"Elderly Man Drives Car Down Spanish Steps, Sparks Calls for License Revocation"

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An elderly man in his 80s was apprehended by local police after driving a vehicle onto the 'Spanish Steps,' one of Rome's famous landmarks.

On the 17th (local time), local media outlets such as Corriere della Sera reported that at around 4:30 a.m., an 81-year-old man drove his vehicle down the Spanish Steps, resulting in an incident.

The driver was stopped by police officers who witnessed the situation while on patrol. Although the driver was not injured, he was reportedly in a highly confused state when found.

Police conducted tests to determine whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but no issues were found. He stated, "I took a wrong turn on my way to work and accidentally entered the steps."

On the 17th, a vehicle entered the famous 'Spanish Steps' in Rome, Italy. Photo by Yonhap News

The police have booked the man and are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident, while also assessing the extent of the damage, including any harm to the cultural property. The vehicle, which had come to a stop atop the steps, was towed away by the fire authorities.

The official name of the Spanish Steps is the 'Scalinata di Trinita dei Monti.' They are commonly called the Spanish Steps because they connect the Piazza di Spagna with the Trinita dei Monti church.

The Spanish Steps became widely known as the backdrop for the 1953 film "Roman Holiday" starring Audrey Hepburn. Since 2019, sitting or lying on the steps has been prohibited to protect the cultural property.

Footage of the incident quickly spread through the media and social networking services (SNS).

Many online users expressed concern over the fact that the accident involved an elderly driver. There were also some heated reactions, such as "Elderly people should have their licenses revoked immediately," and "Whoever renewed this person's driver's license should be prosecuted."

Meanwhile, in 2022, a Saudi Arabian tourist in his 30s was prosecuted for damaging cultural property after driving a sports car down the Spanish Steps. In the same year, an American tourist was punished for throwing an electric scooter onto the steps.