In brief
The decree replacing the rules on motorcyclist safety guardrails was signed on September 11, 2026, and published in the Official Gazette on October 19, but it is not yet in force: it takes effect on April 17, 2027. From that day, DSMs, continuous strips that cover barrier posts and uprights, must be provided at least on curves with a radius under 250 meters, on descents and dangerous road narrowings, and on sections with recent serious crashes, on roads with a design speed of 70 km/h or higher.
Nothing changes for drivers: no new obligations, no penalties. Over time, the roads you encounter will change.
DSMs are continuous strips that cover guardrail posts
A standard guardrail protects cars, but for anyone sliding on the asphalt without their motorcycle underneath them, the posts are the real danger. That’s what DSMs are designed for.
The decree’s definition
Article 1 defines DSMs as safety devices for motorcyclists to be fitted to road barriers to reduce the severity of impacts when a rider falls and slides on the road. They must be continuous and positioned along the barrier to contain and redirect the motorcyclist, preventing them from hitting posts, anchors, connections or obstacles behind the barrier.
These are construction products installed on the barrier (typically on posts and longitudinal elements with a discontinuous surface) to create an uninterrupted impact surface.
In practice, when you see a guardrail with a smooth, continuous strip below the rail that hides the posts, you’re looking at a DSM. If you can see the posts exposed at regular intervals, there’s no protection.
The decree has been published but enters into force on April 17, 2027
Anyone who tells you “guardrails change starting today” is oversimplifying: six months pass between publication and implementation.
| Aspect | Ministerial Decree of April 1, 2019 | Ministerial Decree of September 11, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Applicable until the new decree enters into force | Published, in force from April 17, 2027; repeals the 2019 decree |
| Where it applies | Urban and rural roads open to motor vehicles, for new works or upgrades | New or existing barriers on roads with a design speed of 70 km/h or higher |
| Designated zones | Bends with a radius under 250 m; intersections with at least 5 motorcycle or moped accidents in 3 years | Bends under 250 m; dangerous descents and narrowings; sections with serious accidents in the last three years |
| Technical standard | Not verified in this article | UNI CEN/TS 17342:2019, tests in accredited laboratories |
| Work already underway | — | If a tender is underway or a feasibility project has been approved, the 2019 decree applies |
An important distinction: the 2026 decree has been approved and published, but is not yet in force. Information about the 2019 decree comes from reports at the time (inSella, Moto.it); information about the 2026 decree comes from the text published in the Official Gazette and reports from recent days. If you need to design or challenge a project, consult a professional and read the official text.
Tight bends, descents, narrowings and accident-prone sections: where the decree requires DSMs
L'Article 4 lists the minimum zones. The designer must justify the risk in a report signed by a registered engineer.
- Bends with a radius under 250 meters, on the outer side, and on both carriageways if they are separated.
- Dangerous descents marked with figure II 15 of the implementing regulations of the Highway Code.
- Dangerous narrowings marked with figures II 17, II 18 or II 19.
- Sections with serious accidents: in the last three years, fatal accidents or accidents involving serious injuries caused by motorcycles or mopeds leaving the road or colliding with the safety barrier.
The protection must cover the entire length of the area, extending at least 10 meters before the narrowing and beyond the ends of bends and descents. However, the designer may justify the decision not to install DSM in a technical report, and the text allows exemptions under special conditions, for example in areas with heavy, recurring snowfall, provided the authority demonstrates the risk to safety or maintenance.
For anyone traveling through the Alpine passes or the Apennines, this is a familiar picture: hairpin bends, long descents, narrow stretches. These are the places where motorcycles are least forgiving and where the guardrail is closest to the edge.
Existing barriers must be upgraded, but the decree sets no deadline
Almost all the guardrails you see today are already installed. The decree addresses them in Article 5.
For barriers in use in the areas covered by Article 4, the managing authority must carry out a risk assessment, supported by a reasoned report from a registered engineer. LInstallation depends on the type of barrier: those bearing the CE mark or compliant with UNI EN 1317-2 require a CE-certified system; those dating from before UNI EN 1317-5 and the decree of June 28, 2011 may have a DSM fitted without further checks if they are technically compatible and meet three requirements; a DSM may be fitted to another barrier in use if the two are technically equivalent.
The text does not say who pays or by when the network must be upgraded. The criticisms reported by Moto.it make the same point: designers and operators are given broad discretion, while funding and upgrade timelines remain unclear. In other words, expect gradual change, not a country full of brand-new guardrails by April 17.
In 2025, 802 motorcyclists died: 28% of road fatalities
The figures explain why barriers are being discussed. With one caveat about the scope of the data.
The figures come from the Istat report on road accidents in 2025. The report does not include a specific figure for collisions with barriers: “single-vehicle” is the closest indicator, but it covers every accident involving no other vehicles, from sliding on a bend to leaving the road. That's why you won't find a percentage of lives that DSMs “would save” in this article: that would be a made-up number.
A DSM reduces the severity of a slide, but it doesn't prevent the mistake
This needs to be said honestly, because on social media the “life-saving guardrail” is often presented as a definitive solution.
- It covers poles, anchors and connections that the body would otherwise slide into.
- It catches and redirects anyone who falls and slides on the asphalt.
- There is a technical specification (UNI CEN/TS 17342:2019) with impact tests conducted in accredited laboratories.
- It does not prevent a fall or correct an inappropriate speed.
- It is not everywhere: this depends on the area, project, and exemptions.
- It does not replace a helmet, protective gear, or certified clothing.
How to approach a bend without relying on the guardrail
No one will tell you to trust a barrier. These are the habits that matter most on the bends where DSMs will be installed.
- Brake before leaning into the bend. Entering slowly is safer than correcting your line while leaned over, especially on cold, damp, or leaf-covered asphalt, as our guide on how to ride a motorcycle in the rain explains.
- Look at the exit, not the edge. The motorcycle tends to go where you look. On bends with a guardrail one meter away, look toward the exit line.
- Leave room when entering blind bends. If you can’t see the exit, leave enough space to stop within the distance you can see is clear.
- Check visibility and lights. In the dark, rain, or backlighting, it’s harder to read the bend in time: see our tips on riding a motorcycle in the dark during daylight saving time.
- Wear the right gear, even for short trips. An approved helmet, jacket and trousers with protectors, gloves, boots, and a back protector: for helmets, see what Italian law says.
If you’ve fallen once and want to know how to regain your confidence, read how to get back on your motorcycle after a fall.
Seeing the bend and being seen: the role of approved auxiliary lights
This is where Endurrad comes in in a practical way, without promising miracles: auxiliary lights won’t prevent a fall, but they help you read the road sooner in the dark.
An approved auxiliary light with low and high beams illuminates the bend farther ahead than the main headlight, and on descents or in fog, the yellow filter reduces glare. If you’d like to learn more, we have a guide on how to read an ECE certificate for auxiliary lights.
- Approval
- ECE R149.00 Class C
- Certificate
- E57*149R00/06*1142
- Beams
- Low beam and high beam
- Levels
- 8, adjustable while riding
- Protection
- IP68, glass lens
- Light color
- White 6000K, yellow 3000K
- Clamps
- 22, 25 and 28 mm tubes
- Power
- 80 W low beam, 150 W both beams
As of the article date, only a few items remain in stock. If you're looking for other options, you'll find auxiliary lights, mounts and control units in the motorcycle lighting and electrical collection. Check compatibility with your motorcycle before purchasing.
L’App Endurrad per iPhone
Endurrad catalogs, news and guides in your pocket: download the Endurrad app on the App Store.
Frequently asked questions about motorcycle-friendly guardrails
What are motorcycle-friendly guardrails?
They are safety devices for motorcyclists, abbreviated DSM. They are fitted to roadside barriers and create a continuous surface covering posts, uprights and anchors: a fallen motorcyclist sliding along the asphalt is caught and redirected instead of hitting the barrier's harder components.
Is the DSM decree already in force?
No. The decree issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport on September 11, 2026, was published in Official Gazette No. 243 on October 19, 2026, and, according to Article 7, enters into force 180 days after publication, that is, on April 17, 2027. Until then, the decree of April 1, 2019, remains applicable.
What changes compared with the 2019 decree?
The new text repeals and replaces the 2019 decree. It sets the scope threshold (roads with a design speed of 70 km/h or higher), lists the areas to be protected (curves with a radius of less than 250 meters, dangerous descents, narrowings and sections with serious accidents in the past three years), refers to the UNI CEN/TS 17342:2019 technical specification, and regulates barriers already in service.
Where should DSMs be installed?
At least on the outside of curves with a radius of less than 250 meters, on dangerous descents marked with sign II 15, at dangerous narrowings marked with signs II 17, II 18 or II 19, and on road sections where, in the last three years, there have been fatal accidents or accidents involving serious injuries caused by motorcycles or mopeds leaving the road or hitting the safety barrier.
Are DSMs mandatory on all roads?
No. The decree applies to barriers on roads with a design speed of 70 km/h or higher. In addition, the designer may justify not installing them in a technical report, taking into account traffic, speed, geometry and other safety measures. Exemptions are also provided for particular conditions, such as heavy, recurring snowfall.
Will existing barriers be upgraded?
The decree requires the managing authority to assess the risk for barriers in service in the specified areas, with a report prepared by a registered engineer, and sets out the conditions under which a DSM can be installed on existing barriers. However, it does not set a deadline for upgrading the entire network: timelines and funding remain open issues.
Will a guardrail with a DSM always save me if I fall?
No, it reduces the severity of the impact in a specific scenario: a fall and slide into the barrier. It does not stop a motorcycle that hits it upright, protect against collisions with other obstacles, or replace protective gear. The decree speaks of mitigating the severity, not eliminating the risk.
How can I recognize a DSM along the road?
Looking at the barrier from the side: a DSM is a continuous strip mounted below or in front of the barrier’s rail, concealing the posts. Where you see a guardrail with exposed posts at regular intervals, that protection is not there. The decree explicitly requires DSMs to be continuous.
Are DSMs approved?
They are construction products that must pass impact tests in laboratories accredited under UNI CEI EN ISO 17025, in accordance with specification UNI CEN/TS 17342. If the manufacturer verifies conformity, it issues a declaration assessing performance and factory production control. If the DSM is part of the barrier, the integrated system follows CE marking under UNI EN 1317-5.
How many motorcyclists were killed in Italy in 2025?
According to the Istat report on road accidents in 2025, 802 motorcyclists were killed, 3.4% fewer than in 2024, accounting for 28.0% of the 2,868 road deaths overall. 56 moped riders were killed.
How many motorcyclists die in accidents involving no other vehicles?
In 2025, according to Istat, 248 of the 802 motorcyclists who died (30.9%) were killed in single-vehicle accidents. This is an indicative figure: the category includes every accident involving no other vehicles, not just collisions with barriers, for which the report gives no specific figure.
What can I do to avoid ending up against a guardrail?
Enter a turn at the right speed, brake before leaning and not during the turn, look toward the exit of the turn and not at the roadside, and make sure you are visible and can see better, especially in the dark and rain. L'Certified gear (helmet, jacket and pants with protectors, gloves, boots, back protector) reduces the consequences if you crash.
Does the decree say anything about requirements for motorcyclists?
No. The decree applies to those who design, build, and manage roads, and to device manufacturers. It does not introduce new obligations, prohibitions, or penalties for motorcycle riders.
Get your adventure bike ready for the late-season curves
At Endurrad, you'll find a selection of accessories for lighting, protection, and carrying capacity, with compatibility verified by make and model. Send us your motorcycle's model and year, and we'll help you choose.
Motorcycle lightingSources. Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Decree of September 11, 2026, “Provisions for the use on roads of road safety devices for motorcyclists (DSM),” Official Gazette, General Series No. 243 of 19-10-2026, code 26A05446 (available at gazzettaufficiale.it; text consulted via the PDF copy published by Certifico). Istat, Road traffic accidents in 2025. News reports: Moto.it, October 25, 2026; inSella, on the 2019 decree. Product data: Endurrad and LOBOO product sheets. This article is for informational purposes and is not legal advice.
