Photo: Archive / Nrk.no
The term “heavy footing” refers to drivers who have a habit of driving much faster than the speed limit and they are a widespread problem in many countries. However, some of them are more successful in the fight with such drivers.
According to Forbes, in 2020, accidents related to speeding accounted for 11,258 out of 38,824 traffic accidents, representing 29 percent of all traffic accidents that year.
For starters, let’s note that the US, for example, has some of the most lenient road laws in the world, second only to South Africa. Countries that have one of the strictest penalties come from Europe.
CarBuzz compiled the list based on the severity and extent of speeding approaches. Countries that simply offer fines and nothing else are not included in this list despite having strict road safety laws.
Danish
Denmark has relatively high speeding fines, especially in urban or populated areas. The speed limit for residential areas is slightly less than 30 km/h, and going 20 km/h over that limit will result in a fine of 615 euros, and exceeding 40 km/h in a fine of 885 euros.
Danish law also states that if you exceed the limit, either in a built-up area or on the highway, your driving license will be revoked unconditionally, for a period of six months to 10 years.
France and Monaco
France and Monaco have the same traffic laws, which are relatively lenient compared to the rest of the world. There are no variations in the penalties for different speeding offences. Whether it is speeding in a populated area or on the highway, the fine will be approximately 140 euros.
France and Monaco have small fines, but what differentiates the speeding laws in France and Monaco is the fact that they send people to jail for repeated speeding offences.
Another interesting aspect of the two countries’ approach to speeding is their reaction to foreigners. If a foreigner is caught speeding, the police can impound the vehicle and make the person pay a fine on the spot, or the driver’s license can be revoked and the person can be banned from driving in France.
Although the fine could be settled, getting the impounded car back can be difficult because the courts must determine how serious the offense was.
So, for example, they can double the speed limit in a populated place. As a result, the car may not be returned to the owner and may even be sold at auction.
A factor that increases the likelihood of being caught speeding is the extensive network of speed cameras of around 5,000 with almost thousands of fake cameras across the country.
Switzerland
Switzerland is a step above France and Monaco because it is one of the few countries in Europe that will send a driver to prison for speeding.
The country is known for its strict laws and their implementation. The speed limit for populated areas is 50 km/h, while the maximum speed is set at 120 km/h for the highway.
The maximum fine that someone can receive is 570 euros, which is considered a warning and is issued if someone exceeds the speed limit by 18 km/h.
Anything above that will result in a one-month license suspension, with speeding up to 40 km/h likely to result in a minimum three-month license suspension.
In the most serious cases, a speed of more than 40 km/h will result in a prison sentence of at least one year. One of the interesting parts of speeding laws is that fines are based on taxable income and wealth, so those with deeper pockets can get a fine that exceeds the value of the vehicle.
Norway
Norway is known for its approach to fast driving. Norwegian law is extremely strict when it comes to speeding. This country has the lowest speed limits in Europe.
It should come as no surprise that the fines in Norway are high, with a minimum fine of €720 for offenses that occur on the highways. In cities and towns, the price of imposed fines is increasing. If you are caught driving 20 km/h over the speed limit in a populated area, you will be fined 960 euros. The maximum fine a person can receive is 1,200 euros.
The speed at which someone goes over the speed limit depends on whether their license will be revoked or they will be sent to jail. The speeds that determine whether your driver’s license will be suspended vary by area.
In populated areas, the speed is limited to 30 km/h. If someone is caught driving 55 km/h, then their driver’s license can be revoked for at least three months to three years.
What will land you in jail is driving 75 km/h in a residential area and that will attract an unconditional jail term of at least 18 days. In addition, violations may also result in at least 30 hours of community service
Source: N1info.rs
Source: autoblog.rs
