Rome has joined other European capitals in significantly reducing the speed limit in the city in an effort to reduce accidents and air pollution, Reuters reports.
The city’s historic centre, where all roads lead, has been reduced from the usual 50 kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour, forcing Italians, known for their reckless driving, to slow down on streets packed with residents, tourists and cars. The restriction came into effect on the 13th of January.
Eugenio Patane, head of Rome’s traffic department, said the roads reflected a city built for cars that no longer exist. He added that lower speeds save lives and cited statistics showing that 7.5% of traffic accidents in the city are caused by speeding.
Patane said
the new speed limit would be introduced gradually over 30 days to allow drivers to get used to it.
Rome follows other European capitals such as Paris, London, Brussels and Helsinki in lowering the speed limit in the city centre. They have opted for slower, safer streets, in some cases against strong opposition from motorists.
A Roman resident said some drivers drive very fast, and when she rides a scooter she is often afraid of being caught by a car. So it is better to drive slower. Others are not so optimistic. Taxi driver Cristiano criticized the new limits. He said the speed limit is too low and, while acceptable in some places, is simply ridiculous.
The example of the northern Italian city of Bologna shows that after reducing the speed limit to 30 kilometers per hour in January 2024, the number of accidents fell by 13% in a year, and the number of road deaths fell by about 50%.
Since being elected in 2021, Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri has installed more speed cameras in the city and urged residents to use private cars less. Italy’s Supreme Court ruled in November that those living near Rome’s congested ring road are entitled to 10,000 euros per resident in compensation for the effects of noise and air pollution.
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