In Türkiye, a significant reduction in dangerous driving violations has been recorded since the implementation of stricter traffic regulations and enhanced enforcement earlier this year. The amendments to the Highway Traffic Law, effective from February 27, introduced harsher penalties for various offenses deemed major risks to road safety, leading to a notable improvement in compliance.
Official statistics reveal that one of the most dramatic changes occurred in the frequency of dangerous lane-weaving, where drivers aggressively switch lanes at high speeds. From February 27 to May 31 last year, 47,380 such violations were detected, whereas the same period this year saw just 3,306 offenses — a remarkable 93% decrease. This decline is largely credited to the tougher penalties and the increased number of road inspections conducted throughout the country.
The crackdown has also resulted in decreased violations across other categories. Tachograph-related offenses, which pertain to commercial vehicle drivers’ records of driving and rest times, fell by 80.2%. Speeding violations saw a reduction of 55.1%, while failures to obey police stop orders dropped by 52.4%. Helmet-related offenses decreased by 36.4%, and incidents of driving without a valid license were reduced by 33.7%.
Additionally, authorities noted a decline in wrong-way driving, traffic sign violations, red-light offenses, drunk driving, and seat belt infractions. These improvements are part of the government’s broader initiative to enhance road safety, aiming to reduce accidents and better safeguard lives and property across Türkiye.