Disputes in Bologna and beyond

The entry into force of the restriction in Bologna has sparked a wave of controversy, making the city a national example of the ongoing debate. Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini spoke out against it, highlighting political differences on the issue.
However, the mayors of various Italian cities, including Antonio Decaro of Bari and the president of Anci, have for many years defended the need for strict speed limits to promote safer city traffic. In Bar, where 30 km/h zones have been operating since 2020, Decaro goes even further by requiring 10 km/h zones in citiesfocusing on the protection of pedestrians, cyclists and electric micromobility users.

Specific results in Bologna

The first data on the consequences of the event in Bologna, published on January 30, 2024, show quite encouraging results. In the first two weeks, road accidents decreased by 21% compared to last year. A significant decrease in road accidents with pedestrians (-27.3%) and road accidents with injured people (-18.2%) was also recorded.
On February 1, in response to these results, Matteo Salvini signed a directive on speed limits in municipalities. This directive specifies that speed limits below 50 km/h must be justified by specific conditions.such as lack of sidewalks, heavy foot traffic, and other factors.
Reaction to this directive remains polarized both among the public and on the political scene. Some welcome the government’s willingness to regulate speed limits based on local conditions, while others stress the need for more uniform measures at national level.

An inevitable European trend

Despite the ongoing debate in Italy, the trend toward a 30 km/h speed limit seems inevitable, both in Italy and throughout Europe. Cities such as Turin, Cesena, Olbia, Milan and Rome are considering adopting this measure in the near future. At the European level, this restriction has already been introduced by Brussels and Paris.
Despite the current opposition, the positive results obtained in Bologna show that road safety and the protection of vulnerable users remain at the heart of this debate.

The question remains: will the 30 km/h speed limit become the norm or remain a subject of controversy in the coming months?