Road safety improves in Italy

The latest official statistics from the Italian authorities show an improving road safety situation. Italy's statistics institute 4168 Istat has data showing that road accidents decreased by 1.9% to 211,404 in 2010. Meanwhile the number of people injured dropped by 1.5% to 302,735, and fatalities were down 3.5% to 4,090. Despite having failed to achieve the 50% fatalities reduction target set in 2001, the country saved €25 billion in social costs. Accidents decreased by 1% on highways, although fatalities rose by 7.4%; 75.7% of accidents were registered on urban roads, that also accounted for 72.1% of injuries and 43% of deaths. The cities with the highest mortality rates were Verona and Palermo, while the lowest fatality rates were reported in Bari and Milan.