16.03.2026 11:22
New traffic fines are in effect before the holiday break when hundreds of thousands of vehicles will be on the road. The speed limit in urban traffic can be exceeded by 5 kilometers, while outside the city it can be exceeded by 10 kilometers, after which there are graduated penalties. Drivers who exceed the speed limit will be fined up to 30,000 lira, and those who violate the rule 5 times will have their licenses revoked indefinitely.
While hundreds of thousands of drivers are expected to hit the roads due to the holiday break, a new traffic regulation has also come into effect. With the regulation published in the Official Gazette dated February 26, 2026, traffic fines have been increased, and a new tiered penalty system for speed violations has been introduced. Authorities emphasized that drivers need to pay attention to the new speed limit implementations, especially on highways and in urban traffic. Radar checks will continue uninterrupted during the holiday period, and traffic teams will enforce penalties for violations.
PERCENTAGE INCREASE REMOVED, TIERED PENALTY SYSTEM INTRODUCED
With the new regulation, the percentage increase system previously applied to speed fines has been removed. Instead, a tiered numerical penalty system has been introduced, with different applications determined for urban and rural areas.
According to the law, speed limits for cars are set at 90 kilometers on intercity two-way highways, 110 kilometers on divided roads, 130 kilometers on state-operated highways, and 140 kilometers on build-operate-transfer highways.
Under the new regulation, drivers can exceed speed limits on rural roads by a maximum of 10 kilometers. For example, on roads where the speed limit is 90 kilometers, radar fines will start to be applied from 100 kilometers, and on roads where the limit is 110 kilometers, fines will start from 120 kilometers.
Authorities reminded that speed limits at school crossings and residential areas can be regulated differently with traffic signs, urging drivers to pay attention to the signs.
PENALTIES START AT 56 KILOMETERS IN THE CITY
According to the regulation, when the speed limit of 50 kilometers in the city reaches 56 kilometers, penalties will begin to be applied. Drivers exceeding the speed limit will receive fines incrementally.
Drivers exceeding the speed limit within residential areas by 6 to 10 kilometers will be fined 2,000 lira, those exceeding by 11 to 15 kilometers will be fined 4,000 lira, those exceeding by 16 to 20 kilometers will be fined 6,000 lira, and those exceeding by 21 to 25 kilometers will be fined 8,000 lira. If the violation increases, fines can rise up to 30,000 lira.
LICENSE WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR HIGH-SPEED VIOLATIONS
The new regulation is not limited to monetary fines. If the speed limit is exceeded by 46 kilometers in the city, the penalties become stricter. For example, a driver caught at 96 kilometers in an area where the speed limit is 50 kilometers will face a fine of 20,000 lira and a 30-day suspension of their license.
If the speed limit is exceeded by 56 kilometers, the license will be suspended for 60 days, and if exceeded by 66 kilometers, for 90 days. If these violations are repeated 5 times within a year, the driver's license will be revoked indefinitely, and they will need to undergo a psychological evaluation to regain it.
SPEED LIMITS ON HIGHWAYS CLARIFIED
With the new regulation, speed limits on highways have also been clarified. Accordingly, the speed limit on intercity two-way highways is set at 90 kilometers, 110 kilometers on divided roads, 130 kilometers on state-operated highways, and 140 kilometers on build-operate-transfer highways.
BEWARE OF THE "10% TOLERANCE" MISCONCEPTION
Experts emphasize that it is incorrect for drivers to evaluate speed limit tolerance based on percentage calculations. For example, it is considered erroneous to think that there is a 13-kilometer leeway by calculating 10% on a road where the speed limit is 130 kilometers. On these roads, a maximum tolerance of 10 kilometers is applied.
Therefore, if a vehicle's speedometer shows 100 kilometers on a road with a speed limit of 90 kilometers, a speed violation can be detected by radar, and a penalty can be applied.
PENALTIES OUTSIDE THE CITY CAN REACH 30,000 LIRA
A tiered penalty system will also be applied for speed violations outside residential areas. Drivers exceeding the speed limit by 11 to 15 kilometers will be fined 2,000 lira, those exceeding by 16 to 20 kilometers will be fined 4,000 lira, and those exceeding by 21 to 25 kilometers will be fined 6,000 lira. If the violation increases, monetary fines can rise up to 30,000 lira.
Additionally, drivers exceeding the speed limit by 51 kilometers outside the city will have their licenses suspended for 30 days, those exceeding by 61 kilometers for 60 days, and those exceeding by 71 kilometers for 90 days. For example, if a vehicle's speed exceeds 180 kilometers on a divided road where the speed limit is 110 kilometers, a fine of 20,000 lira will be applied, and the driver's license will be suspended for 30 days.
If these violations are repeated 5 times within a year, the driver's license will be revoked, and they will need to undergo a psychological evaluation to regain it.