“Safe Holidays” returns for 2025 — the awareness and inspection campaign promoted by the Traffic Police, Assogomma, and Federpneus. The initiative shines a spotlight on one of the most critical issues for professionals in the vehicle repair sector: tire maintenance and vehicle safety, especially with the rise in summer traffic.
This year, inspections were carried out on nearly 10,000 vehicles across 38 provinces in six Italian regions. The sample covers over 35% of the national territory and reveals recurring — yet alarming — trends for those on the front lines of road safety.
ACI data highlights the progressive aging of Italy’s vehicle fleet: of over 41 million cars, 59% are more than 10 years old, and 24% are over 20. This alone explains the rise in non-compliance detected during inspections:
- 20% of vehicles had tire-related issues (worn tread, structural damage, or non-approved tires).
- 1 in 4 vehicles failed to comply with regulations, including expired or missing inspections;
- Among cars older than 10 years, the non-compliance rate rises to 33%
Vehicle age remains the main indicator of neglect: only 2% of cars under 5 years lacked a valid inspection; that figure jumps to 12% for cars aged 5–10 years, and 17% for older vehicles.
These figures have a direct impact on safety — influencing irregular component wear, braking distances, and vehicle stability.
5.6% of inspected vehicles had mismatched tires on the same axle (different brand, model, or type) — a practice that’s not only illegal but technically unacceptable. It compromises vehicle balance and emergency handling, often resulting from poor economic decisions or work done by unqualified personnel.
The improper use of winter tires in summer is also on the rise: over 50% of the vehicles inspected were still fitted with them, despite seasonal regulations having expired. While the use of all-season tires partially explains this, drivers must be reminded that winter tires in summer lead to reduced dry performance, longer braking distances, and faster tread wear.
«A car isn’t an electronic device — it requires regular maintenance by qualified professionals,», emphasizes Fabio Bertolotti, Director of Assogomma. «Economic hardship leads many drivers to delay service and opt for low-quality or even used tires. But what seems like savings quickly turns into higher costs in terms of safety and durability».
The Traffic Police also reinforce the importance of technical prevention: «The Safe Holidays campaign sends a clear message — road safety begins with a properly maintained vehicle, and tires are the essential point of contact between car and road», says Santo Puccia, Director of the Traffic Police Service.
For mechanics and sector professionals, these findings are a clear call to action — not only for technical work, but also as advisors. Educating customers on the importance of regular maintenance, proper and uniform tire use, and seasonal adjustments is now a vital part of service.
Every inspection in the workshop is a real step toward safer roads.
