Safety

Mass deaths of young people on the roads: Salvini-Piantedosi summit. The government is working on a plan

The Transport Minister: ‘There are still far too many young people who don’t come home, so I’d like to find a way to reach out to them all and meet them’

by Pietro Menzani

23 June 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Following the tragedies that have taken place in the Milan area, Versilia and Liguria, the government is working on a plan to improve road safety. And, precisely to decide how to proceed, a meeting will be held this afternoon a meeting between the Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini and the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi. The meeting was announced by Salvini on 21 June from the Lega’s campaign stand in the Portello area of Milan, just a few hours after the crash at dawn on Sunday in Senago, which claimed the lives of three young people.

“I want to hold a meeting as early as this week on the subject of road safety, because whilst it is true that, thanks to the new Highway Code, there were more than 100 fewer deaths last year, but there are still far too many young people who don’t make it home, so I’d like to find a way to reach out to them all and meet with them,” explained the Deputy Prime Minister from Gazebo.

The summit

Among the initiatives that may be discussed at the meeting are awareness campaigns aimed specifically at new drivers and an increase in roadside checks, starting from the summer weekends.

The Transport Minister noted that there are still too many people riding e-scooters ‘in pairs, against the flow of traffic, and without helmets, everywhere’, and therefore called on mayors and local police to be on the alert, ‘because people die on e-scooters just as they do on bicycles. ‘I’d like to visit these young people’s homes, and I’ll try to find a way to visit secondary schools and meet with new drivers.’

‘Immortality syndrome’

The Chief Superintendent of the State Police Vincenzo Orgini went on to say that ‘the advice I would give to all young people is not to mistakenly believe that road accidents – even fatal ones – can only happen to other people, as if they were suffering from a sort of “immortality syndrome”. Life on the road isn’t like a video game; we only have one life.”

Orgini also added that ‘it’s fine to have fun and go to parties, but young people should appoint a “designated driver” – a practice already in place in many EU countries – who doesn’t drink that evening and takes on the responsibility of driving their friends home. When this isn’t possible, it’s advisable to leave the car behind and take a taxi home. You must wear your seatbelt and, above all, don’t speed. It’s better to arrive five minutes later safe and sound, so that there can be another party to go to.”

Prevention

On the subject of prevention, the Chief Commissioner of the State Police went on to conclude that ‘there are long-standing information and awareness-raising campaigns involving schools, where we visit to speak to pupils, and, during this holiday period, the “E...state con noi” initiative has already got underway in tourist resorts. During the day, there is a traffic police coach with officers raising awareness of the correct behaviour to adopt when getting behind the wheel”, and added that “we also use videos to explain how important it is not to be distracted by mobile phones, not to drink alcohol and not to speed. Then, in the evening, we carry out checks until dawn, also using mobile laboratories to test for possible drug use’.