Italy plans traffic jam corridor for motorcycles: drivers risk 320 euros

• Drivers who fail to make room on multi-lane urban roads with separated carriageways would face fines of 80 to 320 euros and lose 2 points
• Motorcycles would be allowed to ride slowly on the hard shoulder in traffic jams and must give way to emergency vehicles at all times
• The draft of the new Codice della Strada is still going through the legislative process, with 1 January 2028 under discussion as the start date

Whether a driver in a traffic jam moves aside when a motorcycle appears in the rear-view mirror has so far been a matter of courtesy in Italy. That is set to change. The draft of a new Codice della Strada, Italy’s highway code, turns the friendly gesture into an obligation backed by a fine and penalty points. At the same time, motorcycles would be allowed to use the hard shoulder in traffic jams. The Council of Ministers gave the package preliminary approval on 13 October 2026. Two points are easily overlooked: none of the new rules applies yet, and the obligation to form a corridor is limited to certain roads. The draft also contains further changes for motorcyclists, from protective gear on the motorway to new crash barriers.

Does Italy’s new traffic jam rule already apply?

No, none of the planned rules applies yet. On 13 October 2026 the Council of Ministers merely gave preliminary approval to a draft that now has to pass through several review stages.

Formally, it is the draft of a so-called decreto legislativo. This is a decree with the force of law that the government issues on the basis of an authorisation from parliament. Before it can be finally adopted, the responsible committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate deliver their opinions. The Council of State and the Conferenza unificata, a joint body of the state, regions and municipalities, are also consulted. Only then does the text go back to the Council of Ministers.

Along the way, the wording may still change in several places. Some points also require their own implementing provisions before they take effect in practice. There is no fixed date for entry into force. Once all steps are completed, 1 January 2028 is under discussion. In its current version, the new code comprises 294 articles. It was drawn up by the Ministry of Transport under Minister Matteo Salvini after lengthy consultation with associations, technical experts and companies.

On which roads must drivers in Italy form a corridor?

The obligation would only apply on urban roads with physically separated carriageways and several lanes. Such roads usually have no hard shoulder that motorcycles could use instead.

This is set out in Article 51, paragraph 14 of the draft. The rule applies when traffic is at a standstill because of a jam or is only moving very slowly. Drivers in the left lane are then to move as far to the left as possible and drivers in the right lane as far to the right as possible. This creates a corridor between the queues. The explanatory report accompanying the draft calls this solution “corsia virtuale”, meaning virtual lane. There are no road markings for it; the corridor is created solely by the position of the cars.

Motorcycles, scooters and two-wheeled mopeds may ride through. If there is enough space, police, ambulance and fire service vehicles can also pass, even when they are not on an emergency call. The government justifies the rule with how dense traffic flows: without a free corridor, two-wheelers and emergency vehicles would either have to stop or zigzag through the queue. According to the government, both lead to additional obstruction and danger.

According to the wording, not every queue and not every multi-lane road falls under the obligation. In the explanatory report, the government does speak in general terms of all cases in which traffic backs up. What ultimately counts, however, is the legal text, and it limits the obligation by type of road and number of lanes.

What do drivers face if they do not make room?

Anyone who does not clear the corridor would have to pay 80 to 320 euros (approx. 90 to 358 US dollars). In addition, 2 points would be deducted from their driving licence account.

For context: when a licence is issued, a driver in Italy receives 20 points, and the new draft keeps this. For motorcyclists, however, the rule is not a free pass. It does not allow them to filter between cars in any traffic situation, and emergency vehicles always retain priority.

Will motorcycles soon be allowed to use the hard shoulder in Italy?

Yes, if the draft stays as it is. In traffic jams, slow-moving traffic or after an accident, motorcycles and two-wheeled mopeds would be allowed to ride on the hard shoulder, but only slowly and with consideration for emergency vehicles.

The basic principle remains unchanged. The hard shoulder stays closed and may not be used even partially, except for stopping and pulling away. When traffic is at a standstill, all vehicles may only use it to reach an exit. This is only permitted from the advance warning sign onwards, i.e. no earlier than 500 metres before the exit.

The exception for two-wheelers is set out in paragraph 12 of the same article and applies to motorways and extra-urban roads. Anyone using it must ride slowly and be able to move aside at any time as soon as police or ambulance services need the lane. Motorcycles therefore do not gain priority over these vehicles. The exact maximum speed and the detailed conditions under which use is permitted have yet to be defined.

In the explanatory report, the government calls the rule “una norma di buon senso”, a common-sense rule. It is intended to spare motorcyclists from standing for long periods in blazing sun or pouring rain in every traffic jam. Rome explicitly cites Spain as a model, where, according to the government, the solution is already being applied successfully. Italy is thus taking up a question that occupies motorcyclists across Europe: how two-wheelers can get past a traffic jam without endangering others.

Protective gear, crash barriers and reduced fines: what else the draft includes

In addition to the traffic jam rules, the draft contains several points that specifically affect motorcyclists. One of them is a new equipment requirement. Under Article 68, riders and pillion passengers on the motorway would have to wear back protection and hand protection. The technical requirements the equipment must meet and the certification needed are to be laid down later by the Ministry of Transport in a separate regulation.

Wearing protective gear can also pay off when it comes to fines. If a motorcycle or moped rider commits an offence in connection with an accident and is wearing the prescribed protective equipment at the time of the check, the penalty would be halved.

There is also a programme for crash barriers with motorcycle protection. These systems are designed to cushion the impact when a rider slides into the barrier after a fall. The Ministry of Transport explicitly highlights this point, alongside the hard shoulder, as a measure for motorcyclists.

The draft also includes a simplification for everyday riding. Driving licences and vehicle registration certificates no longer have to be carried in paper form. During a check, the police verify the data directly in the national databases.

What does the new Codice della Strada change for motorcycle tourists in Italy?

For now, nothing changes for tourists because the draft does not yet apply. Once it enters into force, the rules will apply to everyone using public roads in Italy, including visitors from abroad.

The most noticeable change would be the new way speeding offences are calculated. Instead of fixed bands, the fine would be based on the actual number of kilometres per hour over the limit. The basic rate would be 10 euros (approx. 11 US dollars) per km/h, and in 50 or 30 km/h zones it would be 5 euros (approx. 6 US dollars). Anyone riding through a 50 zone at 61 km/h would therefore pay 55 euros (approx. 62 US dollars). At 90 km/h it would be 200 euros (approx. 224 US dollars). Currently, exceeding the limit by 11 to 40 km/h costs a flat 163 to 694 euros (approx. 182 to 777 US dollars), regardless of whether someone is doing 61 or 90 km/h.

Overall, the government wants to simplify penalties and partly reduce them. Instead of the current 82 fine levels, there would be only 21. Common minimum amounts fall slightly, for example from 26 to 25 euros and from 42 to 40 euros, while amounts of 83 and 87 euros are rounded down to 80 euros. At the same time, Italy wants to collect fines from foreign drivers more consistently. Anyone staying in the country with their vehicle for more than 30 days would also need insurance under Italian rules.

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