Turkish Parliament postpones debate on bill introducing new traffic penalties

The Turkish Parliament has suspended consideration of a highly anticipated bill that would have introduced substantial fines and strict penalties for a wide range of traffic violations. The legislation, which had generated significant public and media attention in recent weeks, was expected to be debated last week but has been postponed in light of ongoing budget discussions.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya had previously indicated that the proposed measures were part of a broader initiative to enhance road safety and reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries across the country. The ministry emphasized that the bill aimed to address persistent dangerous driving behaviors, including speeding, reckless overtaking and failure to yield to emergency vehicles.

Under the proposed legislation, drivers exceeding speed limits in sensitive zones would face particularly severe consequences. Driving at 76 kilometers per hour (km/h) in a 30 km/h school or hospital zone would result in a 30-day license suspension, while speeds of 86 km/h and 96 km/h would trigger 60-day and 90-day suspensions.

Other key provisions of the bill included:

• Drivers committing five speeding violations within a year would be referred to a psychiatry specialist for evaluation.
• Dangerous overtaking in residential areas would incur a fine of ₺90,000 ($2,145) and a 60-day license suspension.
• Driving the wrong way on one-way streets would result in a ₺10,000 fine ($238); on divided roads, ₺20,000; and on highways, ₺90,000, each accompanied by a 60-day license suspension.
• Blocking roads during weddings or similar processions would carry a ₺90,000 fine and a 60-day license suspension. Blocking bridges, tunnels, or viaducts would incur a ₺180,000 fine, a 120-day license suspension, and a temporary traffic ban.
• Failure to yield to emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire trucks, would result in a ₺46,000 fine, a 30-day traffic ban, and license suspension. Drivers committing this violation twice within five years would face permanent license revocation.

October 27, 2025 02:09 PM GMT+03:00