Pedestrians who look at their phones while walking, especially when crossing the street, are not only endangering themselves but also the people and vehicles around them. For this reason, Italy is now introducing penalties targeting pedestrians. According to the draft of the new highway code prepared in the country, pedestrians who are preoccupied with their mobile phones or other electronic devices while crossing the street will be fined at least 75 euros.
At Least 75 Euro Fine for Pedestrians Using Phones While Crossing!
The primary aim of the new regulation, prepared by the Italian Ministry of Transport and expected to be approved by mid-October, is to prevent accidents where drivers do not have enough time to react. A pedestrian focused on their phone while crossing the street may not adequately monitor surrounding vehicles and traffic conditions, which can force a driver to brake or maneuver suddenly. Therefore, pedestrians are also being held responsible for traffic safety.
However, the ban will not completely prevent pedestrians from using their phones. For example, hands-free phone calls will be permitted. Headphone use will also not be prohibited, provided that the pedestrian can adequately hear ambient sounds. Furthermore, the regulation only targets the act of crossing the road; pedestrians walking on the sidewalk will not be subject to this penalty.
Italy is not the first country to introduce restrictions on walking while using a phone. For instance, Lithuania also introduced fines in 2018 for pedestrians using mobile phones while crossing the street. Honolulu in the USA and Yamato city in Japan also apply similar sanctions against pedestrians. Now, Italy's decision signals that such measures could spread to other countries.
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