Italy is in the midst of testing a programme to offer free taxi rides for party-goers in a bid to curb incidents of drunk driving and deadly accidents. This is part of an initiative commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, the pilot project for which will run until mid-September.&nbsp;

<h2>About the initiative</h2>

So far, the pilot programme has only been launched at six nightclubs around the country, from Puglia in the south to Tuscany and Veneto in the north. In line with the scheme, if a person appears too drunk when they exit the venue, they will be subjected to an alcohol test.&nbsp;

Based on the test, if the person’s blood alcohol level is deemed above the legal limit, a taxi will be called to take them home and it will be paid for by the government, with funding for the scheme being provided by the transport ministry.&nbsp;

The announcement was also made on the Italian lawmaker’s X, formerly known as Twitter, account, where he wrote, “Free taxis at the end of the night for those who have drunk too much,” and called it a “practical initiative”.&nbsp;

The initiative is “aimed at preventing danger and tragedy on the roads”, adding that fines and drink-driving laws were not enough to combat the problem. 
 
He added, “The idea, born after meetings at the ministry on road safety with influencers and content creators, provides for the payment of transport to those who, undergoing the alcohol test at the exit of the discos, exceed the limit set for getting behind the wheel.”

“To stop the slaughter (on the roads), we need to involve everyone in terms of prevention,” said Salvini, on X, last week.&nbsp;

<h2>A somewhat welcomed step</h2>

According to local media reports, the initiative was welcomed and largely well-received. “I think it’s a good idea because there are so many accidents. People go out dancing and they drink. This experiment could finally contain the problem,” a young man named Marco told the newspaper Il Gazzettino, outside the nightclub near the town of Jesolo.&nbsp;

However, the scheme has also been criticised by social media users, while responding to the lawmaker’s post on X. Some people on the microblogging app said that the scheme “rewards” excessive alcohol consumption.&nbsp;

“I’m so happy that people can now get wasted on alcohol without consequences and the state will pay for their transport,” said another person, on social media. 
 
While others appeared to resent that their taxes would contribute to such an initiative.&nbsp;“Knowing that the taxes I pay end up like this really makes me sick!” said another critic, on X.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Italy is in the midst of testing a programme to offer free taxi rides for party-goers in a bid to curb incidents of drunk driving and deadly accidents. This is part of an initiative commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, the pilot project for which will run until mid-September.

Italy is in the midst of testing a programme to offer free taxi rides for party-goers in a bid to curb incidents of drunk driving and deadly accidents. This is part of an initiative commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, the pilot project for which will run until mid-September. About the initiative So far, the pilot programme has only been launched at six nightclubs around the country, from Puglia in the south to Tuscany and Veneto in the north. In line with the scheme, if a person appears too drunk when they exit the venue, they will be subjected to an alcohol test. Based on the test, if the person’s blood alcohol level is deemed above the legal limit, a taxi will be called to take them home and it will be paid for by the government, with funding for the scheme being provided by the transport ministry. The announcement was also made on the Italian lawmaker’s X, formerly known as Twitter, account, where he wrote, “Free taxis at the end of the night for those who have drunk too much,” and called it a “practical initiative”. The initiative is “aimed at preventing danger and tragedy on the roads”, adding that fines and drink-driving laws were not enough to combat the problem. He added, “The idea, born after meetings at the ministry on road safety with influencers and content creators, provides for the payment of transport to those who, undergoing the alcohol test at the exit of the discos, exceed the limit set for getting behind the wheel.” “To stop the slaughter (on the roads), we need to involve everyone in terms of prevention,” said Salvini, on X, last week. A somewhat welcomed step According to local media reports, the initiative was welcomed and largely well-received. “I think it’s a good idea because there are so many accidents. People go out dancing and they drink. This experiment could finally contain the problem,” a young man named Marco told the newspaper Il Gazzettino, outside the nightclub near the town of Jesolo. However, the scheme has also been criticised by social media users, while responding to the lawmaker’s post on X. Some people on the microblogging app said that the scheme “rewards” excessive alcohol consumption. “I’m so happy that people can now get wasted on alcohol without consequences and the state will pay for their transport,” said another person, on social media. While others appeared to resent that their taxes would contribute to such an initiative. “Knowing that the taxes I pay end up like this really makes me sick!” said another critic, on X. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Too drunk to drive back home? Italian government will offer a free taxi ride

A 21-year-old on his way back from a party was involved in multiple hit-and-run cases on Monday morning. Two people died and one person was critically injured, the police said. 
 
Police said Rishabh - a resident of west Delhi&#39;s Janakpuri -- was driving his father&#39;s Honda City car at a speed of over 100 kmph and hit 3 persons over a 1.5 km stretch before he was stopped and caught. 
 
According to the police, the first victim was 40-year-old Kameshwar Prasad, a government employee, who was out for a morning walk. The impact of the speeding car threw him several metres away. 
 
But Rishabh did not stop, the police said. He drove on and next hit 40-year-old Santosh, who was cleaning cars in a residential area. He sped away again, driving in the wrong lane, and then hit 67-year-old Ashwani Anand, a property dealer who also was out for a morning walk with a neighbour.&nbsp; 
 
CCTV footage recovered from the area showed Mr Anand&#39;s accident. In the footage, which surfaced later in the day, Mr Anand could be seen noticing the car and trying to escape by running towards a pavement. But the car did not stop, and hit him. 
 
A police patrolling team chased and intercepted Rishabh after covering quite a distance. Police said Rishabh was in such a state that he couldn&#39;t even manage to stand up. 
 
Santosh, who was critically injured, is battling for his life. The police said he is not in a condition to give his statement. 
 
The car, which is registered in Rishabh&#39;s father&#39;s name, has been seized. The police said they found liquor bottles inside. 
 
Rishabh, the son of a businessman -- is a student of business administration in a college under a prominent government university in Delhi. He has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other charges under Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act, said senior police officer Pushpendra Kumar.

He leaves two dead and one hurt in his wake

A 21-year-old on his way back from a party was involved in multiple hit-and-run cases on Monday morning. Two people died and one person was critically injured, the police said. Police said Rishabh - a resident of west Delhi's Janakpuri -- was driving his father's Honda City car at a speed of over 100 kmph and hit 3 persons over a 1.5 km stretch before he was stopped and caught. According to the police, the first victim was 40-year-old Kameshwar Prasad, a government employee, who was out for a morning walk. The impact of the speeding car threw him several metres away. But Rishabh did not stop, the police said. He drove on and next hit 40-year-old Santosh, who was cleaning cars in a residential area. He sped away again, driving in the wrong lane, and then hit 67-year-old Ashwani Anand, a property dealer who also was out for a morning walk with a neighbour. CCTV footage recovered from the area showed Mr Anand's accident. In the footage, which surfaced later in the day, Mr Anand could be seen noticing the car and trying to escape by running towards a pavement. But the car did not stop, and hit him. A police patrolling team chased and intercepted Rishabh after covering quite a distance. Police said Rishabh was in such a state that he couldn't even manage to stand up. Santosh, who was critically injured, is battling for his life. The police said he is not in a condition to give his statement. The car, which is registered in Rishabh's father's name, has been seized. The police said they found liquor bottles inside. Rishabh, the son of a businessman -- is a student of business administration in a college under a prominent government university in Delhi. He has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other charges under Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act, said senior police officer Pushpendra Kumar.

Drunk Delhi Driving: A 21-year-old hits and runs, then hits and runs again, then hits and runs a third time

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Too drunk to drive back home? Italian government will offer a free taxi ride

Drunk Delhi Driving: A 21-year-old hits and runs, then hits and runs again, then hits and runs a third time