Under 18 pillion in Italy

[Sheep1450]

The wife and I are planning a trip across the Alps and down to the end of Italy then Island hop from Sicily to Sardinia then to Corsica and on to France and home.

Have been doing some free reading research in WH Smiths and in the AA Europe Camping Guide, It states that the legal age for a pillion in Italy is 18. This is news to me as we (myself,wife and son) have travelled into Northern Italy before when he was only 11.

He is now 13 but is not really big enough to pass for 18. Is this information correct and what are the chances of being stopped/fined.

[Donmanolo]

Ehm....who told you this one?

I'm not sure what the legal age limit is...but if it was that high then I'm sure that the police would be doing something about all the mums that come to pick up their primary school kids by scooter from the school across the road from where I live, here in "law abiding" Trieste.

Don't worry about it. I'm sure someone will be along with the exact details, but actually a law was passed a couple of years ago giving minimum height requirements as well as imposing the use of child seats for motorbikes and requiring that the pillion has to be related to the driver. This law obviously refers to kids much younger than your 13 year old.

Enjoy your journey, and please PM me if you need any more info. I'll look for the precise details on the italian automobile club website.

[Neil]

Call me silly and spank me with a clever stick but the AA have a really usefull website (not necessarily exclusive to motorcycles if at all, but..). Give it a once over and make up your mind on whether the Italians are going to burst a gasket over a 13 year old on the back of the bike, when at 14 they're allowed to do their CBT equivalent.

European Driving : AA touring tips. Local rules and advice for European countries - The AA

All the best! I wish I had cool parents that took me on European bike rides when I was young.

[Donmanolo]

Yeah....didn't think of that.... wait one more year....and he can follow you around on his own (50cc) bike.....lilke the ones all the local kids ride, but hopefully without the "modifications" that they seem to get away with easily

Until recently he wouldn't even have needed a licence, now he'd have to take a theory test (practical road test not required)

Seems incredible, I know...but this is an incredible country, unfortunately also in the negative sense....I mean....just take a look at our prime minister...

[TChallen]

As I understand the rules I can find, the DRIVER has to be 18 to carry a passenger on the bike. Passengers must be 4 years old or older.