Ukraine Tops Europe in Road Deaths: 75% of Traffic Fines Go Uncollected.

Traffic Fine Enforcement Crisis in Ukraine

According to Novyny.live: Ukraine faces a severe enforcement gap in its traffic violation system, with a vast majority of fines remaining unpaid. Former Interior Ministry advisor Volodymyr Martynenko revealed that the state enforcement service closes 75% of cases involving unpaid fines due to an inability to collect them. This issue is particularly alarming given that Ukraine now leads Europe in traffic fatalities.

Unpaid Fines by the Numbers

Martynenko provided regional data highlighting the scale of the problem. The Dnipropetrovsk region tops the list with 211,500 unpaid traffic fines annually, followed by:

• Kyiv with 193,700 unpaid fines
• Odesa region with 146,900 unpaid fines per year.

'There is no certainty of punishment in our system. I reviewed publicly available statistics: the Dnipropetrovsk region leads with 211,500 unpaid fines, followed by Kyiv with 193,700, and Odesa region with 146,900 unpaid fines per year. The enforcement service closes 75% of these cases because collection is impossible. That is the reality,' stated Volodymyr Martynenko.

Meanwhile, a bill that would introduce a penalty points system for drivers remains stalled in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. Although approximately 70% of lawmakers are reportedly ready to support it, the legislation has not advanced. Without effective penalties for traffic violations, the number of road accidents and deaths on Ukrainian roads is likely to keep rising.

This situation poses a serious threat to road safety across Ukraine. The high rate of unpaid fines reflects a weak sense of accountability among drivers. Combined with an inefficient fine collection system and delayed legislative reforms, the risk of more crashes and fatalities grows. Urgent action from authorities is needed to strengthen enforcement and improve compliance with traffic laws.