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Drivers beware: Speeding penalties in Hungary reach new heights
Speeding penalties in Hungary have risen dramatically following a series of tragic accidents that claimed innocent lives. In response, the Hungarian government has increased fines by a staggering 67%. For instance, a driver exceeding the speed limit by just 17 km/h—reaching 67 km/h in a 50 km/h zone—now faces a penalty of HUF 50,000 (approximately EUR 122).
Speeding penalties in Hungary increased by 67%
According to vezess.hu, a Hungarian media outlet focused on driving and automotive news, the state collected a record HUF 26.2 billion in speeding fines in 2023. The minimum fine, which had been HUF 30,000 until 1 September 2023, has now risen to HUF 50,000, marking an increase of 67% in less than two years. The maximum speeding penalties in Hungary have similarly surged to HUF 468,000 (around €1,150).
This hike in speeding penalties in Hungary is partly a response to a series of horrific accidents linked to speeding. One of the most tragic incidents occurred in July 2023 when a speeding car struck a cyclist before colliding with another vehicle on Budapest’s Árpád Bridge. Several people were injured in the accident, and the cyclist tragically died in hospital. The cause of the crash was a spontaneous speed race. This incident, along with others, sparked widespread public outcry, prompting local authorities to take action. For example, Budapest’s Mayor Gergely Karácsony has announced plans to install new speed cameras across the city.
Speeding penalties in Hungary compared to neighbours
When compared to neighbouring countries, the speeding penalties in Hungary are notably steep. Vezess.hu reports that Austria, Germany, and Spain impose fines that are typically half, or even a quarter, of Hungary’s penalties. The publication compared Hungary’s fines to those in Austria, Romania, and Slovakia, finding that Romania’s penalties are either comparable to or even higher than those in Hungary. On the other hand, fines for minor speeding in Austria and Slovakia are lower than in Hungary. However, drivers who exceed the speed limit by significant amounts—such as travelling at 200 km/h on a motorway—may face substantially higher fines in Austria, with penalties reaching up to five or six times those in Hungary.
The media outlet also compared speeding fines relative to the average wages in each country. In Hungary, a driver travelling at 67 km/h in a 50 km/h zone would pay the equivalent of 8.55% of the average monthly wage. In Romania, this figure is 8.2%, while in Slovakia it is a much lower 3.15%. In Austria, however, the rate is just 0.66%. This comparison reveals that both Romania and Hungary have significantly higher penalties relative to average wages.
Speed limits and fines in Hungary
Hungarian regulations tend to impose the highest fines when drivers significantly exceed the speed limit. For example, if a driver speeds at 200 km/h on a motorway, where the speed limit is 130 km/h, the fine would consume 24% of their monthly income in Hungary. In Romania, this figure is slightly higher at 24.6%, while in Slovakia it jumps to 44.2%. In Austria, however, the fine could account for as much as 48% of the average monthly wage.
Here are the speed limits for passenger cars, motorcycles, and vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes in Hungary:
- Highways: 130 km/h
- Main roads: 110 km/h
- Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h
- Within built-up areas: 50 km/h
Many Hungarian drivers face fines on sections of roads where the speed limit is lower than usual, but warning signs can often be difficult to notice.
For more details on speeding penalties in Hungary, click HERE.
Read also:
- Shocking: Over 10,000 speeding drivers caught in just 4 days in Budapest – read more HERE
- Will the cars of motorists driving far above the speed limit be seized in Budapest? – details in THIS article
Featured image: depositphotos.com
The issue with speeding of the really harmful sort in Hungary is that maximum penalty remains 1,150 Euros, which is chicken feed for the sort of people driving powerful cars whose list price starts at 100k Euros and are adept at terrorising other road uers with their flagrant disregard for the law. A penalty of this magnitude won’t dissuade them from driving pedal to the metal and it’s the accidents they cause when driving at speeds vastly in excess of the speed limit that cause the most harm, both to personal property as well as life and limb. The coincidence of these drivers and people that have grown rich off Fidesz contracts is marked, in fact, it’s virtually guaranteed to be an entrepreneur having grown rich off his ties to Fidesz being at fault when you read about a serious accident involving high speeds. Ordinary people in ordinary cars seldom cause carnage.
Meanwhile, in the real world people will be asked to cough up 50,000 Ft for minor infringements. This is about keeping the lowly proles in check while offering a free reign for those wealthy enough for whom 1000 Euros is the sort of money they lose down the back of the sofa.
Does anyone know if Hungary applies points to driving licences akin to the UK, such that once you collect a certain number of penalty points your licence is automatically suspended? I only ever read about fines here and not people being banned for driving having committed enough infractions (or even one very big one). In the UK if you’re caught driving at over 160 kph (the motorway and dual carriageway speed limit is 112 kph) your licence is automatically suspended for 6 months which is a serious disincentive to do it in the first place. You might have a Ferrari in the garage but it’s an ornament if you don’t have a licence to drive it.