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CHILDREN

‘Anti-abandonment’ child car seats become compulsory in Italy

New alarmed seats are now a legal requirement in Italy after multiple cases of young children being forgotten by parents and dying inside hot cars.

'Anti-abandonment' child car seats become compulsory in Italy
Photo: DepositPhotos

A new law making it obligatory for parents to use the special car seats when travelling with young children came into force on Thursday, the Ansa news agency reports.

The seats, which set off an alarm if the child is left alone in the car, are obligatory for children up to the age of four.

 
The alarms reportedly alert the driver to the fact a child is in the seat through vibrating audio and visual signals, detectable from inside and outside the vehicle.
 
The law was first proposed last year in response to several shocking cases of small children dying after being left in cars by their parents in scorching heat.

In the most recent case in September 2019, a two-year-old boy in Catania died after his father reportedly forget he was in the car and went to work, leaving the child locked inside.

From today, parents found not using the alarms face a fine of up to €326 plus five points on their driving licence, according to the new law.

Parents are being advised to buy a new seat that features the alarm system, or an alarm which can be fitted onto existing seats.

Italian road safety group ASAPS told the Ansa news agency that “parents, grandparents and carers need to hurry” to acquire the alarms after the law was rushed through, coming into force within just 15 days of it being added to the highway code, instead of the planned 120 days.

There are provisions in the government's 2020 budget bill for a 30-euro contribution towards each purchase.

However ASAPS noted that the funding made available will “not be sufficient for all children” and will only cover around one-quarter of children who'll require the seats, which the group said usually cost between €50-100.

The group added that the government funding isn't directed at “those with low incomes or those with several children under the age of 4″ but will go to “those who will be fastest.”

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DRIVING

The key vocabulary you’ll need for taking your driving test in Italy

Taking your driving test in Italian may be a daunting prospect, but having a firm grasp of the key vocabulary will help you on your way.

The key vocabulary you’ll need for taking your driving test in Italy

If you’re looking to take (or retake) your driving test in Italy and do not speak Italian, French or German, you might have to brush up on your language skills; these are the only three languages you can take your Italian driving theory test in. English is not available.

To take your esame di teoria guida (theory test) the easiest route is to sign up with an autoscuola (driving school). Read more about taking the exam here and find some more resources for practicing the language needed for your Italian driving theory test.

READ ALSO: Who needs to exchange their driving license for an Italian one?

Once you pass the theory test, you’ll receive authorisation to practise driving ahead of your practical exam with a foglio rosa (provisional driving licence). There must also be a ‘P’ sign on the back of your auto/macchina (car) for to indicate you are a principiante (learner).

At least six hours of practical driving lessons will be mandatory ahead of the practical test – even if you’ve passed a driving test before in another country.

So whether or not you’re already confident behind the wheel, here’s a rundown of the parts of the car you’ll need to be able to identify in Italian.

To get the car going you’ll press and hold la frizione (the clutch pedal). You’ll do this to innestare la frizione (engage the clutch). Slowly press down on the the acceleratore (accelerator pedal) to get going, before turning the volante (steering wheel).

If you are at an incrocio (junction) and specifically at an incrocio a T (t-junction) remember to turn on your indicatore di direzione/freccia (indicator) to girare (turn). You will also have to do this at a rotonda (roundabout).

READ MORE: The worst Italian driving habits – according to Italians

You’ll also have to use your freni (brakes) if there is a semaforo rosso (red traffic light), semaforo giallo (amber traffic light) or traffico (traffic).

You can guidare (drive) again when there is a semaforo verde (green traffic light).

You must also stop when there is a segnale di stop (stop sign) or pedoni (pedestrians) crossing the road. When your car frena (brakes), your luci dei freni (brake lights) will show.

You might need a lot of new vocabulary if your car develops a fault. Photo: Ida Guldbæk Arentsen/Ritzau Scanpix

If it is raining, you’ll use your tergicristalli (windscreen wipers) to wipe your parabrezza (windscreen/ windshield). If it is dark, but there are other cars, turn on your fari (headlights). If it’s exceptionally dark and there is no one around, turn on your fari abbaglianti (high beams). 

The pneumatici/gomme (tires) are also an important part of the car that you should keep an eye on in case one of them becomes a pneumatico/gomma a terra (flat tire). If you have this problem, you might have to visit a meccanico (mechanic).

READ ALSO: Reader question: Can I drive a minicar in Italy without a driver’s licence?

After driving on either le strade (roads) or le autostrade (highways/motorways), you’ll eventually have to parcheggiare (park). You might have to reverse park in which case you’ll have to mettere in retromarcia (go in reverse gear). After you’ve stopped, make sure to put on your freno a mano (handbrake) and check your specchietto (wing mirror).

After passing your practical test, you’ll get your patente di guida (driver’s licence), which in this case will probably be a patente B (category B licence), from your local Ufficio della Motorizzazione Civile (Civil Motorisation office). After you receive your licence, you’ll legally be a guidatore (driver).

Just remember to wear your cintura (seatbelt) in the car as it is a legal obligation.

Other useful terms

One way – Senso unico 

U-turn – Inversione a u

Toll – Pedaggio

Disengage the clutch – Disinnestare la frizione

Roadblock – Blocco stradale

Licence plate – Targa

Battery – Batteria

Right of way – Diritto di precedenza

For more information on taking your driving test in Italy, check the Italian transport ministry’s page on steps to obtain a Patente B.

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