Italian Highway Code Reform Threatens Cultural Heritage and Tourism

The Italian Chamber of Deputies has approved a reform of the Highway Code (Codice della Strada), originally enacted in 1992, which now moves to the Senate and risks becoming law by end of 2024. The reform, backed by Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, restricts mayors' ability to create new Zone30 (30 km/h zones), limited traffic zones, and pedestrian areas, requiring prefectural authorization. This contradicts European best practices, such as Spain's 2022 code mandating such zones in historic centers. Critics argue the reform will increase road fatalities and injuries, already at record levels in Italy, and generate huge health and economic costs. The article, published on Artribune by Massimiliano Tonelli, highlights the impact on cultural heritage: private car traffic is a major cause of deterioration of Italy's artistic and architectural patrimony. Reduced pedestrianization will accelerate decay and require more public maintenance funds. Additionally, the reform harms quality tourism, as cycle tourism and cultural tourism depend on walkable, bike-friendly cities. While extractive tourism may persist, high-spending, sustainable tourists will choose cities like Vienna, Berlin, Paris, or London over Italian cities that fail to adopt modern mobility standards. The author calls on the Ministers of Culture, Tourism, and Health to intervene to stop the reform.