Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Matteo Salvini is satisfied with the new Road Code tightening, stating that it has “saved lives” on New Year’s Eve. He points out that the number of accidents on the last day of the year has significantly decreased, with 429 accidents compared to 482 the previous year. Additionally, he claims that in the first 15 days of the new regulations, there has been a 25% reduction in fatalities from 67 in 2023 to 50 in 2024. Salvini dismisses criticisms, stating that they have indeed saved lives, which is the duty of a minister.
However, the Asaps (Association supporting road police) contradicts the minister’s optimism, claiming that fatal road accidents have not decreased in Italy following the implementation of the new Road Code and remain in line with the previous year. Asaps President Giordano Bisenzi explains that the data presented by the minister only represents the incidents recorded by the highway police and the Carabinieri, which only account for 34% of the accidents with injuries, as the remaining 66% are recorded by municipal police forces. According to their analysis, at least 111 people have died on Italian roads, more than double the number reported by Salvini. Including data from the end-of-year period, there were 134 deaths from public sources in 125 fatal accidents from December 14, 2024, to January 1, 2025, compared to 131 deaths in 115 fatal collisions during the same period in 2023.
During New Year’s Eve, a total of 27,200 patrols from the Highway Police and the Carabinieri were deployed to ensure thorough checks across the country. They issued 12,040 violations of the Road Code, including 4,134 for speeding, 538 for not wearing seat belts, and 153 for improper use of mobile phones while driving. A total of 22,127 license points were deducted, and 357 driving licenses were revoked. Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi commends the law enforcement for their efforts. Critics from the opposition question Salvini’s optimism, accusing the government of exploiting the road accident victims for propaganda. They argue that the evaluation of the impact of a measure requires time and reliable methodology, and that the new Road Code does not focus on prevention and infrastructure improvement.
The opposition calls for a more principled approach to such a sensitive issue and criticizes Salvini for using road accident fatalities for political gains. The opposition points out that the new Road Code lacks a strong focus on prevention and infrastructure enhancements. They also criticize Salvini for manipulating the tragedy of road deaths for his political agenda. Additionally, the Coscioni association highlights that out of the 27,200 patrols deployed, only 8 individuals were apprehended for driving under the influence of drugs, indicating that the massive police presence did not yield significant results in terms of enforcement. The opposition urges the government to prioritize road safety measures that are based on prevention and infrastructure upgrades to truly address the issue effectively.
