Press Release - TÜV SÜD UK

Press Release
Traffic fines in Europe 21 July 2010
TÜV SÜD: Where traffic misdemeanours may cost a fortune
Munich. Snapped by a speed camera in Palermo? Double-parked in Paris? Not a problem in the
past, when fines – with the exception of Austria – were only exacted on the spot from drivers
caught in flagranti. However, now that a law has been passed allowing traffic fines to be
collected throughout the EU, that parking ticket from Paris may well land in your letter-box
before the year is over. TÜV SÜD has drawn up a Top Ten list of traffic fines in Europe. First
place goes to drivers in the UK caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km - they're
asked to cough up EUR 5,500.
Tanked up at the wheel in Toulouse, speeding in Stockholm or running a red light in Rome – flouting
traffic rules abroad can incur fines that are far higher than in Germany and generally payable on the
spot. To date, drivers who found parking tickets left under their windscreen wipers or were caught on a
speed camera could count themselves lucky. Now that will change. "The law on the enforcement of
traffic fines throughout Europe has been passed and is likely to come into effect this year, probably
from 1 October", explains Philip Puls from TÜV SÜD. This new law is the national implementation of an
EU framework directive from 2005. But beware: because enforcement of the fine depends not on the
time when the traffic misdemeanour took place, but on the issue of the penalty notice, some fines may
even be followed up before the law comes into effect. German drivers were previously safe from all
fines except those from Austria, because of a special agreement with that country.
Much too fast: Our European neighbours know no pardon for excessive speeders. This offence is
particularly expensive in the UK, where a fine of up to EUR 5,500 will be slapped on drivers travelling at
more than 50 kilometres per hour over the limit. But be careful in Austria too; here, the fine may be as
much as EUR 2,180. Even in France, where traffic offenders are generally let off relatively lightly,
speeders are taken to task: EUR 1,500 is payable whether a driver was 55 or 85 km over the limit. In
Croatia, breaking the speed limit is punishable by a fine of up to EUR 680. In Switzerland, where rules
are notoriously strict, EUR 100 is payable for a mere 10 km/hour over the speed limit. Poland, on the

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other hand, is still easy on speeders, only taking drivers to task if they go over the limit by 50 km/hour
and more and then charging a fine of EUR 100.
Too fast: Even moderately overstepping the speed limit can lead to hefty fines. Drivers going up to
20 km/h too fast should hope not to be caught in Sweden, Denmark or Italy; in Italy daytime fines start
at EUR 155, in Denmark up to EUR 270 will be charged and in Sweden a fine of at least EUR 280 hits
traffic offenders hard. Austria takes a more relaxed view of drivers slightly over the speed limit, with
fines starting at EUR 20.
Too much alcohol: Drinking and driving is no partying matter for the police in other European
countries. Most countries impose an alcohol limit of 0.5 ppm; Sweden and Poland have a limit of
0.2 ppm and the Czech Republic and Croatia have a total alcohol ban, with fines from EUR 970 and
EUR 135 respectively. Drink-drivers in Italy pay a minimum of EUR 540 in the daytime, which rises by
over one-third at night. Denmark's beer, already expensive, can cost even more if it's drunk before
driving; fines may be as much as one month's salary. As a comparison, in Germany fines for an alcohol
level of 0.5 ppm start at EUR 500; in France a glass of red wine too many is viewed more leniently,
incurring a penalty of EUR 135 upwards. Belgium (from EUR 140) and Luxembourg (from EUR 145)
also regard drink-driving as a relatively minor offence.
Too talkative: Andare e parlare – drivers caught chatting on their mobile in Italy pay a minimum of
EUR 155. Germany's fines are comparatively low at EUR 40, but a penalty point is added to the driver's
licence in the central database in Flensburg. In Benelux countries too, a minute's conversation on a
mobile phone without a handsfree system can be an expensive business; EUR 150 is charged in the
Netherlands and a minimum of EUR 100 in Belgium. In Sweden, however, drivers can continue their
chat without infringing the law; the country does not explicitly prohibit the use of mobile phones at the
wheel.
Too unaware: Red lights should be taken seriously abroad as well. The times when drivers in Palermo
were forced to continue through red lights by the furiously hooting ranks of cars behind them are long
gone; today's carabinieri and their colleagues would charge at least EUR 155. In Croatia running a red
light will cost EUR 270, and in Sweden the same act will cost a minimum of EUR 250. Guardians of the
road in Poland and Austria are more lenient, with fines from EUR 60 and EUR 70 respectively.
Too aggressive: The same applies to illegal overtaking – a matter of EUR 60 and EUR 70 in Poland
and Austria respectively. The priciest country for overtaking is Estonia, at EUR 385.

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Too unconventional: Spain is tough not only on drink drivers, but also on parking offenders, with a
parking ticket costing up to EUR 90.
Slovakia demands even more – up to EUR 135, the highest in Europe. The Netherlands also charge a
hefty EUR 60 upwards for parking offences.
Too dark, too late, too hard to see: In Sweden, Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic, the law
specifies that even by day drivers must switch on dipped headlights or daytime running lights.
"Unenlightened" drivers can expect heavy fines. In Italy driving with lights only applies to motorways
and major roads, and Croatia imposes a time period of November to April. On the subject of Italy,
however, traffic fines on the Apennine peninsula may rise by over one-third at night – not only for
speeding, but also for other offences. This fact may make the popular holiday destination one of the
most expensive places for drivers at night. And drivers in Belgium who fail to don the mandatory highvisibility
waistcoat in the event of an accident will be subject to the highest fine for this omission in
Europe: EUR 1,375.
Top Ten list (approximate figures)
EUR 5,500:
EUR 2,180:
Up to EUR 1,375:
EUR 1,500:
EUR 970:
EUR 500:
EUR 280:
EUR 250:
EUR 155:
EUR 90:
50 km/h over the speed limit in the UK
50 km/h over the speed limit in Austria
No high-vis waistcoat in Belgium
Drink driving at night in Italy
Drink driving in Czech Republic
50 km/h over the speed limit in Austria
20 km/h over the speed limit in Sweden
Running a red light in Sweden
Mobile phone use while driving in Italy
Parking offence in Spain
Press Contact:

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Frank Volk
TÜV SÜD AG
Corporate Communication
Westendstraße 199, 80686 Munich
Tel. +49 (0) 89 / 57 91 – 16 67
Fax +49 (0) 89 / 57 91 – 22 69
E-mail frank.volk@tuev-sued.de
Internet www.tuev-sued.de
i TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbH, a TÜV SÜD company, offers services from roadworthiness and exhaust emission testing
to driving licence tests. Services also include expert damage and value assessment as well as used car certificates, vehicle
and fleet management. With approx. 300 service centres throughout southern Germany, TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbH
supports about 10,000 private and business customers every day.
TÜV SÜD is a leading international service organization catering to the business segments INDUSTRY, MOBILITY and
CERTIFICATION. With around 15,000 employees, it is represented worldwide at more than 600 locations. As partners in our
customers' processes, our interdisciplinary teams of specialists ensure that technology, systems and know-how are
optimized, thus strengthening our customers' global competitiveness.