Full Breakdown
Italy Moves to Fine Pedestrians Distracted by Phones
8/24/2026, 10:39:30 PM
New Highway Code Targeting Distracted Walking
Italy’s draft highway code proposes fines of €75 or more for pedestrians who use mobile phones, laptops, tablets or digital cameras while crossing a road. The rule applies only to road-crossing situations; pedestrians walking on sidewalks, using hands-free calls, or wearing earphones are exempt provided they can hear adequately. The draft also retains the possibility of emergency phone use. The measure is slated for approval by mid-October.
Legislative Background and International Context
The proposal follows a series of Italian court decisions that have assigned blame to careless pedestrians in traffic accidents. Italy is not the first nation to regulate distracted walking: Lithuania introduced similar fines in 2018, Honolulu enacted a city-wide rule in 2017, and Japan’s Yamato City adopted comparable restrictions in 2020. The same draft code also envisages tougher penalties for drivers who use mobile phones, including fines up to €2,588 for repeat offenses and possible licence suspensions of one to three months.
Official Statements & Responses
The transport ministry indicated that the pedestrian fine aims to reduce incidents where drivers lack sufficient reaction time to avoid collisions with distracted walkers. After public criticism of proposed age-based driving limits, transport minister Matteo Salvini confirmed that the restriction on drivers aged 85 and above—limiting travel to 100 km from home and banning motorway use—has been removed from the draft.
Anticipated Safety Benefits
Authorities argue that penalising phone use at crossings will lower the risk of serious accidents caused by pedestrians who are not fully aware of on-coming traffic. By focusing enforcement on crossing points rather than sidewalks, the policy seeks to balance safety with reasonable pedestrian freedom.
Legislative Timeline
The updated code remains in draft form and is expected to be finalized by mid-October. If approved, the fines and exemptions will come into effect shortly thereafter, marking Italy’s most comprehensive attempt to curb distracted walking.
