Rome is to launch a new road safety campaign in conjunction with ANIA foundation, the national body that represents insurance companies. The scheme, announced on 1 October, includes educational programmes in schools, improved infrastructure, stiffer checks and penalties for those who drink and drive and a new department dedicated to road safety. The department, Ufficio della sicurezza stradale e nei trasporti (USST), should become operational in mid October.

The city has the worst record on road safety in Italy according to the 2006 figures recently released by Italy statistical unit ISTAT. Rome has the highest number of road deaths in Italy with 231 in 2006, or four per cent of the total for the country. Milan has the second highest number of road deaths with 100. Accidents in Rome totalled 21,452 accidents and 28,209 people injured due to road accidents.