Rome’s Department of Mobility is set to introduce significant changes to speed limits on the city’s busiest roads. The introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit will not be limited to the historic centre but will extend across a wide network of streets, including residential neighbourhoods and peripheral areas. The city council’s stated goal is ambitious: by creating a large "Zona 30" in Rome, the number of accidents would be drastically reduced, while also cutting air and noise pollution.
What is the new "Zona 30"?
In Rome, "Zona 30" refers to the areas where the maximum speed for all vehicles is—or will soon be—limited to 30 km/h. This approach, now common in many European cities including Bologna, is designed to make streets safer, cut pollution, and encourage greener, more sustainable travel.
The benefits are clear: lower speed limits significantly reduce the risk of serious accidents, especially for pedestrians and cyclists, while also improving quality of life in local neighbourhoods by cutting both noise and emissions.
The benefits of a 30 km/h speed limit in the city
Amid both interest and scepticism from citizens, Rome’s Mobility Services estimates that the road danger index could drop by 22%, particularly at night. Studies also suggest there will be minimal impact on traffic flow and travel times. Average bus speeds would decrease slightly, from 8.66 km/h to 8.62 km/h.
Private car journeys would be barely affected, increasing by just 10 seconds during the day and 35 seconds at night. Importantly, the new limit could cut pedestrian fatalities to just 1% at 30 km/h—a stark contrast to the 31% risk at 70 km/h.
Environmental benefits are notable too. CO₂ emissions are expected to fall by 3.8%, carbon monoxide by 3.6%, and nitrogen oxide levels by 19%. Noise pollution would also decrease, with average sound levels in the city centre dropping by around 2 decibels.
The map of the new Zona 30 in Rome
The progressive expansion of the Zona 30 is imminent and is set to reshape traffic across the capital, covering an increasing number of streets in various districts. This is not limited to central or well-known roads, but also includes the main streets in each neighbourhood. Some of the streets affected include:
| Municipio | Main Streets and Areas Involved |
|---|---|
| II (Parioli – Flaminio) | via Reggio Calabria, via del Castro Laurenziano, via di Villa Ada |
| IV (Tiburtino) | via Filippo Meda, via Recanati |
| V (Prenestino – Centocelle) | via di Villa Serventi, via del Pigneto (civic number 104), viale Agosta, via dei Gelsi, via delle Robinie, via Achille Vertunni |
| VII (Appio – Tuscolano) | viale dei Consoli, viale San Giovanni Bosco, via Giuseppe Salvioli, via Amantea, via Casignana, via Gasperina, via Genzano, piazza Villa Fiorelli |
| VIII (Garbatella – Ostiense) | via dell’Arcadia, via Andrea di Bonaiuto |
| XII (Monteverde) | via Giacinto Carini, via Guido Guinizelli, largo Alfredo Oriani, via Alessandro Crivelli, via Giovanna de Calvi, via Ludovica Albertoni, via Luigi Zambarelli |
| XIII (Aurelio) | via della Cellulosa, via della Madonna del Riposo |
| XIV (Monte Mario) | Via Trionfale (certain sections), residential areas between Balduina and Monte Mario Alto |
| XV (Cassia – Flaminia) | via San Godenzo |
New road safety measures in Rome
In recent months, the City of Rome has launched a series of projects aimed at making streets safer for everyone, with particular focus on pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. Over the next three years, around 60 speed cameras will be installed across the city, including on the Tangenziale Est, Via del Foro Italico, and Viale Newton, all in accordance with the recent Speed Camera Decree.
In addition, 38 devices will be installed to penalise those who run red lights. Over the coming months, around 150 raised pedestrian crossings will also be added, especially on streets near schools, to improve safety for children and residents.
