Less than four years after Italy starting taking points away from driving licenses for road law violations, fewer and fewer Italians are buckling up their seatbelts, a new study has found.
Carried out by the Higher Institute of Health (ISS) and the transport ministry, the report found that 64.6% of Italians, or two out of there, buckled up in 2007 compared to 71.6% in 2006, 72.5% in 2005 and 83.5% when the law was first introduced in October 2004.
According to the report, the percent of Italians using seatbelts plummeted to 46% in southern Italy, while drivers in the north were the most disciplined, with 82% buckling up.
The ISS has calculated that if 95% of Italians used seatbelts the national health system would save 1.3 billion euros.
Italy's points system, modelled on those used in several other European countries, gives each licence holder 20 points. These are docked every time the motorist is caught breaching road regulations.
Failure to wear a seatbelt results in a five-point penalty.
Italians who lose their licenses under the new points system are required to attend 12 hours of lessons to recover every six points docked.
Drivers whose points total sinks to zero automatically have their licences withdrawn, although they can win back points and their licences by attending special courses.
