Traffic fines to increase for speeding and driving under the influence

As of 1 July, motorists will pay about 10% more for some traffic fines, including the minimum fine for speeding and using a phone while driving. The increase applies to fines received and paid directly, not if a driver must appear in court.

The increase applies to:

• Lightest fine for speeding in a 50kph zone. Currently the fine for driving at least 57 in a 50kph zone is €68.42. As of 1 July, that will increase to €74. (The state allows a margin of six kph for potential measurement inaccuracies, so fines are not currently administered for driving 56kph or less.)

• Using a telephone while driving. The current fine for not using your phone hands-free in the car is €182. That will increase to €201.

• Driving without a seatbelt. While fewer and fewer fines are handed out for this basic safety measure each year, there were still nearly 33,000 seatbelt and child seat infringements in 2025. The fine for this will increase from €126 to €138.

• Driving under the influence. Driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal 0.5 will now cost €217. Depending on the level, this increases incrementally to €472 for readings above 0.8.

Experts are critical of the increases as they will do nothing to increase traffic safety. “Every study shows that the chance of getting caught is what changes driving behaviour,” says Stef Willems of Flemish road safety institute VIAS. Increasing the fines by a small amount does not change the chance of getting caught, he emphasises.

“Maybe some people will be upset if they get a fine that is a bit more and be more careful, but this is going to have a very limited effect in general.”