Dreary traffic data demands change of penalties

Illustration: Allikas: PPA

Traffic is slipping. How to get a grip – by counselling drunk drivers or turning up heat upon those at wheel without licence? Time will tell which works best.

This year’s traffic statistics make for a sad reading: as at May 8^th, 30 have perished. Last year, the figure was eight.

275 percent increase year-on-year comes across as a catastrophe. Considering, also, that this year the weather was a lot easier on those on the road, in winter and early spring. No ice on asphalt, not much loose snow to talk about.

So what happened, then? Perhaps, it was lots of factors coming together.

«Both periods had broadly the same amount of traffic accidents. Only, as contrasting last year, those caught in them were not as lucky,» said Police and Border Guard Board law and order development chief Veiko Kommusaar.

Even so, law and order can’t just stand by, hoping the luck will turn. The more so that the campaign carried out these past years with drive-carefully-cards mailed to serial offenders, though initially successful, are losing their effect. 

To this attests the fact that of the top hundred traffic offenders of last year, a whopping six still feature. What’s more – they’re in top 20. The list is the gloomier that the top twenty include six professional drivers.

«I believe a solution could be to increase the liability of employers. They also will need to be motivated to see to it that the vehicle despatched is in order, the driver rested, the documents provided, and the cargo both right weight and in balance,» said Mr Kommusaar.

But that’s just an idea.

As a definite step, this June the police will launch a pilot programme in South-Estonia, meant to alter attitudes towards drunk driving. The programme only relates to drivers intoxicated under 1.5 pro mille – the latter will already equal a criminal punishment.

«In case the person will join a three-month rehabilitation programme including close cooperation with a traffic psychologist, we will not deprive them of the right to drive as would be the norm,» promises Mr Kommusaar.

As evidenced by the experience in other countries, an approach like that provides for success with half the drunk drivers. Should the experiment in South Estonia work, it would probably spread to entire Estonia. Even so: while within pilot programme, the €300 psychologist bill is paid by the police, afterwards the drunks will feel the financial sting.

«That’s a relatively economical solution,» said Mr Kommusaar. «The alternative is a €1,200 fine and losing the driving licence.»

The other change planned by the police is equalising penalties for those driving without a licence with those who have had their licences removed due to earlier offences, who still hop behind the wheel.

Every year, there are about 2,000 of such. 800–900 of these are drivers who never ever had a licence at all. When caught, they face a fine of €400; those deprived of licences are paying three times more.

Even so: the latter have at least gotten some training in traffic school, the former haven’t even that much experience. Therefore, their fines ought to be tripled. «That’s a proposal we have tabled,» says Mr Kommusaar.

Traffic crook top «constants»

Last year among top 100 offenders, these made it to top 20 this time around:

Aleksei (28)

Ida-Viru County, Sillamäe. 11 offences. Fined for €480, total.

• 18^th December 2013, broke traffic rules at wheel of Audi A4 (2001).

• 10^th January 2014, drove Volkswagen Golf (1994) with safety belt loose.

• 28^th February 2014, drove Volkswagen Golf without traffic insurance, while deprived of right to drive.

• 7^th March 2014, behind wheel without right to drive, with more people on board than allowed, a incl. child with safety belt loose. 

• 12^th March 2014, at wheel without licence.

• 19^th March 2014, at wheel without licence, exceeding speed limit by at least 21 km/h.

• 26^th March 2014, drove without licence.

Ivan (25)

Ida-Viru County. Nine offences, fined for €600.

• 9^th December 2013, exceeding speed limit in Citroën Berlingo by up to 20 km/h.

• 31^st January 2014, parked Citroën Berlingo in forbidden place.

• 3^rd February 2014, drove Volvo S80 (1999) with no traffic insurance.

• 4^th February 2014, drove Volvo S80 with no traffic insurance, violated traffic rules creating a dangerous situation.

• 9^th February 2014, drove with seat belt loose.

• 24^th February 2014, exceeded speed limit by more than 21 km/h.

Alihan (32)

Tallinn. Eight offences. Punished by four times six days under arrest.

• 7^th December 2013, behind wheel of BMW 730d without driving licence.

• 12^th December 2013, behind wheel of BMW 730d without driving licence.

• 12^th February 2014, forbidden U-turn in Tammsaare Road, Tallinn.

• 3^rd March 2014, at wheel of BMW 730d with no licence.

• 11^th March 2014, at wheel of BMW 730d with no licence.

• 27^th March 2014, at wheel of Jeep Grand Cherokee without licence.

• 31^st March 2014, at wheel of Jeep Grand Cherokee with no licence, speeding.

Deniss (35)

Tallinn. Eight offences.

• 29^th December 2013, at wheel of Mercedes-Benz 290C (1997) with no licence; car lacked traffic insurance and had not passed technical check.

• 25^th February 2014, at wheel of Mercedes with no licence.

• 1^st March 2014, at wheel of Mitsubishi Sigma (1993) with no licence, safety belt loose.

• 5^th March 2014, at wheel of Mitsubishi Sigma with no licence; car technically uninspected.

• 15^th March 2014, at wheel of Mitsubishi Sigma with no licence.

Egert (25)

Tallinn. Seven offences. Fines for €1,000.

• 3^rd January 2014, dangerous manoeuvre at wheel of Isuzu, seat belt loose.

• 17^th January 2014, drove unregistered BMW 320.

• 31th January 2014, dangerous manoeuvre with Citroën Jumper.

• 6^th February 2014, drove while light was red.

• 8^th February 2014, exceeded speed by minimum 21 km/h.

• 26^th February 2014, exceeded speed limit at wheel of Volvo S80 (2002) by at least 21 km/h.

Ralf-Viljar (17)

Tallinn. Six offences. Punished by ten days under arrest.

• 1^st December 2013, drove under red light while drunk and without driving licence at wheel of BMW 520 (1991). Ignored police orders to stop. The car was without technical inspection, uninsured.

Valentin (26)

Ida-Viru County, Jõhvi. Five offences. Punished by five days under arrest.

• 14^th March 2014, at wheel of Audi 100 (1994) with no licence.

• 22^nd March 2014, broke traffic rules while driving without licence.