Italy
Part 1: Driving with a Disability
Are there any laws or regulations in your country that restrict whether people with disabilities can obtain a driving licence?
Yes,
The roles for driving’s people with disabilities are contained in the legislative Decree n. 285/1992 known as “Codice della Strada” and in the Decree of the President of Republic No. 495/1992, known as “Regolamento di esecuzione e di attuazione del Codice della Strada”. The people with disabilities, even if affected by more than one minority considered invalidating for the purpose of driving, can obtain the special driving license categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B, C1, C, D1 e D if they have got prerequisites for the category of license that they intend achieve. The special license driving could allow the use of particular vehicles exclusively; in this case the restrictions are reported on the license (i.e. kind of prosthesis). The psychophysical requirements are evaluated from local medical commission.
The functional limitations considered disabilities under Codice della Strada concern hearing, limbs, spine and somatic conformation or development. Vision restriction is no longer considered to be an impairment if certain minimum requirements are met. Hearing For the achievement, confirmation of validity or revision of the driving license for motor vehicles and motor vehicles of categories A and B, the voice of conversation must be heard from each ear with combined phonemes not less than two meters away. Hearing function can be assessed with the use of monoaural or binaural hearing aids, as long as they are tolerated.
For the achievement, confirmation of validity or revision of the driving license for motor vehicles of categories C, D, CE, DE and C1, D1, C1E, D1E it is necessary to hear the voice of conversation with phonemes combined at not less than eight meters distance overall and not less than two meters from the ear that hears least, with evaluation of the auditory function without the use of corrective devices. Limbs, spine, anomalies of conformation or somatic development Anatomic and / or functional impairments of the limbs, vertebral column and / or somatic characteristics which, considered individually and as a whole and without being considered, are considered noninvalidating for the purpose of driving, and therefore subject to the issue of the normal driving license.
The aid of prostheses / orthoses are not of such gravity as to impair the strength and speed of the movements necessary to safely carry out all the maneuvers inherent in driving the vehicles to which the license entitles. On the other hand, in the event that the handicaps are of particular gravity, the issue of the license is subject to the condition that it is possible to make up for the handicaps with suitable prostheses / orthoses and / or through special adaptations to the vehicles to be driven and / or through a particular arrangement of the commands. Limb efficiency for driving should be assessed without the use of prosthesis / orthoses. Any prostheses / orthoses prescribed for driving purposes must be noted on the driving license and their efficiency must be certified by the manufacturer. The prostheses that can be used for driving can be fixed or functional (myoelectric). The use of prostheses / orthoses to operate the brake pedal is not allowed.
Are there any restrictions on the type of vehicle or adaptation to controls that can be driven by a person with a disability?
Yes,
The special driving license are valid to drive vehicles with specific features related at the disability and indicated on the license itself. For special driving license categories AM, A1, A2, A (for driving mopeds and motorcycles) an Italian directive lays down adjustments regarding the most frequent types of handicaps in order to enable the local medical commission to issue certificates of suitability for driving. For special driving license categories B1, B, (for driving cars and quadricycles) the candidate must be able to perform specific tests.
Holders of special category B may drive a car towing a trailer with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 750 kg, provided that the total mass of the complex does not exceed 3,500 kg.
People with disabilities can obtain special driving license categories D1, D1E, D, DE (for driving minibus and bus) for own use vehicles exclusively and they cannot obtain the Driver Qualification Card useful for the transport of people. People with disabilities cannot drive: ambulances, vehicles for dangerous goods transport, vehicles for scheduled transport services, vehicles adapted to use of people with disabilities not yet tested by Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Special licenses, issued to disabled or physically handicapped persons on the model normally in use for all license holders, bear indications expressed in code on driving licenses. In detail, if the vehicle needs adaptations (e.g. "clutch on the steering wheel", "automatic transmission", etc.) will be indicated, in addition to any prosthesis required for driving (e.g.: "limb artificial ", etc.). In this case the driver will be able to drive all the vehicles provided for by the driving license fitted out with necessary modifications or adaptations. If the vehicle does not need adaptations any prosthesis required for driving will be indicated on the special driving license. The driver can therefore drive any vehicle included in the category of driving license owned.
If you have answered yes to Question 4 above, do the same restrictions apply to a person with a disability visiting your country in their own or a rented vehicle? Please give details
Yes,
Driving licenses issued by EU or EEA member states are equivalent to the corresponding Italian driving licenses even if issued on models that do not comply with that introduced by EU rules. The holders of driving licenses issued by a State not belonging to the European Union (EU) or to the European Economic Area (EEA) can drive in Italy vehicles provided for in the driving license held on condition that: • have not been resident in Italy for over a year; • are in possession of a national driving license, conforming in terms of content and characteristics to the international conventions to which Italy has adhered, or, if the national driving license does not comply with the aforementioned conventions, have, together with the driving license National, an international driving license or a valid international permit, or, alternatively, the official translation into Italian of the aforementioned driving license.
Please give details of the section responsible in your Ministry for driver licensing and vehicle adaptations for people with disabilities. Please also include any websites which give details of the official national policy.
Name of Department/Ministry: Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
Name of section responsible: Directorate General on motor vehicles
email address for queries: [email protected]
Phone number for queries: +39 06/4158.6672 - 6694 - 6695 - 6678
website (s): http://trasparenza.mit.gov.it/index.php?id_oggetto=13&id_cat=-1&id_doc=…
Part 2: Parking Cards for people with a disability
Does your country have a national scheme of parking concessions for people with a disability?
Yes
Which categories of people with a disability are eligible for the parking card? Please tick all that apply
Wheelchair users,
People with walking difficulty,
People with vision impairment,
People with mental health issues, learning disabilities or other hidden disabilities (please describe)
Other (please specify):
The possibility of using the special authorization issued for the disabled is subject to the demonstration of limited motor skills. These are disabled people who are affected by impairments of the lower limbs; however, in practice, the authorization is also granted to seriously mentally disabled people (declared civil disabled with accompanying allowances) or to people suffering from other pathologies that - in the opinion of the medical examiner - lead to an effective difficulty in traveling long stretches of road to feet (e.g. heart disease or severe chronic respiratory diseases) or for which it is difficult or painful to walk for a long time. The other physically disabled people, however, even if legally recognized by the Medical Commission and declared disabled civilians, who are affected by impairments that do not limit the ability to walk (e.g. paralysis of the upper limbs, which cause serious difficulties in parking or other maneuvers) cannot obtain the authorization in question.
Are there parking spaces reserved for people with a disability?
Yes
If you have answered yes, where are the reserved parking spaces? (Please tick all that apply)
On street,
In municipal car parks
What concessions does the parking card give people with a disability? (Please tick all that apply)
Free parking on-street,
Free parking in municipal car parks,
Extended time limit for on-street parking (please give details below)
Other (please specify):
Parking of vehicles with a mark for people with a disability is not allowed in areas where vehicles are to be removed. In these areas, however, the vehicle bearing the mark cannot be removed or blocked unless it creates a serious hindrance or danger (to be justified on the basis of the contingent conditions and traffic existing at the time of the assessment since it is not sufficient to presume it when it is present the sign that requires removal). In the latter case, however, the vehicle is not brought to the authorized deposit but must be moved to the nearest place where it does not create an obstacle, without the possibility of blocking it; the application of the administrative sanction always remains.
Are there any regions or cities in your country that do not recognise the parking card, or which have their own, different system?
No
Are the same concessions available to individuals with a disability visiting your country?
Yes
If you have answered yes to Question 13 above, please tell us if there is a formal system of reciprocal recognition of parking cards from other countries?
Yes
If you have answered yes to Question 14 above please tell us
Which countries' parking cards are recognised (please list)
For the purpose of exercising the faculties granted to disabled people with limited movement or blind people, possession of the authorization is made known by means of a special mark which is strictly personal and must be shown in original clearly visible on the front windshield of the vehicle in the service of the authorized person. The parking card for disabled people is recognized if it is compliant with EU model; if it is not compliant with EU model it is recommended to ask at Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
What other proof of eligibility should a visitor with a disability carry with them? (Please give details)
If the parking card for disabled people is compliant with EU model, other proof of eligibility are not necessary.
Are there minimum dimensions for the size of a parking space reserved for a person with a disability?
Updated information to be provided soon
Please give details of the section in your ministry responsible for parking concessions for people with a disability
Name of Department/Ministry: Ministry of infrastructure and transport
Name of section responsible: Directorate General for Road Safety
email address for queries: [email protected]
phone number for queries: +39 06/4158.6236 - 6296 - 6297
website(s): http://trasparenza.mit.gov.it/index.php?id_oggetto=13&id_cat=-1&id_doc=…
Please include a link to any websites which give details of the official national policy on parking concessions for people with a disability.
For more information on parking concessions, please click here - https://www.ilportaledellautomobilista.it/web/portale-automobilista/-/c…
Further information on parking concessions can be found here - http://www.aci.it/i-servizi/per-la-mobilita/aci-per-il-sociale/contrass…
And here - https://www.disabili.com/mobilita-auto/speciali-mobilita-a-auto/guida-a…
Part 3: Hiring a car if you have a disability
Does your country have any laws which require hire car companies to make adapted vehicles available for people with disabilities to rent?
No
Where are such vehicles available? Please tick all that apply
At major airports,
At city centre hire car outlets,
Other (please specify):
Major Railway stations
Please give details of the section responsible in your ministry for laws/policies on adapted hire cars.
Name of ministry: ministry of infrastructure and transport
Name of section responsible: Department of transport, shipping, general affairs and staff
email address for queries: [email protected]
phone number for queries: +39 06/4158.6662 - 6661
website(s): http://trasparenza.mit.gov.it/archivio13_struttureorganizzative_-1_1430…