This Italian city has eradicated road mortality!

Speed limits in cities are no longer debated as the positive results are obvious. The latest proof comes from Italy.

The city of Bologna implemented a complete 30 km/h speed limit in its streets in 2024. This initiative makes Bologna the largest Italian city to adopt this model, following other European examples, notably Paris. While the goal is clear—to reduce accidents and improve quality of life—controversies quickly arose, both locally, among merchants and taxi drivers, and nationally, with the intervention of Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini.

However, since the implementation of this measure, the results have been encouraging and mark a clear break from the past. For the first time since 1991, no pedestrians lost their lives in the city during the past year, whereas an average of six deaths were recorded annually over the previous decade. More broadly, pedestrian-related accidents decreased by 16%, while the total number of road accident deaths was halved, dropping from 21 in 2022 to 10 in 2024.

At 30 km/h, the risk of fatalities in an accident drops to 10%, compared to over 50% at 50 km/h. The stopping distance is also much shorter: 13 meters at 30 km/h versus 28 meters at 50 km/h. These figures illustrate the safety advantages. Additionally, the average urban speed, including in Bologna, was already below 30 km/h according to 2023 data. These numbers are not fanciful; they come from ISTAT, Italy’s National Institute of Statistics. This public organization has been collecting, analyzing, and publishing official statistical data across various fields—such as economics, demographics, labor market, health, and transportation—since 1926.

Impact Beyond Safety

With fewer cars on the road, Bologna is experiencing a rise in alternative transportation: increased use of bike-sharing, car-sharing, and local trains. According to Mayor Matteo Lepore, “a real shift is taking place.” These results contrast sharply with the national trend: ISTAT data for the first half of 2024 show increases in accidents (+0.9%), injuries (+0.5%), and deaths (+7.9%) in Italy.

The ASAPS association (Support and Friends of the Road Police) particularly welcomes the absence of pedestrian fatalities: “This indicator is very satisfying and gives a lot of hope.” Bologna, as the largest Italian city to adopt these measures, is becoming an example, inspiring other municipalities such as Olbia and Reggio Emilia, while some cities, including Rome, are considering following this model.

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