The indicator evaluates the demand for freight transport (also in relation to economic growth) and the evolution over time of modal split. The transport demand is increasingly met by road freight transport, which continues to dominate other transport modes in terms of growth and modal share (approximately 62% in 2023).

The indicator measures passenger transport demand (according to different modes) and compares its trend with that of economic growth and population. Transport demand is increasingly met by individual road transport (passenger cars and motorcycles), which, due to its growth and modal share (approximately 81% in 2023), remains dominant compared to other transport modes.

The indicator allows the evaluation of the trend of specific carbon dioxide emissions of the circulating car fleet through the comparison between the values resulting from type-approval procedures and the values deriving from the actual use of vehicles on the road. It is also useful for the monitoring of carbon dioxide emissions of the circulating car fleet in relation to compliance with the voluntary agreements between the European Commission and the automotive industry. Since 2001, the year in which the Civil Motorization began to monitor the specific emissions of the newly registered fleet, these emissions have been decreasing and are in any case significantly lower than the estimates of real on-road emissions, showing a gap between type-approval data and real-world data.

Stricter emission standards, the introduction of new technologies into the market—such as the installation of catalytic converters in vehicles—and improvements in fuel quality have led to significant reductions in the specific emissions of various pollutants from passenger cars and trucks; however, these improvements have been partially offset by the increase in traffic.

The indicator determines mortality and severity rates associated with different transport modes, to inform policies for enhancing transport safety. In Italy during 2023, 166,525 road accidents involving personal injuries were recorded, resulting in 3,039 fatalities and 224,634 injuries. Compared to 2022, the number of road accidents increased by 0.4%, while fatalities and injuries showed a decrease of -3.8% and an increase of 0.5%, respectively.

This indicator monitors the development of transport infrastructure networks. Between 1990 and 2022, 1,373 km of new motorways were constructed in Italy (+22.2%). As of 2022, Italy ranks eighth in the world for operational high-speed rail network length, according to the International Union of Railways (UIC).

The indicator allows for the assessment of emissions of major air pollutants produced by the transport sector. In Italy, harmful emissions from road transport have significantly decreased in recent years thanks to the introduction of catalytic converters, particulate filters, and other vehicle-installed technologies. From 1990 to 2022, road emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) decreased by 88.2%, nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by 74.8%, and fine particulate matter (PM) emissions by 75.0%. Sulfur oxides (SOx) emissions, now nearly absent from road transport, remain significant in maritime transport. The 2020 estimates reflect the effects of the pandemic, while 2021 and 2022 show a gradual recovery. Pollutant emissions into the atmosphere are monitored at the national level to verify compliance with reduction commitments imposed by European legislation, aiming to achieve air quality levels that do not cause significant negative impacts or risks to human health and the environment.

The indicator quantifies fuel consumption in the transport sector to monitor and/or reduce and diversify it. Energy consumption in transport has shown an upward trend since the 1990s, followed by a decline starting in 2007. In 2018 and 2019, consumption rebounded, while 2020 saw a sharp reduction due to the pandemic crisis, followed by a recovery in 2021 and a further increase in 2022. Road transport and fossil fuels account for the predominant share. Several critical issues characterize the national transport system, which remains far from the ambitious 2030 and 2050 European targets for fuel consumption in the transport sector.

The indicator assesses greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector to monitor progress towards national and international targets. In 2022, transport accounted for 26.6% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Italy. Between 1990 and 2019, transport emissions (excluding international transport/bunkers) increased by 4.1%. In 2020, a sharp decline (-18.6% compared to 2019) was observed, mainly due to mobility restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, emissions increased by 18.9% from 2020 to 2021. In 2022, a further estimated increase of 6.7% brought emissions back to pre-pandemic levels. Overall, emissions from the transport sector rose by 7.4% from 1990 to 2022. The national transport system faces multiple critical issues and remains far from achieving the ambitious 2030 and 2050 EU climate targets.

This indicator tracks the share of road vehicles complying with the most recent emission standards during the 2005-2022 period. In 2022, passenger cars still showed a non-negligible proportion (13.7%) of Euro 0 gasoline vehicles, while for diesel cars this share was significantly lower at approximately 2.9%. More concerning is the commercial vehicle fleet situation - predominantly diesel-powered - where 11.2% of light commercial vehicles (vans) and 27.1% of heavy goods vehicles remain at Euro 0 standard.

The indicator measures the size of the vehicle fleet, which represents a major factor contributing to environmental pressure. According to Eurostat, Italy has the highest vehicle fleet among EU countries in relation to population. In 2022, the number of passenger cars per thousand inhabitants was 682, exceeded only by Liechtenstein and Iceland.