Your phone is practically a sixth sense these days, but if you're planning a trip to Italy, you might want to resist the urge to check it while crossing the street. The country is proposing new pedestrian safety rules that could slap distracted walkers with fines of 75 euros or more, and they're part of a sweeping overhaul of Italy's entire highway code.
The logic behind this shift is straightforward, if slightly controversial. For decades, drivers bore most of the responsibility in accidents involving pedestrians, who were considered the more vulnerable party. But Italy's courts have increasingly found cases where the pedestrian was actually at fault, scrolling through their phone instead of paying attention to traffic. The new regulations would essentially say: you're responsible for staying aware, too.
What the Rules Actually Require
The proposed code isn't trying to ban phones outright. Instead, it requires pedestrians to stay alert when entering or crossing any road, whether it's a designated crossing or not. The key demand is simple but specific: make eye contact with an approaching driver and confirm they're actually stopping before you step into traffic. No lingering in the middle of a crosswalk to capture that perfect selfie.
Headphones get a conditional pass, as long as they don't drown out traffic sounds and you can still hear what's happening around you. Hands-free calls are permitted too, including genuine emergencies. The rules only apply where vehicles are involved, so strolling along a pavement while messaging a friend won't get you cited.
Italy Isn't Breaking New Ground Here
Honolulu started cracking down on device-distracted pedestrians back in 2017, becoming one of the first cities globally to introduce fines. Lithuania followed suit a year later with similar legislation. Japan took a gentler approach in Yamato City, Kanagawa, banning the behavior in 2020 but choosing not to levy fines. Now Italy is joining the conversation, and it's worth noting the government is simultaneously tightening the screws on drivers as well.
Speaking of drivers, they're facing considerably steeper penalties under the new code. Mobile phone use while driving is already illegal in Italy with fines up to 1,000 euros for first offenses. The proposed rules would push repeat offenders into 2,588-euro territory and potentially suspend licenses for one to three months. The government originally considered age-based restrictions for drivers over 85, limiting them to a 100-kilometer radius from home and banning motorway access entirely, but those proposals were dropped following pushback from Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who wants tougher medical evaluations instead.
If you're planning an Italian adventure soon, check back in mid-October when the definitive text of the new code is expected. Whether you're walking 1,500 kilometers through Italy following a saint's path or simply crossing a street in Rome, the rules are coming. Until then, the old habits are still technically legal, but they're about to get expensive.
A Novel Solution Taking Shape
Not all of Italy is waiting for legislation to take effect. The city of Padova in the Veneto region recently installed an experimental anti-smartphone warning system at a busy crosswalk, alerting distracted pedestrians to oncoming traffic. It's reportedly the first of its kind in the world, a tech-forward nudge rather than a punishment. Whether such systems spread depends partly on how Italians react to the proposed fines themselves. Sometimes the threat of your wallet getting lighter is all the motivation needed to look up from your screen.
