Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) wants penalties for speeding offenses to be more proportional to the seriousness of the offenses and the risk to other road users, especially the most vulnerable. Vias, the Belgian road safety institute, is in favor of the proposal.
The accident statistics are not good. The numbers are back at pre-coronavirus levels. Several ministers are therefore coming up with initiatives this week.
Federal Minister Gilkinet advocates the introduction of much higher fines for very serious speeding offences. He says that in the newspapers of Sudpresse and the Belga news agency. Today, the fines are linear: 56 euros for the first 10 km/h above the speed limit and then 6 euros outside built-up areas or 11 euros in built-up areas for each additional km/h.
That doesn’t reflect the risk being created, Gilkinet says. At more than 21 km/h above the speed limit, he wants much higher fines.
Vias: “Tightening the meshes of the net”
“A good idea,” says Vias spokesperson Benoit Godart. “There is a need to tighten the loopholes while too many dangerous drivers are not concerned about justice.”
“Nine out of ten road users will not be affected by this measure. It’s about the about 11 percent who really exaggerate,” said the Vias spokesperson. “Studies have shown that driving 140 km/h on the 120-permitted motorway doubles the risk of a fatal accident. At a speed of 160 km/h, the risk has even tripled.”
Vias wants to go even further. “Now anyone who can afford it can pay their fine every day without going to court. The same with alcohol: one can exceed the limit every day and pay a fine without having to justify oneself.”
It is still only a proposal from the federal Minister of Mobility, which is submitted to the colleagues from the Interior and Justice.
Traffic fines are getting more expensive again
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.