NEW HIGHWAY CODE IN ITALY

Italy almost dominates Europe for its high number of road deaths (more than 7,000 a year) which explains
why the Italian government has made changes to its highway code, affecting more than a third of the
existing 240 articles.
However, some of these changes are controversial to say the least. For example, in some instances they
have actually increased the speed limit instead of reducing it. Indeed, Italian drivers should maybe keep a
calculator with them in the future in order to calculate the new speed limits. The present 130kph speed limit
is increased in the new code to 140kph, but only when the motorway has three lanes, which is in fact not
very often. However, if the weather turns bad, drivers must slow down by 20kph. All this would mean that a
driver experiencing bad weather would have to slow down from 140kph to 120kph, before having to slow
down again to 110kph when the lanes went from three to two. Sudden better weather would then allow
drivers to go back up to 130, until the lanes become three. To complicate matters more, speed limits are
reduced at weekends. Confused? Well, an Italian magazine claims that these limits are only theoretical
anyway because few drivers observe road regulations, with speeds of 175kph frequently registered. This
disrespect for the rules plus the poor condition of many Italian motorways, most of which only have two
lanes (one usually packed with lorries) are almost certainly the main factors contributing to road deaths.
Luckily, many of the other changes are not as illogical as those affecting the speed limit. For example, it
introduces licences for scooter riders and front and rear airbags will be obligatory in cars. To make sure that
disasters like the fire in the Mont Blanc tunnel do not occur again in the future, the new highway code also
bans the transport of dangerous substances in tunnels.

Questions
1 Are the following statements true or false? Write
down the evidence from the text. No points are
given for only true or false. (2 points)
a More people die in driving accidents in Italy than
in any other country in Europe.
b None of the highway code modifications are
very sensible.
2 In your own words and based on the ideas from the
text, answer the following questions.
(2 points)
a Why are the changes to the Italian speed limits
confusing?
b What appears to explain the high number fatal
road accidents in Italy?
3 Find the words in the text that mean the same as
the following. (1 point)
a 33% (paragraph 1)
b cases (paragraph 2)
c decelerate (paragraph 2)
d at the back (paragraph 3)
4 Complete the following sentences. Use the
appropriate form of the words given in brackets.
(2 points)
a My friend had a car accident last week. If he
___________ (drive) so fast, he __________
(not have) the accident.
b It is ___________ (responsible) and
___________ (legal) to break the speed limit.
c This motorway, _______ was built in 1968, is
one of the busiest in the country.
Complete the sentence with a, an, the or 0.
d In all countries _____ drivers must respect
_____ law.
5 Write 100150 words about one of these topics.
(3 points)
a Write a letter to a local politician suggesting
ways of reducing the number of accidents on
the road.
b Jim wants to buy a motorbike but his mother
is afraid that he will have an accident on the
Macmillan
Publishers
road. Write their conversation. Limited
2003.

Total = 10 points This page

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