wear seatbelts. Shocked by recent carnage, the five-time champion begged drivers to stop emulating
him.
"I love driving, I love battling wheel-to-wheel and trying to get to the curve first," he said. "But these are things I do in races. Driving on roads is different - you can never be sure what will happen next."
The government is considering random breath tests on young people in nightclubs. Scores of accidents happen at weekends as clubbers return home the worse for wear from drink and drugs.
After one particularly gory weekend Silvio Berlusconi, the prime minister, said people who caused accidents may have their vehicles confiscated. The complex highway code should be made "legible" and studied at primary school, he added.
European bishops gathered in Rome last week for a conference on Christian comportment on the roads. They have begun putting together 10 commandments for road users, beginning with: "Thou shalt not kill, even at the steering wheel."
Pontificating about road safety only goes so far, said Emily Baker, a British teacher who has lived in Rome for 15 years. "Italians are actually pretty good drivers, but taking risks at the wheel is in their blood. I don't think there's much you can do about it, apart from take the bus."
ever happen here?
IN A novel road safety measure Italy aims to raise the speed limit on some motorways to 93mph, despite having one of Europe's worst records for accidents. The transport ministry says higher speeds improve traffic flow and help motorists pay attention.
"All psychologists and doctors say people who go faster drive better and are more careful," said the transport minister Pietro Lunardi. Only 9% of fatal accidents were caused by speeding, he noted. "Where it is safe to go faster, it is the right thing to do."
The change will come into force on three-lane motorways from January 1 next year, when the speed limit will rise from 130 to 150km/h. An article in the
official journal of the Carabinieri police politely questioned whether this made sense in a nation where most drivers "believe they are closely related to Michael Schumacher".
EU figures show Italy is second only to France for annual road deaths, with 112 per million inhabitants. But the government says that is probably well below the actual figures, which it believes top France's.
In 2000, the latest year for which statistics are available, 6,410 people died on Italian roads, compared with 3,580 in the UK.
Last week Schumacher, Ferrari's Formula One world champion, joined a campaign to get Italians to drive safely and wear seatbelts. Shocked by recent carnage, the five-time champion begged drivers to stop emulating
him.
"I love driving, I love battling wheel-to-wheel and trying to get to the curve first," he said. "But these are things I do in races. Driving on roads is different - you can never be sure what will happen next."
The government is considering random breath tests on young people in nightclubs. Scores of accidents happen at weekends as clubbers return home the worse for wear from drink and drugs.
After one particularly gory weekend Silvio Berlusconi, the prime minister, said people who caused accidents may have their vehicles confiscated. The complex highway code should be made "legible" and studied at primary school, he added.
European bishops gathered in Rome last week for a conference on Christian comportment on the roads. They have begun putting together 10 commandments for road users, beginning with: "Thou shalt not kill, even at the steering wheel."
Pontificating about road safety only goes so far, said Emily Baker, a British teacher who has lived in Rome for 15 years. "Italians are actually pretty good drivers, but taking risks at the wheel is in their blood. I don't think there's much you can do about it, apart from take the bus."
ever happen here?
"Where it is safe to go faster, it is the right thing to do."
Dont you just love the Italians! Could you imagine the uproar in this country if some sensible politician was quoted saying this!?
Its good to hear a government trying to target proper issues. They have correctly highlighted that many deaths occur when the young ones are coming home from nights out, so they start random breath tests in clubs. Simple. Effective.
Instead of throwing everything in with the whole "speed kills" idea they are actively solving the REAL cause of death on the nations roads.
IMHO
Dont you just love the Italians! Could you imagine the uproar in this country if some sensible politician was quoted saying this!?
Its good to hear a government trying to target proper issues. They have correctly highlighted that many deaths occur when the young ones are coming home from nights out, so they start random breath tests in clubs. Simple. Effective.
Instead of throwing everything in with the whole "speed kills" idea they are actively solving the REAL cause of death on the nations roads.
IMHO
Italian drivers are mental on the motorways. I was flashed at, beeped at and then gently nudged from behind at 120mph on a motorway, because I was in someones way - it was obvious that I wanted to move over as I was indicating etc, but I couldn't pull over due to traffic in the inside lane ! F'king scarey.
(I would have gone faster if I could but in 1.8 Audi A4 I couldn't !).
S.
(I would have gone faster if I could but in 1.8 Audi A4 I couldn't !).
S.
You want to try and drive close to 150kph on some of the mountain motorways near the swiss border. Not possible, there are some corners where you have to drop down to 5okph to make the corner using all the lanes. Well the new laws will make intresting driving in Italy more so.
I don't see the change being made here though
I don't see the change being made here though
What's the big deal?
The square heads have had unlimited Autobahn sections for ages and their deaths per capita are much lower than Italy. At least you keep your eyes open at those speeds.
As said b4. It's bad driving NOT SPEED that kills (IMO).
Trouble is in Blighty - the roads are so f***ing choked with traffic you can't speed and be safe.
The square heads have had unlimited Autobahn sections for ages and their deaths per capita are much lower than Italy. At least you keep your eyes open at those speeds.
As said b4. It's bad driving NOT SPEED that kills (IMO).
Trouble is in Blighty - the roads are so f***ing choked with traffic you can't speed and be safe.
They are even more mental in town. I once had a taxi ride from hell through Rome - taxi driver was driving at 70MPH between lanes of cars that were almost stationary. We went through a red light that the driver hadn't noticed - he stamped on the brakes & we spun sideways through a stream of traffic (his shades flew off with such force that they smashed into the windscreen
sparkey said: Italian drivers are mental on the motorways.
) After ending up facing the wrong way to traffic, with cars driving all around us, he just looks at us & says "Scusi" & drives on.
We made him let us out at first opportunity....
Hmm good to see that it doesn't matter that their political and judicial systems are utterly corrupt, so long as they have sensible speed limits.. 
Truth be told, it's a fatuous exercise - the Italians take sod all notice of signs, rules & regulations.. It's the only country I've seen drivers use all three Autostrada lanes in order to get thru a twisty section at >140mph..
I was impressed.. I was..... home. mmmm pizza..
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Tuesday 11th February 13:45
Truth be told, it's a fatuous exercise - the Italians take sod all notice of signs, rules & regulations.. It's the only country I've seen drivers use all three Autostrada lanes in order to get thru a twisty section at >140mph..
I was impressed.. I was..... home. mmmm pizza..
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Tuesday 11th February 13:45
rubbish.. I did 230 miles on Saturday and barely ever dropped below the ton..
plipton said: Trouble is in Blighty - the roads are so f***ing choked with traffic you can't speed and be safe.
once you get away from the beaten track (or choose the time you travel carefully), there's still plenty of room to be found for high speed driving.. and keeping your eyes open for barsteward talivan scum of course..
CarZee said:rubbish.. I did 230 miles on Saturday and barely ever dropped below the ton..
plipton said: Trouble is in Blighty - the roads are so f***ing choked with traffic you can't speed and be safe.
once you get away from the beaten track (or choose the time you travel carefully), there's still plenty of room to be found for high speed driving.. and keeping your eyes open for barsteward talivan scum of course..
Very true! Manchester to Nottingham in 1hour 20, middle of the night of course!
IN A novel road safety measure Italy aims to raise the speed limit on some motorways to 93mph, despite having one of Europe's worst records for accidents.
If there is anything like here, only about 6% of deaths are
on the motorway.
The transport ministry says higher speeds improve traffic flow and help motorists pay attention.
They have hit the nail on the head there.
Funny how Italians improve their attention span as they
get faster, and we in the UK can't be trusted over 70 mph.
"All psychologists and doctors say people who go faster drive better and are more careful," said the transport minister Pietro Lunardi. Only 9% of fatal accidents were caused by speeding, he noted. "Where it is safe to go faster, it is the right thing to do."
Another nail hit firmly on the head. Any chance of
getting the politicos here to listen to their Italian colleages ?
The change will come into force on three-lane motorways from January 1 next year, when the speed limit will rise from 130 to 150km/h.
Here, we are allowed 10% on 70 mph. There, 10% on 93 mph
makes for 102 mph.
Excellent. I know where I'm going on holiday this year.
The Germans can have no speed limit on some autobahns because they are disciplined drivers - their lane discpline puts us Brits to shame. I got up to 150mph on a stretch near Stuttgart and had no fear that any numpty would pull out me - very impressive. They actually look in their mirrors!
I would not want to drive that fast on our m'ways or on the autostrada - too many macho egos and inattentive drivers controlling the cars!
I would not want to drive that fast on our m'ways or on the autostrada - too many macho egos and inattentive drivers controlling the cars!
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