Fatal road accidents increase in Italy police say

(ANSA) - Rome, August 28 - Fatal accidents are sharply on the increase on Italian roads, with a peak last July, in particular at night time, in part due to people texting and taking selfies while driving, according to Poliziamoderna monthly magazine.
    In all 972 people died on the roads in Italy in the first seven months this year (up from 952 over the same period in 2014), ending a more positive period in which the number of fatal accidents fell regularly from 2001 to 20013, according to the figures compiled by police and Carabinieri.
    Fatal accidents rose from 879 in 2014 to 897 this year. In July the number of dead in accidents increased by 70% among people using two-wheeled vehicles while it increased by 80% among pedestrians.
    In addition to speeding and reckless driving after abuse of alcohol and drugs a further cause has been distraction caused by technology as people try and send texts, emails or snap 'selfies' while driving.
    A French study shows that distraction by listening on the telephone while driving reduces the amount of information perceived from the road by 30 to 50%.
    Also to blame is failure to use seat belts especially on shorter urban drives while according to the Ministry of Transport only 63% of drivers where seat belts in Italy and only 10 % of back seat passengers put on seat belts.
    Traffic police have started new strategies to improve security including more stringent checks since the average age of vehicles in Italy is getting older due to the economic crisis. Special attention is being paid to buses and coaches carrying school children.