Speeding fines could rise to 17,000 hryvnias: The Verkhovna Rada is proposing to impose stricter penalties on drivers

A bill has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada that would significantly increase penalties for exceeding established speed limits. The authors of the initiative propose not only increasing the amount of fines but also introducing a new system of penalties that would take into account the extent of the speeding violation and the number of violations committed by the driver over the course of a year.

The issue of stricter penalties for speeding violations has once again come into the spotlight following a high-profile traffic accident that occurred on Chokolivsky Boulevard in the Karavaevy Dachi neighborhood of Kyiv. According to law enforcement officials, a Bolt driver—who had previously been subject to administrative penalties for speeding on multiple occasions—struck pedestrians crossing the road at a crosswalk while traveling at high speed. The tragedy sparked widespread public outrage and once again brought into focus the issue of the effectiveness of current fines.

Currently, the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses provides for a fine of 340 hryvnias for exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 km/h and 1,700 hryvnias for exceeding it by more than 50 km/h. At the same time, the authors of the legislative initiative believe that such penalties no longer serve a preventive function and do not deter drivers from systematically violating traffic rules.

The bill proposes doubling the fine for speeding by more than 20 km/h—to 680 hryvnias. In addition, new tiers of penalties are being introduced depending on the extent of the speeding violation. Specifically, the bill proposes a fine of 2,040 hryvnias for exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/h, 2,720 hryvnias for exceeding it by more than 60 km/h, and 3,400 hryvnias for exceeding it by more than 80 km/h.

The bill pays special attention to repeat offenders. If a driver is held liable for speeding five or more times within a year, the fine could reach 17,000 hryvnias.

The bill’s sponsors emphasize that the main goal of the proposed changes is not to increase budget revenue, but to reduce road accidents and save the lives of road users. According to them, exceeding the safe speed limit remains one of the most common causes of traffic accidents with serious consequences.

The bill is currently under consideration by parliament. To take effect, the bill must be reviewed by the relevant committee, approved by the Verkhovna Rada, and signed by the President of Ukraine. Until then, the proposed changes may be refined or amended.