The Highway Code is preparing for a new revision. On 13 October 2026 the Council of Ministers examined the new draft Legislative Decree intended to rewrite the regulation of road traffic. Among the aspects that most interest motorists are the rules for overtaking the most vulnerable users and those relating to entering roundabouts. The provisions contained in the reform scheme are not yet definitive rules, however: until the new text comes into force, motorists must continue to respect the Highway Code currently in force.
One of the central points of the reform concerns safety when overtaking bicycles and other users traveling on two-wheeled vehicles. The current regulations already require motor vehicles to maintain an adequate lateral distance when overtaking bicycles. When road conditions allow it, the reference is a distance of at least 1.5 metres. The new scheme intervenes on the formulation of the rule, specifying the role of the concrete conditions of the road. If it is not possible to maintain the indicated distance, the driver will still have to carefully evaluate the safety of the maneuver and adapt the speed to the circumstances. In practice, it will not be enough to make sure that the road is clear to start overtaking. It will be necessary to consider the width of the road, the speed of the cyclist, the presence of vehicles coming from the opposite direction and the space necessary to complete the maneuver without risks. If there are not sufficient conditions, the safest choice remains to slow down and wait.
The general rules on overtaking will continue to require particular caution. The driver must check that visibility is sufficient, that the space available allows the maneuver to be completed and that there are no other vehicles already engaged in overtaking. Furthermore, the prohibitions provided by law for particularly dangerous situations, such as certain curves, speed bumps and intersections, remain, without prejudice to the exceptions established by law. Another fundamental aspect concerns the behavior of those who are overtaken: they must not accelerate and must facilitate the maneuver within the limits set by the regulations. The reform aims to make the regulations clearer and strengthen the protection of the most exposed users, without eliminating the fundamental principle according to which any overtaking must be carried out without creating danger.
News of particular interest also concern roundabouts, now present in many urban and extra-urban intersections. The text of the reform includes a provision according to which, unless otherwise indicated, vehicles traveling through the roundabout would have priority over those entering from the side arms. The objective is to make right-of-way management more uniform and reduce the uncertainties that may occur at the entrances. Currently, however, precedence must be determined by observing the existing signs. In roundabouts with the "Give way" sign, those entering must wait for vehicles already present on the ring to pass. If there is no other regulation, the general rules on intersections apply, including right-of-way. For this reason, until the new provision comes into force, it should not be assumed that anyone who is already in the roundabout always automatically has the right of way.
The use of turn signals is also essential for safety on roundabouts. Anyone intending to exit must signal the maneuver sufficiently in advance, check their mirrors and check that no other vehicle is continuing in the lane they intend to cross. In multi-lane roundabouts it is necessary to choose the appropriate one based on the desired exit and move towards the external lane only when the maneuver can be carried out safely. Sudden lane changes, exits without signaling and trajectories that cut off other drivers should be avoided. Even when priority is clearly defined, in fact, the obligation to behave with prudence and avoid dangerous situations remains.
The preliminary approval of the scheme by the Council of Ministers does not coincide with the entry into force of the reform. The text still has to complete the expected process, with the opinions of the competent bodies and final approval. Consequently, the new provisions on overtaking and roundabouts must be considered intended changes, not already applicable obligations.
