The Highway Code has established a new obligation, everyone will be asked to wear an accessory to avoid fines.
Being aware of the rules of the Highway Code is essential not only for those who travel by car, but also for those who prefer a two-wheeled vehicle, as well as for pedestrians. In fact, the minimum common denominator of the rules inserted is to protect everyone’s safety, which is why they can be periodically updated if dangers that had not been thought of before are identified.
It is important to be informed about possible changes, so as to be able to comply and avoid sanctions which can also be heavy. Not all changes are evidently perceived in a positive way, but little can be done even if you don’t agree. Here is the last obligation foreseen and which it will not be possible to escape.
The new obligation provided by the Highway Code
But what would be the new obligation under the Traffic Laws and to which it will inevitably be necessary to adapt? The reference is to the need to wear a helmet for those who travel with scooters, both private ones and those available with sharing services, considering it a suitable tool to protect the driver, especially in the event of a fall.
The innovation could be approved shortly and become definitive if the approval were to arrive from the Senate, but not everyone seems to agree. This is the case of Assosharing, a trade association that brings together sharing mobility operators, convinced of how a similar provision could have a negative impact for the companies that offer these means of sharing. Preventing this from happening could therefore be important to protect those who work in the sector.
Thinking about safety is evidently important in their opinion, but at the moment there are no dangers that are so great as to change current behavior: “Safety is an extremely important factor for mobility, but legislation like this puts a risk not only this sector and its employees, but sharing mobility in general. The the sharing scooter sector is increasingly safer according to the data (Sharing Mobility Observatory), with accident rates per kilometer traveled falling by almost 61% between 2021 and 2022 (latest data available)”.
It should also be underlined how it is the number of accidents dropped, making it similar to those that occur for those who use bicycles, while there is an important difference compared to motorcycles and scooters. Furthermore, the effect that this could have on employment should not be overlooked, an obviously important aspect: “The provision would entail a further impact on employment in the order of 3000 jobs not created”. However, taking a step back seems to be really difficult at the moment.
