Accidents, pedestrian and cyclist deaths still a cause for concern

In 2024, there were 3030 road victims, according to Istat data. Many deaths were among motorcyclists (830), pedestrians (470) and cyclists (185). These data were the starting point for the talk show 'Dangerous roads, the emergency grows. The rules for pedestrians, cyclists and scooter users', organised by Forum Automotive in Milan yesterday morning.

According to Pietro Meda, deputy vice-president of the Automobile Club Milano, the situation in the Lombard capital cannot be explained by a lack of rules, but by a difficulty in respecting them: 'Everyone does what they want, but this cannot happen'. The evolution of mobility, Meda continues, must be accompanied by a cultural approach that values respect for the Highway Code: 'Riders circulate on non-homologated vehicles, but if we take away the riders, people complain that the pizza arrives cold'. The real problem, for the vice-president, is ideological: many people, of whatever age, feel invincible and believe it is their right to behave as they wish.

According to Cesare Galbiati, a member of the national secretariat of Unasca driving schools, the shift in the demographic curve requires new training cycles for the over-65s. On training, Galbiati returns to call for it also to be made compulsory for driving two-wheelers.

Lucia Vecere, ACI's head of road safety, gives food for thought: 'What used to be taught, and perhaps is no longer taught today, is attention to others, the prevention of danger'. Vecere recounts the usefulness of the playful approach: 'In secondary schools we usevisors to show how vision changes when you are under the influence of alcohol'.

The same tool is used by the traffic police, represented by Carlotta Gallo, manager of the Lombardy compartment: 'Direct experience is usually the most striking.