Using a smartphone while driving is seen as one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road by 63% of Italians, according to the 2026 Dekra road-safety report, presented at Italy’s Chamber of Deputies. The study was produced with the Piepoli Institute and Ital Communications and focused on roads as workplaces.
Respondents also identified driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs as dangerous (59%), failing to obey right-of-way rules, traffic lights or road signs (44%), and driving while tired or drowsy (42%).
The survey found that 59% consider the roads they usually travel to be very or fairly safe. Asked what would make mobility safer, respondents prioritized road maintenance (57%), more enforcement (48%) and better road-safety education (46%). Meanwhile, 67% said they have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in technology’s ability to help prevent crashes.
The report cited ACI-ISTAT figures showing that Italy recorded 177,207 road crashes involving injuries in 2025, resulting in 2,868 deaths. That was 162 fewer fatalities than in 2024, a decline of 5.3%.
Dekra Italia president Toni Purcaro said making roads safer as workplaces requires a cultural shift, with technological innovation working alongside shared responsibility. He said prevention is central to protecting all road users and added that advanced driver-assistance systems and automation could help reduce crashes, but their effectiveness depends on greater human awareness.
Sources: ANSA Economia.