Italy is set to implement new regulations this autumn that will fine pedestrians up to €75 (approximately £64) for using mobile phones or other electronic devices while crossing roads. The updated Italian highway code also covers tablets, laptops, and digital cameras, with exceptions made for emergency situations and hands-free conversations or low-volume headphone use.
Officials hope these measures will decrease road accidents, as a series of court rulings have previously attributed blame to distracted pedestrians. The new rules stipulate that pedestrians must ensure drivers see them before crossing and acknowledge their intent to stop. Additionally, individuals must not take an excessive amount of time to cross.
These penalties apply only to those crossing the road; pedestrians walking on pavements will not be fined. The draft regulations are anticipated to be approved by mid-October.
Beyond pedestrian rules, Italy is also strengthening penalties for drivers caught using phones. Repeat offenders face fines up to €2,588 (about £2,200) and license suspensions ranging from one to three months. A proposed restriction that would have banned drivers over 85 from motorways and limited their travel to within 100 km of home was removed following public backlash.
Italy's move follows similar initiatives in other countries. Lithuania introduced comparable legislation in 2018, and Honolulu is believed to have been the first city globally to impose such a fine in 2017.