Italy's new highway code targets distracted pedestrians on phones

Italy's updated highway code will target pedestrians who stare at their mobile phones while crossing the road, as the transport ministry strives to improve road safety by cracking down on distracted walkers, the Guardian reported on Monday.

The draft rules follow several court rulings that assigned blame for road accidents to careless pedestrians, a shift in legal precedent that has reshaped how liability is apportioned between drivers and those on foot.

Under the proposed measures, pedestrians caught crossing while using their phones could face fines, part of a broader revision of the highway code that officials say is meant to reduce accidents in Italy's densely trafficked urban centres.