Ukrainian drivers have plenty to keep an eye on this year: the country is considering a significant increase in fines for speeding. The relevant legislative initiative was developed with the involvement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Police. If adopted, penalties for such violations will become significantly tougher.
At the same time, the changes may concern more than just the size of the fines. Road enforcement is being strengthened, including through automated traffic enforcement systems, while new ways of detecting offenders are also being discussed.
Some changes have already come into effect, while others remain legislative proposals. So let’s take a closer look at what has already changed, which new measures are still awaiting a decision from parliament, and whether tougher penalties can make Ukrainian roads safer.
What Has Already ChangedIn September, the Verkhovna Rada approved at first reading a bill introducing liability for driving a vehicle that exceeds the permitted noise level. The proposed fine is UAH 8,500. However, this is not yet an enforceable fine: the bill still has to pass its second reading, and liability will only begin to apply once the new rules enter into force.
Speed enforcement, on the other hand, is already being strengthened. Since 31 August 2026, so-called “phantom” police patrol cars have been operating on roads in Kyiv and the surrounding region. These vehicles can automatically detect speeding violations.
What About Other Speeding Fines?Currently, exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 km/h is still punishable by a fine of UAH 340, while exceeding it by more than 50 km/h carries a fine of UAH 1,700. For automatically recorded violations, there is an option to pay half the fine within the discounted payment period.
When I read about the many road accidents with tragic consequences, I wonder whether fines of this size are really enough to make drivers change their behaviour. Exceeding the safe or legally permitted speed was one of the main causes of road accidents in 2025 and 2026 — accounting for 40.8% of crashes involving injuries or fatalities, even after some fines had already been increased.
I believe it is important for every driver and pedestrian to think about responsible behaviour on the road. After all, no fine or other punishment imposed on those responsible for an accident can guarantee that the people involved will survive.
What About Europe?If we look at the number of road deaths in Europe, the difference compared with Ukraine is striking. In 2025, around 19,400 people were killed on roads across the EU. On average, that is 43 road deaths per million inhabitants. In Ukraine, 3,249 road fatalities were officially recorded in 2025. That is approximately nine people every day. Comparing this figure with Ukraine’s population gives an estimated 112 road deaths per million people* — more than twice the EU average.
For comparison, road fatality rates in individual countries in 2025 were approximately: Sweden — 20 deaths per million inhabitants, Denmark — 23, Germany — 34, Spain — 36, Poland — 45, France — 49, Romania — 68 and Bulgaria — 71.
Road fatalities are, of course, influenced not only by fines and the lack of opportunities to avoid penalties through bribery in the EU, but also by road conditions, emergency response times, vehicle safety, infrastructure, driving culture, enforcement, drink-driving and many other factors. Nevertheless, the figures themselves do not diminish the scale of the problem.
It is worth looking not only at the amount of the fine but at the entire system of penalties across EU countries. For example, in Germany, exceeding the speed limit by 21–25 km/h in an urban area carries a fine of €175, while exceeding it by 31–40 km/h carries a €340 fine and a one-month driving ban. Exceeding the limit by more than 60 km/h can result in a fine of €800 and a three-month driving ban.
The standard penalty for speeding in the United Kingdom is £100 and three penalty points. More serious offences may be referred to court, where the fine depends on factors including the circumstances and the driver’s income; maximum fines differ for ordinary roads and motorways.
For minor speeding offences in France, the fine may be €68 or €135 depending on the applicable speed limit. Since the end of 2025, exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more has become a criminal offence, punishable by up to three months in prison and a fine of up to €3,750, with a driving ban also possible.
In Sweden, fines also depend on how far the driver exceeds the speed limit. For example, on roads with a speed limit of up to 50 km/h, exceeding the limit by 1–10 km/h carries a fine of SEK 2,000, while exceeding it by 31–35 km/h carries a fine of SEK 4,000. More serious speeding offences may be referred to a prosecutor.
Poland has another interesting mechanism: serious speeding offences are subject to a penalty-point system, while fines for repeat offences in certain categories can be doubled. Since 3 March 2026, Poland has also expanded the rule on temporary driving licence suspension for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h — it now applies to certain roads outside built-up areas as well.
Looking specifically at speeding by around 20–25 km/h, Ukraine’s UAH 340 fine appears significantly lower than comparable fines in Germany and other countries. However, there is one important difference — income levels. A €175 fine for a German driver and UAH 9,000 for a Ukrainian driver represent very different shares of a household budget, although €175 is still a substantial amount for the average German. That is why road safety experts generally look not only at the nominal size of a fine but also at how significant the penalty is for the offender.
Australia has an interesting example of encouraging compliance with road rules rather than punishing violations. This autumn, police introduced an unusual initiative to encourage drivers not to get behind the wheel after drinking. Drivers are being paid $20 for recording a zero result on a breathalyser test. Police plan to hand out 100 such vouchers during roadside checks. The initiative was launched to coincide with the football finals and school holidays, when more vehicles are expected on the roads. Its purpose is not only to remind people of the dangers of drink-driving but also to positively reinforce responsible behaviour. However, it is not yet known whether the initiative will directly reduce the number of drink-driving cases.
Do Higher Fines Work?European practice shows that effective road enforcement involves not only financial penalties but also penalty points and, in some cases, the suspension or loss of driving privileges. At the same time, the likelihood of being caught is also important: if drivers understand that a violation can be detected anywhere, this strengthens the deterrent effect of enforcement.
Ukraine is moving in this direction as well. A driver may know where a fixed camera is located, but mobile enforcement systems expand the ability to monitor other sections of the road. This can influence driver behaviour beyond the areas around familiar cameras.
However, tougher penalties alone do not guarantee a change in behaviour. It is important that enforcement is consistent and that drivers understand the consequences of dangerous driving. Research and European recommendations indicate that the effectiveness of fines depends, among other things, on the actual likelihood of an offence being detected.
At the same time, road safety requires a comprehensive approach. Safe infrastructure, adequate lighting, properly equipped pedestrian crossings, enforcement of speed limits and drink-driving laws, as well as rapid assistance for accident victims, are all essential.
Ultimately, the purpose of road enforcement is not to issue fines for the sake of issuing fines, but to reduce dangerous behaviour and save lives. I hope Ukraine will achieve this in the near future.
*For the population figure in this article, I use 29 million people — a joint estimate by the State Statistics Service of Ukraine and the Institute for Demography, based on data from mobile operators and state registers, covering people living in Ukrainian-controlled territory.
