This year’s New Year celebration has brought significant news for road safety across Italy, as the increase of law enforcement efforts appears to have led to substantial reductions in road traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities. A joint statement from the Italian Ministry of Transport and Viminale highlighted the impressive outcomes from enforcement initiatives during this festive season.
According to Minister Matteo Piantedosi, "Thanks to the massive commitment of law enforcement, there is a significant reduction of road accidents and injuries compared to the same period last year." The statistics confirm this statement: there were 429 reported incidents during New Year's 2025, compared to 482 incidents the previous year. Likewise, the number of injuries decreased from 305 to 240, resulting in just nine fatalities, down from ten last year.
The level of law enforcement on the streets was notable this year, with 27,200 police patrols deployed by both Polizia Stradale and Carabinieri. These efforts were coupled with rigorous public safety campaigns aimed at raising awareness among citizens about the risks associated with reckless driving behaviors, especially during times of festivity when road traffic tends to surge.
Drilling down on the specifics of the law enforcement response, authorities issued 12,040 sanctions for various driving infractions during the holiday period. This included 4,134 penalties for exceeding speed limits, 538 for seatbelt noncompliance, and 153 for using mobile phones behind the wheel. Overall, the number of license points deducted reached 22,127, leading to the suspension of 357 driving licenses due to violations such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – with 135 sanctions recorded for alcohol-related driving offenses alone.
The Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini, emphasized the effectiveness of the new road safety measures, stating, "The new rules have faced unprecedented falsehoods, but the initial data is encouraging and disproves many detractors." He attributed the positive outcome not only to the law enforcement efforts but also to greater public awareness of road safety issues. His statement reflects the commitment to saving lives and reducing accidents on Italian roads.
Despite these promising figures, the numbers have not gone without scrutiny, particularly from ASAPS (Associazione Sostenitori e Amici della Polizia Stradale). This association has expressed concern about the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the data presented by the ministries. They argue, "According to our analysis, at least 111 people have died on Italian roads, twice the 50 stated by the Minister." The ASAPS claims point to the fact the public data does not capture fatalities more than 30 days after accidents, leading to potentially misleading interpretations of road safety effectiveness.
Over the same 15-day period post-implementation of the new road safety codes, ASAPS reports tracking 134 deaths across 125 fatal traffic events, compared to 131 fatalities throughout the same period the prior year. This indicates stability rather than significant improvement, contrary to the claims put forth by the Italian government.
Such criticisms call upon the government to address data collection and reporting deficiencies. ASAPS emphasized the need for improved transparency and timeliness when it involves the tragic human toll of road incidents, particularly those reported by municipal police.
Responding to ASAPS, the Ministry of Transport reiterated their confidence, insisting, "The accusations of falsehood even against these statistics is a disgraceful attack on law enforcement and their immense effort to make Italian roads safer." The Ministry's stance reflects their overarching goal to achieve more rigorous safety measures and effectively counter any narrative skirting potential progress.
The reductions observed during New Year’s 2025 are certainly encouraging indicators of progress, yet the parallel controversies surrounding the reported figures serve as important reminders of the complex nature of traffic safety measures. While law enforcement's vigilance is commendable, the discourse around road safety continues to invite scrutiny, ensuring all data considered reflects the true state of accident rates and fatalities.