🔧 1. Active safety
Refers to vehicle features that help prevent accidents. They depend on the driver’s actions and operate before impact.
- 🚦 Braking (ABS, EBD)
- 💡 Lighting
- ⚙️ Power steering
- 🔄 Stability and traction
🛡️ 2. Passive safety
These systems are designed to reduce the consequences of an accident once it occurs. They act automatically.
- 🔗 Seat belt
- 🎈 Airbags
- 🧱 Bodywork with crumple zones
- 🪟 Laminated and safety glass
- 👥 Properly adjusted head restraints
🚗 2.1 Bodywork
Must guarantee a minimum safety space. It should not be modified so as to avoid increased risk in pedestrian impacts.
🛑 2.2 Protective devices
- 🚛 Rear: Prevents vehicles from underrunning from behind.
- 🚚 Side: Side underrun protection required on goods vehicles.
💨 2.3 Mudguards
Prevent spray. Not mandatory on special vehicles, but recommended.
🪑 2.4 Head restraints
Prevent neck injuries. Must be set at the correct height.
🎈 2.5 Airbag
Deploys in severe collisions. Always complements the seat belt. Children must not travel in front seats with an active front airbag.
⛑️ 3. Seat belt
Reduces fatalities and serious injuries by 40%. Mandatory for all occupants in passenger cars, vans, and motorcycles (if fitted).
- 🚸 Mandatory: On all types of roads, with limited exceptions.
- 👶 Prohibited: Using clips or modifiers.
- 🤰 Pregnant drivers/passengers: Fully mandatory since 2016.
🔒 3.1 Exceptions
Since 1 October 2026 (RD 518/2026) the exemptions for taxi drivers on duty, delivery drivers doing loading/unloading and driving-school supervisors no longer exist. Not required only for:
- 🩺 People with a medical certificate
- 🚑 Occupants of vehicles on emergency service, only in built-up areas (never on motorways, dual carriageways or conventional roads)
- 🏥 Ambulance staff attending the patient in the rear compartment, on any road
- 🚕 Taxis in urban traffic may still carry children under 135 cm without a child seat, in a rear seat
👶 4. Child restraint systems
Mandatory for children under 135 cm. A system suitable for the child’s weight and height must be used.
- 🔙 Rear-facing up to age 4
- ➡️ Forward-facing from ages 4 to 12
🪖 5. Helmet
Mandatory for drivers and passengers of:
- 🏍️ Motorcycles
- 🛵 Mopeds
- 🚛 Three-wheelers and quadricycles
Must be homologated to UNECE R22 and properly fastened on all roads (since 1 October 2026, RD 518/2026); moped riders may keep certified-only helmets until 1 October 2027. The medical-certificate exemption no longer exists: the only exemption is vehicles with a protective structure plus seat belts. Protective gloves are also compulsory on interurban roads and closed footwear covering the whole foot on all roads (fine 200 € each).
🕶️ 6. Protective glasses
Recommended for motorcyclists. Should be anti-reflective, anti-fog, and provide good visibility.
🧠 7. ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems)
ADAS enhance safety using sensors, radars, and cameras. Notable systems include:
- 🧱 Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEBS)
- 🛣️ Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- ⚠️ Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
- 🚘 Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- 📷 Rear-view cameras and parking sensors
- 🌙 Automatic high-beam assistant
- 😴 Drowsiness detection
- 🌧️ Automatic activation of lights and wipers
- 🔁 Start-Stop for energy saving
✅ These systems do not replace the driver, but they improve reaction capability and reduce accident risk.
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