Italy reduces maximum speed on some highways

On June 14, the Italian Government issued a decree allowing a reduction in the maximum speed of vehicles traveling on some highways.

These highways are located near or pass through urban areas that are experiencing severe air pollution.

Accordingly, regional authorities in Italy are allowed to temporarily or permanently reduce the maximum speed limit of vehicles traveling on highways "in case it is necessary to limit emissions from vehicles to reduce the concentration of air pollutants".

The maximum speed limit on the country's main highways is currently 130km/h and could be reduced to 110km/h.

The Italian government hopes that through the new decree, it will reduce the number of lawsuits against the country for violating the European Union's common environmental rules. The European Commission often takes legal action against Rome for violating environmental regulations in the bloc.

Italy is one of the countries with the highest levels of air pollution in Europe. According to 2022 data from the European Environment Agency (EEA), the rate of premature deaths due to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Italy is the highest of any country in the region, with 59,500 deaths.

The EEA also warned on April 24, 2023 that air pollution still causes more than 1,200 premature deaths each year in people under 18 in Europe.

Despite recent improvements, “air pollution levels in many European countries remain above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines,” according to the EEA.

The EEA issued the warning after a study of more than 30 countries, including 27 member states of the European Union (EU), according to AFP.

The new study, which excludes major industrialized nations such as Russia, Ukraine and Britain, suggests the total number of young people dying in Europe from air pollution could be higher, AFP reported.

The EEA reported in November 2022 that 238,000 premature deaths were caused by air pollution in the EU in 2020, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye.

"Air pollution causes more than 1,200 premature deaths each year in under-18s in Europe and significantly increases the risk of disease later in life," the EEA warned, according to AFP .

The EEA calls on authorities to focus on improving air quality around schools and nurseries as well as sports facilities and public transport hubs.

“After birth, ambient air pollution increases the risk of a number of health problems, including asthma, reduced lung function, respiratory infections and allergies,” the EEA noted in the study.

Poor air quality can also “exacerbate chronic conditions such as asthma, which affects 9% of children and adolescents in Europe, as well as increase the risk of developing some chronic diseases later in life,” according to the EEA.

MH (reported by Giao Thong, Thanh Nien)

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