ROME -- Only three out of 10 Italian drivers use seat belts, according to a report published Tuesday by the Italian Health Ministry, quoted by DPA.

The percentage of drivers who use seat belts drops to 25 per cent in central Italy and to 18 per cent in the southern regions. Although seat belts were made compulsory in Italy ten years ago, their use was still "decisively insufficient," the report said.

Around 20 per cent of motorbike riders also fail to wear a safety helmet, the report showed.

The report highlighted the fact that seat belts, helmets and air bags can reduce lethal road accidents by half.

Italy has one of the worst road safety records in Europe, with 8,000 deaths and up to 25,000 people made invalid reported each year.