Are fines enough? Ukraine is preparing to impose stricter penalties for habitual speeding

A tragedy on Chokolivsky Boulevard in Kyiv, where four people were killed in a traffic accident, has once again brought into focus the issue of the effectiveness of the current system of accountability for traffic violations, particularly for habitual speeding.

According to law enforcement authorities, the driver involved in the fatal accident had previously been subject to administrative penalties for speeding on multiple occasions. However, the fines imposed did not serve as an effective deterrent against repeat violations.

Currently, in Ukraine, exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 20 km/h results in a fine of 340 hryvnias, and exceeding it by more than 50 km/h results in a fine of 1,700 hryvnias. At the same time, current legislation does not actually provide for increased penalties for repeated speeding violations. Even repeated administrative penalties do not, in most cases, result in the revocation of a driver’s license.

By comparison, in Poland, exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h in a built-up area automatically results in the suspension of a driver’s license for three months. Germany has a point system, and accumulating enough points can lead to the revocation of a driver’s license. In many U.S. states, repeated speeding violations can also result in a temporary suspension or revocation of a driver’s license.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is already considering the possibility of increasing penalties for systematic violations of traffic rules. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that the government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is preparing a package of measures aimed at reducing accidents and improving road discipline.

The proposed measures include increasing penalties for systematic traffic violations, particularly speeding; imposing stricter sanctions on drivers who violate traffic laws; improving the system for automated and manual enforcement of traffic violations; and establishing legal regulations governing the use of light personal electric vehicles.

The government emphasizes that final decisions must take into account public demand and proposals from the expert community.