Warning: Crossing the Road While Using a Mobile Phone Could Result in a Fine of Rp1.5 Million
Crossing the road while using a mobile phone will result in a fine in Italy. The government is preparing new rules as part of an update to the Italian highway code aimed at improving road safety.
According to The Guardian, under the latest draft of the highway code, pedestrians who stare at their phone screens while crossing may be fined from €75, or around Rp1.5 million (assuming today’s exchange rate of €1 to Rp20,650).
The regulation is expected to receive approval in mid-October. The Italian government hopes the policy can reduce the risk of accidents caused by distracted pedestrians, which leave drivers with insufficient time to react.
Cases of pedestrians failing to pay attention to road conditions while using their phones have also drawn the attention of Italian courts. In several rulings, courts have even assigned partial fault for accidents to pedestrians deemed negligent.
The ban does not apply only to mobile phones. The use of other electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, and digital cameras while crossing the road will also be covered by the rules.
However, there are several exceptions. Pedestrians are still permitted to conduct phone conversations using hands-free systems while crossing. Phone use in emergencies is also allowed.
The use of earphones is not entirely prohibited, provided the user can still hear properly through both ears. The rule only applies when a person is crossing the road. Pedestrians walking on the pavement will not be subject to the provision.
In addition to banning the use of electronic devices, the draft highway code also regulates pedestrian behaviour before crossing. They must ensure that approaching drivers have seen them and intend to stop.
Pedestrians are also asked not to stop or linger while crossing in a way that obstructs traffic.
Italy is not the first country to introduce rules addressing the phenomenon of distracted walking. In 2018, Lithuania imposed fines on pedestrians who use phones or engage in other activities that could disrupt concentration when crossing the road.
A year earlier, Honolulu in the United States was said to be the first city in the world to implement a similar rule. The policy was later followed by Yamato City in Japan in 2020.
In addition to targeting pedestrians, the update to the Italian highway code will also tighten sanctions for drivers who use phones while driving. For repeat offenders, fines can reach €2,588, accompanied by a driving licence suspension of one to three months.
Meanwhile, a draft provision that would have restricted drivers aged 85 and over has been removed from the draft. The rule had included limiting driving to within a 100-kilometre radius of the driver’s residence and banning the use of motorways.
However, following public protest, the Italian Ministry of Transport stated that the provision had been removed from the draft some time ago at the request of Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.