Traffic fines overhauled: Heavy penalties for speeding, road rage, and failing to yield to ambulances

The General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey will take up a regulation on its weekly agenda starting Tuesday, January 6, that introduces deterrent penalties for drivers who violate traffic rules. The Draft Law on Amending the Highway Traffic Law introduces high administrative fines and driver's license sanctions for numerous violations.

According to the proposal, drivers who modify their license plates in a way that prevents them from being read or causes them to be perceived differently will be subject to an administrative fine of 140 thousand liras. These vehicles will also be banned from traffic for 30 days.

TACHOGRAPH AND TAXIMETER MANDATE

It will become mandatory to have a tachograph in motor vehicles used for cargo transport with a maximum loaded weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms, as well as in passenger transport vehicles with more than 17 seats. The use of a taximeter will be mandatory in cars providing taxi services.

DRIVER'S LICENSE SANCTIONS FOR URBAN SPEEDING

The driver's licenses of those who exceed the speed limit in residential areas by 46-55 km/h will be suspended for 30 days, those who exceed it by 56-65 km/h for 60 days, and those who exceed it by 66 km/h or more for 90 days. Each violation will be evaluated separately.

HEAVY PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO YIELD

Drivers who do not yield to vehicles with right-of-way will be fined 15 thousand liras. Drivers who do not make way for or fail to stop when necessary for ambulances, fire trucks, vehicles carrying injured or emergency patients, and vehicles fighting forest fires will pay a fine of 46 thousand liras and have their driver's licenses suspended for 30 days.

PENALTIES FOR ROAD RAGE

Drivers who persistently follow another vehicle in traffic with the intent to attack or who exit their vehicle for this purpose will be subject to an administrative fine of 180 thousand liras. These individuals' driver's licenses will be suspended for 60 days, and their vehicles may be banned from traffic for 30 days.

SANCTIONS FOR NOISY VEHICLES

If modifications made to a vehicle cause noise at a level that disturbs the environment, the driver will be fined 16 thousand liras.

RED LIGHT VIOLATIONS AND PHONE USE

The driver's licenses of drivers who cause an accident by running a red light will be suspended for 60 days. At the end of this period, the return of the license will be conditional upon the driver passing a psychotechnical evaluation.

Drivers who use mobile phones or similar communication devices while driving will be subject to an administrative fine of 5 thousand liras.

PRISON FOR FLEEING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT

A prison sentence of 1 to 3 years is proposed for drivers who leave the scene of a traffic accident involving death or injury without a compelling reason and without permission from the authorities.

2-YEAR LICENSE BAN FOR STREET RACING

Motor vehicle drivers who race in traffic will be fined 46 thousand liras, and their driver's licenses will be suspended for 2 years.

News Source: 12punto