Italy minister looks to reverse lower city speed limits

By Crispian Balmer

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini issued a directive on Wednesday telling local councils not to introduce blanket reductions to traffic speeds after Bologna cut its maximum speed limit to just 30 kph (18.5 mph).

The previous speed limit was 50 kph (31 mph) - in line with most urban areas in Italy.

Bologna, which is run by a centre-left council, this month became the first major Italian city to lower the limit, arguing that the move would improve road safety and air quality.

Taxi drivers have led local protests against the reduction, which covers 70% of the city centre, while Salvini, who is leader of the far-right League party, accused Bologna's mayor of complicating life for workers and local businesses.

Looking to force a rethink, and dissuade other cities from following Bologna's lead, Salvini issued a six-page directive highlighting national rules which state that speed limits can only be cut in sensitive areas, such as near schools.

The ordinance warns that Salvini's transport ministry can overturn speed curbs if they contravene the rules.

Bologna mayor Matteo Lepore made no immediate comment, but earlier this week said he had no intention of going back to the 50 kph speed limit.

"This (reduction) is aimed at ... making Bologna a safer, more sustainable city, tailored to families, children and the elderly, with the goal of achieving zero deaths on the roads," he said in a podcast. "In the end, we will convince everyone we have taken the right decision."

A growing number of European cities, including Paris, Madrid and Brussels, have already introduced similar speed reductions, and a few Italian cities, such as Florence and Parma, have indicated that they plan to follow Bologna's example.

Salvini's many critics say he is merely looking to tap into public discontent in a traditional centre-left stronghold for his own political gain.

Italy has the highest rate of car ownership in the Europe Union, with 684 passenger vehicles per 1,000 residents against an EU average of 560, according to statistics agency Eurostat.

This means Italians are extremely sensitive to changes to highway rules or curbs on road freedom.

Police in northern Italy say a vandal destroyed a 14th speed camera last weekend as part of an apparent campaign to eliminate speed traps in the region of Veneto. Eleven of them were cut down using an electric saw, while one was blown up.

Many social media posts have hailed the highway vigilante as a national hero, but a northern prosecutor, Marco Martani, warned at the weekend that public praise for the vandal could constitute endorsing a crime - itself a punishable offence.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Alison Williams)