Some say that new drivers should only be allowed to drive strong cars if they can physically do so. Italy has had these rules for a while, and now the government is trying to apply them to a broader range of drivers than they did before. According to Quattroroute, Italy’s old driving rules they are told that new drivers couldn’t drive cars with more than 70 kilowatts (93 hp) of power or with a power-to-weight ratio of more than 55 kilowatts (73 hp) per metric ton (2200 pounds). The rule for hybrid or electric cars is up to 65 kW (88 horsepower) per ton. The Italian Council of Ministers has now decided that all new licence users must wait three years before they can drive. Even though the new rules still have to go through the voting process before becoming law, the move shows that the government wants this. All “new” drivers in Italy have to meet this condition. Because the driving age in Italy is 18, new drivers had to use less expensive cars until they were at least 19 years old. Now, they must drive vehicles with low horsepower until their early 20s. No matter how old you are, the law applies to you and goes into action the day you get your licence. So, the same rule applies to outsiders who move to Italy and get local support and those who move there later in life and obtain a permit. It should be apparent if the rule applies to drivers who have had their licences for two years and bought a more powerful car after the previous cap ended. A grandfather clause or a similar carve-out could be used to fix this. In some other countries, similar laws have been introduced. In some parts of Australia, drivers who just got their licences can’t drive “high-performance” cars or cars with more than 174 horsepower per ton if the government says they can’t. The numbers on the power that Italian officials put out may need to be higher to people in the United States. Even regular cars like the Toyota Camry or Honda Civic would be a lot bigger than the limits. The Mitsubishi Mirage is one of the few new cars on the US market that would benefit a new driver from Italy. On the other hand, the rule makes people think about how many different kinds of cars are sold in Europe. In contrast to the United States, there are many small city cars with less than 95 horsepower, such as the base versions of the Fiat 500 and the Volkswagen Up. Even the least expensive Honda Fits have a few more horses, but a Toyota Yaris with 71 horsepower and a five-speed manual will push you past the limit. People know Italy for its crowded streets and its love of small cars. It’s almost shocking that new drivers can no longer drive vehicles with more than 100 horsepower. Extending it for three years is too much, but it’s essential to know that Europeans don’t look at small cars with low horsepower with the same doubt as Americans.
