The grumbling began at midnight.That was when a new and, by Italian standards, draconian law requiring motorbike drivers to wear helmets went into effect. By morning, the streets of Rome, always jammed with motorbikes, displayed the novel, slightly surreal sight of riders actually wearing helmets, most of them muttering bitterly.''I've never worn one before, and I think it is totally unnecessary,'' Luca Raetano, 27, complained as he pulled off the helmet he bought on Wednesday. ''It's uncomfortable and hot. Now, summer is coming, and it will be completely unbearable.''Traffic safety is a sore subject in Italy, where studies show that only 10 percent of drivers fasten their seat belts, despite a 1988 law making seat belt use mandatory. (In law-abiding Germany, 92 percent of drivers buckle up.) Until now, only a third of Italian motorbike drivers wore helmets, which were obligatory for minors and for drivers of motorbikes with engines of 125 cubic centimeters or more. Italy, where it is estimated that one in five people drives a motorcycle or a smaller motorbike, is the last nation in the European Union to pass a helmet law for motorbikes.

In a country where mothers defy the law to ferry children to school on motorbikes and businessmen make cell phone business calls while steering their ''motorinos'' through chaotic traffic jams, the new helmet law has unleashed angst and media agitation. motorcycle helmet laws in utahThe front page of every Italian newspaper today carried dire warnings about the consequences of going helmetless -- fines of $30 for an unbuckled helmet to $70 for no helmet at all. where to buy motorcycle helmet gta onlineMinors caught without helmets are to be fined $120.motorcycle superstore ratings The aesthetic costs of the new law are taken even more seriously. motorcycle shop windsor nsw

On Monday, the hosts of the state network's morning show interviewed a hairstylist who demonstrated with flowing wigs ways women drivers could maintain a locks-blowing-in-the-wind look, even while wearing a helmet. icon camo motorcycle helmetPaolo di Pofi, a Roman hairdresser, advised female readers of the daily newspaper La Stampa to maintain their coiffures by twisting brightly colored sponge rollers into their hair underneath their helmets.motorcycle front forks corrosion ''You put them on and take them off in a minute, and they look adorable,'' Mr. di Pofi promised.motorcycle clothing shops in doncasterLa Stampa excitedly but incorrectly reported that top designers like Armani and Dolce e Gabbana were unveiling chic helmets in their next collections.

But Gattinoni, a Rome-based designer, did receive 50 orders for his $300 ''Claire de Lune'' model, covered in a white iridescent fabric with a giant G embossed on the front.The physical risks of riding without a helmet have received less attention, but the statistics are daunting. Every sixth automotive death in Europe happens in Italy, where the road fatality rate is twice as high as in Britain or Sweden.''All the research shows that when you do not wear a helmet, you double your risk of a fatal or serious injury,'' said Jeanne Breen, executive director of the European Transport Safety Council. ''We are delighted that Italy has made this move. But it requires enforcement and a serious information campaign to get results.'' The traffic police did hand out tickets to helmetless riders this morning. But enforcement was dampened in Rome by a demonstration by 2,000 traffic police officers who suspended work for three hours to protest what they described as low pay, poor advancement and inadequate resources.

(They had a point: The traffic police have 70 motorini of their own for patrols, but could not use them today because bureaucratic delays left them without helmets.)In Naples, where helmet use is so rare that the police often stop helmeted riders, suspecting they are about to commit a crime, the police gave out 890 tickets by midafternoon.All over Italy, citizens complied with the new law, but there were some rather melodramatic examples of civil disobedience. The news agency ANSA reported that a helmet-free couple in a suburb of Naples were arrested after they tried to crash through a police blockade and nearly mowed down one policeman.It would be almost impossible to live in Italy and not know about the new law. Television programs and newspapers have been holding tense countdowns to today's deadline.''I didn't sell a single helmet until yesterday; then suddenly, at the last minute, my store was jammed,'' said Maurizio Polidori, 59, owner of a motorcycle parts store in central Rome. ''But Italians do everything at the last minute.

Five customers came in this morning with traffic tickets in hand.''Mr. Polidori said the law would be difficult to enforce for long. ''In Germany, they pass a law and people obey it,'' he said. ''But Italy is different from anyplace else. People make a point of honor to flout the law.''Most people grew up riding tricycles or big wheels as young children before graduating to the two-wheeled bicycle (with or without training wheels) and eventually evolving to drive four wheels in a true road-legal car or truck. But recently, the three-wheeled vehicle has made a comeback in a huge way, and is now poised to become the “it” mode of transportation of the future. Roadways are congested and traffic in any major city resembles a parking lot at least twice a day (or all day if you happen to live in Southern California). The three-wheeled revolution could very well be the key to cutting down on gridlock, and gas mileage. The overall cost to purchase and maintain a three-wheeled vehicle makes it the smart choice for those looking for a mode of transportation to and from work, or for very short distances.

There have been huge advancements in three-wheeled vehicles. No longer are the “trikes for adults” relegated solely to off-roading and back woods joyriding. These new three-wheelers are street legal, and depending on the make, are either classified as a motorcycle or a car. Let’s take a look at some of the few models that are out there, or will be very soon. First up is the Cam-Am Spyder. Manufactured by Bombardier Recreational Products, the Spyder comes in three different series, and it is classified as a motorcycle in most states and is subject to helmet laws where applicable. The Spyder has a 5-speed manual transmission and anti-lock brakes, which is standard on most models. , BRP rolled out the Spyder in 2007 and according to the Can-Am website, the 2014 “Roadster” features significant upgrades across the board. Harley-Davidson has also joined the three-wheeled revolution with their own version, but so far only in Japan, according to a report in Forbes. The Tri-Glide is another bike-classified vehicle, and would be held to motorcycle rules and guidelines.

This vehicle is only available in Japan as of now, but if demand is warranted, Harley-Davidson will most assuredly open the Tri-Glide to a more global audience. The Polaris Slingshot is another three-wheeled bike that is also classified as a motorcycle. According to Forbes, this means the vehicle does not meet to meet certain safety standard in regards to airbags bumpers and collapsible steering columns. Also, helmet laws would apply. The Slingshot is unique as even though it is a three-wheeled bike, it is a two seater, side-by-side., and the driver uses a wheel to steer. Peculiar to look at, and as Forbes argues, possibly dangerous to ride in. It looks neat, though. Lastly is the newest player in the market, The Elio. As reported here on The Inquisitr just recently, The Elio is a three-wheeled, all-enclosed vehicle, which classifies it as a motor vehicle. You must be licensed to drive, and you must wear a safety belt while operating. There is only one door for this two-seater, but both passengers ride tandem.