Tougher traffic laws and enhanced enforcement measures introduced earlier this year have led to a significant drop in dangerous driving violations in Türkiye. The amendments to the Highway Traffic Law, which came into effect on February 27, have imposed stricter penalties on offenses that pose major risks to road safety, resulting in noticeable improvements.
One of the most remarkable outcomes is the decrease in dangerous lane-weaving violations, where drivers switch lanes at high speeds. Official data reveals a drastic reduction in such offenses, from 47,380 incidents between February 27 and May 31 last year to only 3,306 during the same period this year, marking a 93% decline. The authorities attribute this significant improvement to the combination of stronger penalties and increased road inspections nationwide.
The crackdown has also contributed to reductions in various other traffic violation categories. Offenses related to tachographs, which involve commercial vehicle driving and rest-time records, have decreased by 80.2%. Speeding violations have dropped by 55.1%, while failures to comply with police stop orders have seen a 52.4% reduction. Helmet-related violations have fallen by 36.4%, and instances of driving without a valid license have declined by 33.7%.
Moreover, the authorities report lower rates of wrong-way driving, traffic sign violations, red-light offenses, drunk driving, and seat belt violations. The government views these reforms as part of a broader strategy to enhance road safety, reduce accidents, and provide better protection of lives and property across the country.