The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has announced a major overhaul of the system of penalties for breaches of the Highway Code. The new legislative proposals provide for a strict scale of fines, which will depend on the extent of the speeding offence.
- The Verkhovna Rada is planning to reform fines for speeding.
- Fines will rise to 17,000 hryvnias for repeat offenders.
- The new penalty system provides for a progressive scale depending on the extent of the offence.
- The documents are currently under consideration by the Verkhovna Rada.
- The changes could have a significant impact on the driving style of Ukrainians.
New approaches to penalties for traffic offences
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has announced a major overhaul of the system of penalties for breaches of the Highway Code. Under the new legislative proposals, the plan is to move away from outdated fixed penalties and introduce a strict, multi-tiered system of fines, which will depend directly on the number of «excess» kilometres on the speedometer. For repeat offenders the amount of the penalty may be as high as 17,000 hryvnias.
According to statistics from the Patrol Police, exceeding the speed limit remains the cause of over 40% of all road traffic accidents resulting in fatalities and injuries in Ukraine. Lawmakers consider the current fixed fine of 340 hryvnias – which is reduced to 170 hryvnias if paid promptly – to be out of proportion to the actual danger posed.
New scale of fines: how much will you have to pay?
The draft laws propose to make speeding a separate offence under the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences (KUAP) and to introduce a progressive scale:
- Speeding by more than 20 km/h: 680 hryvnias (the current fine is 340 hryvnias).
- Exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/h: 2,040 hryvnias (currently, drivers pay 1,700 hryvnias for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h).
- Speeding in excess of 60 km/h: 2,720 hryvnias.
- Speeding in excess of 80 km/h: 3,400 hryvnias.
A crackdown on «habitual» offenders
The most radical change concerns drivers who consistently flout the Highway Code. If speed cameras or patrol officers record five or more speeding offences within a single year, the fine will rise to 17,000 hryvnias.
“This will significantly reduce the number of offences and improve road safety,” the authors of the bill state.
In addition to fines, the draft legislation provides for further enforcement measures. In particular, if extreme speeding (in excess of 60–80 km/h) has led to a dangerous situation, it is proposed that the driver’s driving licence be suspended for a period of between 6 months and 1 year.
The documents are currently under consideration by the relevant committees of the Verkhovna Rada. If they are approved in the plenary chamber and signed by the President, the new rules will force speeders to significantly rethink their driving style.
