Italian bikers who have grown accustomed to wind-in-the-hair motorcycling, now have to put a lid on it.

Helmets became compulsory for all motorcyclists on Thursday in a bid to cut the human cost of accidents which kill hundreds of youths each year.

Memories of cool-as-you-like Audrey Hepburn riding a Vespa in Roman Holiday sum up the carefree image of Italian motorcycling in the past.

But alarm at the high accident rate has prompted a clampdown.

Although motorcycle and scooter accidents are the principal cause of death in Italy among youths aged 19 to 24, previous legislation made the wearing of helmets compulsory only for bikers aged 16 or younger.

Those refusing to wear helmets can now be fined up to 240,000 lire ($118), and motorbikes may be confiscated if drivers repeatedly refuse to wear helmets.

In 1998, motorbikes and scooters were involved in 69,793 accidents, killing 1,185 people and injuring more than 53,000, according to figures published Wednesday by the Italian motoring club ACI.

Of these accidents, 88% occurred on city streets.

Public Works Minister Enrico Micheli welcomed the tightening of the legislation in November, saying: "Helmets are lifesavers and, frankly speaking, it was incomprehensible that they were only compulsory for minors as if grown-ups were safe from accidents."

Nevertheless, Italy's youth may give the authorities a hard time over the hard hats.

According to a survey carried out at the time at 14 Roman high schools, about 60% of 19-year-olds were opposed to wearing helmets.