Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – Pay attention to the pedestrian rules of the new Highway Code. The text approved by the Council of Ministers on October 13, 2026, introduces several changes to road traffic regulations, with the aim of improving safety and making fines more proportionate. But what are the new rules for pedestrians? And when will they come into force?
The reform was presented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, which confirmed a reorganization of penalties and targeted measures to protect road users.
The announced measures also include provisions regarding electric scooters, which will not be allowed to circulate if they constitute an obstacle or danger to pedestrians.
The guidelines posted online outline a series of potential obligations for those crossing the road: from checking safety conditions before crossing a pedestrian crossing to prohibiting sudden or diagonal crossings, to precautions to be taken at night on extra-urban roads.
Among the provisions outlined in the proposal is the obligation for pedestrians to check, before crossing at a crosswalk, that oncoming drivers have seen them and are ready to stop.
The pedestrian must also maintain a regular trajectory, without sudden deviations or jolts while crossing, unless necessary.
Drivers would still be required to slow down and check for pedestrians near crossings, taking appropriate precautions.
The penalties indicated in the proposed reconstructions range up to 160 euros, but the amounts and individual cases will need to be verified in the final legislative text.
Among the measures that sparked discussion was the possibility of introducing a 75 euro fine for anyone using a cell phone while crossing the street.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport clarified, in a communication dated October 14, 2026, that the proposals that would have imposed fines on pedestrians using smartphones while crossing the street have been eliminated from the text approved by the Council of Ministers.
The specific sanction, therefore, is not included in the text described by the Ministry.
Another new feature included in the proposal concerns the visibility of pedestrians during night hours.
On unlit extra-urban roads, pedestrians should make themselves visible using retroreflective devices, reflectors, or flashing lights, so that they can be spotted promptly by motorists.
Fines of between 40 and 60 euros have been indicated for this violation.
Again, the amount will need to be verified in the final text.
The proposal includes more precise rules for crossings. In the presence of pedestrian crossings, underpasses, or overpasses, pedestrians should use the designated structures to cross safely.
If these paths are absent, or if the lines are at least 100 meters away, pedestrians should yield to vehicles and then cross in a direction perpendicular to the roadway.
Behaviors that may be subject to sanctions include:
– cross intersections diagonally;
– cross outside the lines at roundabouts when there are dedicated crossings;
– pass in front of stopped buses and trams;
– slalom between parked cars;
– suddenly appear on the roadway;
– cross outside built-up areas near bends and bumps, where visibility is reduced.
For these behaviors, the penalties set out in the proposal vary, depending on the violation, from 25 to 100 euros or from 40 to 160 euros.
The reform described in the draft also addresses the ways in which pedestrians can move around when there is no sidewalk.
In these situations, pedestrians should walk against the direction of traffic, so that they can see traffic coming from their direction.
It also states that it is forbidden to use skates and skateboards on the sidewalks.
Fines would also be imposed on those who obstruct the passage by forming groups that hinder pedestrian traffic.
The reform process, however, is not yet complete. After passing through the Council of Ministers, the measure will need to obtain the opinion of the Council of State, the Unified Conference, and the relevant parliamentary committees. It will then be submitted to the Council of Ministers, which will decide on the final text.
This is a process that will take several more months. According to the timetable indicated in the proposal's outline, final approval is expected in March 2027, with entry into force set for January 1, 2028. The dates will need to be confirmed during the legislative process, and until the official documents are published, the provisions contained in the proposal should not be automatically considered existing legislation.
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