Italy proposes Highway Code reform including 17-year-old licenses

The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has released a draft proposal to overhaul the national Highway Code, currently undergoing a public consultation period ending September 13, 2026. The reform aims to balance driver needs with enhanced road safety.

Key proposals include lowering the minimum age for obtaining a Category B license to 17, in alignment with upcoming European directives. Under this plan, 17-year-olds could drive accompanied by an experienced driver until age 18. Additionally, the reform suggests allowing 17-year-olds to obtain C1 and C licenses for professional heavy vehicle driving under specific conditions.

A significant shift in the penalty system is proposed: replacing fixed-rate fines with a progressive model based on the severity of the violation. For example, on highways, the fine could increase by 10 euros for every km/h over the 130 km/h limit. The reform also aims to reduce the number of fine brackets from 82 to approximately 21 to ensure more transparent and proportional punishment.

Other notable changes include potential regulations allowing overtaking on the right on three-lane highways, granting motorcyclists use of emergency lanes during traffic congestion, and introducing mandatory helmets for certain electric propulsion cycles. Digitalization is a major theme, with proposals for digital licenses, electronic citations, and streamlined notification processes through the SEND platform.