Rome slows down: historic centre to become a '30 Zone' from January 2026.The entire historic centre of Rome will be subject to a 30 km/h speed limit, with effect from Thursday 15 January, as part of efforts to increase road safety and reduce accidents.The measure, announced last August and approved by the city council in November, will extend the so-called Zona 30 to all streets within the central area. The new Zona 30 will largely overlap with the existing ZTL, the limited traffic zone which allows only certain categories of vehicles, including those of residents, to enter. Wide, busy streets including Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via del Teatro di Marcello and Via del Traforo will also become 30 km/h zones. The move is one of the most far-reaching traffic changes introduced in Rome in recent years and reflects a broader shift in urban mobility policies across Europe, where cities are increasingly prioritising road safety, walkability and quality of life over car speed. What the new rules mean Under the new regulations, cars, scooters and motorcycles will no longer be allowed to exceed 30 km/h throughout the historic centre. The limit will apply uniformly, replacing the current patchwork of streets with different speed thresholds. "The first month will be a period of adjustment and, thanks also to the launch of a communications campaign on the topic, will serve to acclimatise residents to the new Zona 30", mobility councillor Eugenio Patané said. The plan will include the installation of multiple new speed cameras, including those which detect when motorists have run red lights at dangerous intersections, as well as the building of 175 raised pedestrian crossings in the coming months. The reasons behind the decision Rome’s mobility department says the move is driven primarily by safety concerns. Data consistently shows that lower speeds drastically reduce both the likelihood and severity of accidents, especially those involving pedestrians and cyclists. At 30 km/h, the risk of fatal injury in a collision drops sharply compared to higher speeds. The city also points to secondary benefits: less noise, lower emissions and smoother traffic flow in an area where congestion, short distances and high pedestrian density already make high speeds largely theoretical. In practice, officials argue, average travel times are unlikely to change significantly, as traffic in the historic centre is already slowed by lights, crossings and congestion. A familiar debate As in other cities that have adopted similar measures, such as Bologna, the announcement has sparked debate.

The entire historic centre of Rome will be subject to a , with effect from Thursday 15 January, as part of efforts to increase road safety and reduce accidents. The measure,  and approved by the city council in November, will extend the so-called Zona 30 to all streets within the central area. The new Zona 30 will largely overlap with the existing ZTL, the limited traffic zone which allows only certain categories of vehicles, including those of residents, to enter. Wide, busy streets including Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via del Teatro di Marcello and Via del Traforo will also become 30 km/h zones. The move is one of the most far-reaching traffic changes introduced in Rome in recent years and reflects a broader shift in urban mobility policies across Europe, where cities are increasingly prioritising road safety, walkability and quality of life over car speed. What the new rules mean Under the new regulations, cars, scooters and motorcycles will no longer be allowed to exceed 30 km/h throughout the historic centre. The limit will apply uniformly, replacing the current patchwork of streets with different speed thresholds. "The first month will be a period of adjustment and, thanks also to the launch of a communications campaign on the topic, will serve to acclimatise residents to the new Zona 30", mobility councillor . The plan will include the installation of multiple new speed cameras, including those which detect when motorists have run red lights at dangerous intersections, as well as the building of 175 raised pedestrian crossings in the coming months. The reasons behind the decision Rome’s mobility department says the move is driven primarily by safety concerns. Data consistently shows that lower speeds drastically reduce both the likelihood and severity of accidents, especially those involving pedestrians and cyclists. At 30 km/h, the risk of fatal injury in a collision drops sharply compared to higher speeds. The city also points to secondary benefits: less noise, lower emissions and smoother traffic flow in an area where congestion, short distances and high pedestrian density already make high speeds largely theoretical. In practice, officials argue, average travel times are unlikely to change significantly, as traffic in the historic centre is already slowed by lights, crossings and congestion. A familiar debate As in other cities that have adopted similar measures, such as , the announcement has sparked debate.