Ali Yerlikaya announces increased penalty rates with the new Traffic Law: Rising from 4 thousand to 46 thousand liras

Yerlikaya made statements regarding the new traffic law and the current agenda during a broadcast on CNN Türk.

Making a statement regarding the issue of illegal sirens/flashers, Minister Yerlikaya said, "There was a great deal of resentment in our society regarding illegal sirens. We made a 1-article amendment. The fine has become 138 thousand liras, the driver's license is suspended for 30 days, and the vehicle is banned from traffic for 30 days. 100 thousand vehicles were inspected in 1 year, and 6 thousand penalty procedures were carried out." Yerlikaya announced that 250 thousand Syrians have returned to their country since December 9, and as of today, there are 3 million 988 thousand foreigners in Turkey.

Here are the highlights from Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya's statements:

"Our President addressed our nation and the whole world, saying that this century will be the Century of Turkey. We are fighting against terrorism in our cities and rural areas, fighting against organized crime organizations, fighting against drugs, fighting against irregular migration, fighting against public order; yes, we are fighting these, but there is one area, regarding traffic, yes, we have a very big duty regarding ensuring that traffic is in order and safe.

"WE MUST REDUCE LOSS OF LIFE"

In 2023, there were 17 deaths in one day. At the end of 2002, the number of people dying in one day was 24. From those levels, that is, when the AK Party first came to power, it was 25-20 per day, and in 2023 it was 17.4. When I looked at the briefing I received from the traffic presidency when I arrived, I saw that the numbers were going up very quickly. We also have a promise; our President has a promise to our citizens at the Külliye, the nation's house. In February 2021, our President issued a circular numbered two with the motto 'safe traffic, safe Turkey,' saying that, just like the recommendation of the United Nations for all countries, we must reduce the loss of life due to traffic in the world by 50 percent by 2030. We must also bring this to zero by 2050. A ministerial summit was held regarding this and it was declared. We will bring this to zero in 2050. Look, a three-year action plan was made for these. The coordination task was given to the Ministry of Interior.

In 2020, despite it being the Covid period, Turkey dropped to 5.82. In 2023, it rose to 7.67. The US has now moved ahead of Russia. When comparing countries, it is done based on 100 thousand people. Our President showed the 2030 target. When 2030 arrives, our daily average loss of life target is 7.16. We believe we can do it, that's why we are here. Currently, the discussion is continuing in the Commission in Parliament. We need infrastructure regarding safety in traffic. Education regarding traffic safety is also very important. There is 1 hour of compulsory lessons in the 4th and 9th grades. In the last 6 years, training has been provided to 50 million people by our Education and Gendarmerie units.

INCREASE IN FINES FOR ILLEGAL SIRENS

I increased inspections by 50 percent in 1 year. We increased the number of fines by 44 percent and issued 10 million fines. Despite carrying out 10 million procedures, we were only able to save 197 people. We increased the number of vehicles in traffic by 48 percent. We increased the number of teams by 36 percent. We have increased the number of radars by 17.5 percent since 2023. The number of body cameras for our police and gendarmerie in traffic inspections has been increased to 42 thousand. ASELSAN makes the cameras. We can connect to our friend's body camera from GAMER whenever we want.

There was a great deal of resentment in our society regarding illegal sirens. We made a 1-article amendment. The fine has become 138 thousand liras, the driver's license is suspended for 30 days, and the vehicle is banned from traffic for 30 days. 100 thousand vehicles were inspected in 1 year, and 6 thousand penalty procedures were carried out. At the governors' meeting, I said that if illegal sirens are used in public or private vehicles, they should not rely on themselves. I gave instructions to my governors.

The first of the causes of the most deaths is speeding. Then comes lane tracking, right of way, rear-end collision, and red light violation. We put these 5 penalties on the table. In 2024, the rate of speeding violations in fatal accidents within total rule errors is 47.2 percent. In 2024, 10 people died every day in speed accidents. According to TUIK data; 79 percent of accidents occur in residential areas and 21 percent outside residential areas.

"ISSUED FINES WILL FALL INTO E-DEVLET WITHIN MINUTES"

The mobile radar device was produced by Radarsan. It is an artificial intelligence-supported device. Radars will be placed everywhere. We will put this in front of hospitals, in front of schools. It will be placed in places where the most accidents occur. We are not setting traps for our citizens. Citizens will see where the radar will be with an application. We will not tell the exact location. Our goal is not to write a fine, but to say 'be careful, we are here'. The device can shoot with the same quality day and night. It will be able to check not only speed but also seat belts. The fine will fall into e-Devlet within minutes.

We will install this in places where we are hurt. On the 5th speeding violation, a psycho-technical evaluation will be performed and a psychiatric examination will be required. If you go 140 where you should go 90 outside the residential area, your driver's license will be taken. The World Health Organization says that 'Traffic deaths are a preventable public health issue'.

3.17 people die every day due to lane tracking and changing violations. We increased the fine, which was 2,167 TL, to 5,000 TL. We increased the fine for heavy vehicles to 10,000 TL. The fine for driving in the opposite lane on a one-way road will be 10,000 TL, 20,000 TL on a divided road in a residential area, and 90,000 TL on a divided road and highway outside the city. In case of opposite lane violation on highways and divided roads outside the city, the driver's license will be taken for 30 days and the vehicle will be banned from traffic for 60 days. The fine for weaving through traffic will be 90 thousand TL. The driver's license of the person weaving will be taken for 30 days and the vehicle will be banned from traffic for 60 days.

"THE FINE FOR LEAVING THE ACCIDENT SCENE IS RISING FROM 4 THOUSAND LIRAS TO 46 THOUSAND LIRAS"

The fine for right of way and intersection violation is 993 TL. The daily loss of life is 2.2. If you do not give way to an ambulance and fire truck, you will be fined 46 thousand TL. We will take your driver's license for 30 days and ban your vehicle from traffic for 30 days. The fine for not giving way to other vehicles with right of way is 15 thousand TL. The fine for not following the right-of-way rules at intersections has become 5 thousand TL. There are cameras in front of and behind ambulances and fire trucks. If you follow behind them, there is a penalty. If you do not give way to an ambulance and fire truck twice within 5 years, your driver's license will be revoked. There is also the issue of rear-end collision. The fine for tailgating is 993 TL currently. This fine has become 5 thousand TL. The fine for using a mobile phone was 2,167 TL. We also increased this fine. Because the red light is violated, 1 person dies every 3 days. The current fine is 2,617 TL. For the first time, 5 thousand TL, for the second, 10 thousand TL, for the third, 15 thousand TL, and we take the driver's license for 30 days. If it happens for the 4th time, a 20 thousand TL fine and we take the driver's license for 60 days.

The violation of not using a seat belt is currently 993 TL for the driver and passenger. The monetary fine has become 2,500 TL. If it is the 4th time or more within 1 year retrospectively, we take the driver's license for 30 days. The fine for driving without a license is 18,677 TL. The fine for driving without a driver's license will be 40 thousand TL. The fine for driving while it is temporarily revoked is 200 thousand TL. 300 thousand TL will be written to those who use it even though it has been revoked. The fine for drifting is 46 thousand 392 TL. We made this fine 140 thousand TL. We take their driver's license and car for 60 days. If they do it again within 5 years, we revoke their driver's license. The fine for leaving the accident scene is 4,512 TL. We will make this fine 46 thousand TL. If you share and praise the violation on social media, a 25,000 TL fine will be applied. A separate fine will also be issued for the violation committed in the footage.