Rome to tame teenage scooter drivers

[Bob]

Mariolina Moioli dreams of bringing civilisation to Italy's chaotic streets with the introduction of a ‘mini-licence’ for under-18s who want to ride a scooter.

That means the end of an era for carefree 14-year-olds who for generations have been allowed to drive a scooter without so much as a permit or a driving lesson. Currently anybody is allowed to drive a scooter with an engine of 50 cc from the age of 14 without a licence.

"We're not going to save the world, but it's something," said Moioli.

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers now face the prospect of having to park their beloved Vespas from July 1 or pay a fine of more than 500 euros if they are caught without the mini-licence.

Scooter maker Piaggio, worried about the impact on sales, has offered to pay the fees at private driving schools for clients under 18 who buy a new scooter during the summer months when schools are closed. Piaggio said 14- to 17-year-olds were expected to buy around 35,000 50 cc scooters from May to July and already around 4,000 had registered to take advantage of the offer of free lessons.

[SPman]

Isn't that how Rossi started?

[Ghost Lemur]

Isn't that how Rossi started?

I'd say he started riding a hell of a lot earlier than 14.

[Wenier]

thats a pretty good deal for the newcomers and at least theyll have a few more skills than others who havent had the training. Good on piaggio for that move.