Road sporting events, such as athletic races, cycling races, competitions with animals, or motor vehicle races, are allowed only within the limits established by law and must always be authorized. Authorization is required to protect public safety, ensure the proper functioning of public transport, and allow normal traffic to continue as smoothly as possible.
The authority that grants the authorization depends on the type of event and on how wide the route extends. If the event takes place in only one municipality, the authorization may be issued by that municipality. If it involves several municipalities or wider territories, the competent region or autonomous province becomes involved. For motor vehicle competitions, the authorization also depends on the type of road used and is issued by the territorially competent authority after consulting the relevant national sports federations and informing the public security authority.
Authorization requests must be submitted within specific time limits. In general, organizers must apply in advance, and for motor competitions they must also request prior clearance from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. To include competitions in the annual program, the request normally has to be submitted by the end of the previous year. If organizers want to hold a competition not included in the program, the request must be made even earlier.
Motor vehicle competitions must comply with strict technical and safety rules. Authorization also depends on the successful inspection of the race route and of the related equipment. This inspection verifies that the route is suitable and safe. In some regularity events, where the average speed remains within limited thresholds, the inspection may be omitted, but it becomes mandatory when higher speeds are allowed.
For all road sporting events, civil liability insurance is compulsory. The insurance must cover not only damage caused to people or property, but also any damage caused to roads and road equipment during the event.
In cycling competitions, when traffic safety requires it, an escort may be imposed. This escort may be provided by road police authorities or, in the cases allowed by law, by specially qualified technical escort personnel. For cycling or running events held within a municipality, supervision may also be carried out by the municipal police, if necessary with the support of authorized technical personnel.
When needed, temporary suspension of traffic may be ordered along the route to allow participants to pass safely. If it is not necessary to close the road completely, the suspension may be limited to the time strictly necessary for the event to pass. This helps reduce inconvenience to normal traffic while still protecting participants and other road users.
At the end of each competition, the competent authorities report the results and note any problems, failures to comply, or accidents. This information is useful for assessing how the event was managed and for planning future competitions more effectively.
Organizing a road sporting event without authorization leads to administrative penalties. Penalties are more serious for motor vehicle races. In addition, the event may be immediately prohibited. Failure to comply with the conditions, limits, or obligations contained in the authorization also leads to penalties. If a temporary traffic suspension order is violated, the sanctions applicable are those provided for violations of traffic bans.
🔗 Read the official text of Art. 9 on the ACI portal (Italian)
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