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“Stopped for coffee – get a fine”: social networks exploded because of the new idea of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, lawyers explained the details of the new system

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is launching a new wave of control on the roads. And drivers will no longer be able to play “cat and mouse” with the cameras: stop, slow down, skip. The new approach to speed control – fixing the average speed in certain areas – has already caused a flurry of discussion in social networks. Some call it a fair and effective step, others – “another hunt for wallets”.

And while users argue how stopping for coffee will affect the calculation of speed, experts pay attention: such a system has long and successfully worked in Europe, and the results are impressive.
Whether Ukraine is ready for it – in the material Komersant ukrainskyi.

Instead of the traditional measurement of speed at one point, the new bill provides for fixing the average speed between two cameras. Such a step is aimed at increasing the efficiency of the system of auto-fixation and reducing the number of violations of traffic rules, says mediator, attorney of Verity Group JSC Daria Starovoitova.

“Now in Ukraine there are about 70 thousand video surveillance cameras. However, the lack of a unified standard of their work and the possibility of drivers to avoid fines by reducing speed directly in front of the cameras reduce the effectiveness of control. After passing the cameras, many drivers again exceed the authorized speed, which creates danger on the roads,” explains Daria Starovoitova.

According to the project, two cameras will be installed at a certain distance from each other: the first will record the time of entry, and the second – the departure of the vehicle from the controlled area. The average speed will be calculated automatically, and if it is exceeded, the driver will receive a fine.

“Control of the average speed of vehicles is an effective tool to improve road safety and reduce the number of speed violations,” Starovoitova notes.

European experience

The lawyer also gave examples from European practice.

“In the UK since 1999, the SPECS system has been used, which controls the average speed. Cameras are installed at a distance of 200 meters to 10 kilometers from each other, and the data is read using automatic license plate recognition (ANPR). In case of a violation, the driver receives a fine.”

A similar Section Control system is in place in Germany, where it has demonstrated high effectiveness.

“Studies have shown that the use of Section Control helps to reduce the average speed in the flow of traffic by up to 20%, which has a positive impact on road safety,” notes Daria Starovoitova.

Poland also uses similar technology.

“The system is realized with the help of two above-ground control points, which are able to distinguish different types of vehicles and take into account the appropriate speed limits for them,” – Daria Starovoitova.

Such systems are also actively used in Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands, particularly on accident-prone sections – in tunnels or on complex mountain roads.

“It is expected that the proposed changes will reduce the number of violations, because drivers will be forced to comply with the speed limit on the entire controlled section, not just in front of the cameras,” summarized Daria Starovoitova.

Reaction of social networks

The bill has already been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, and the innovation has caused a strong reaction in social networks. Users are actively sharing their impressions, experiences from abroad and skepticism about the implementation of the initiative in Ukraine.

Many commentators note that similar systems have been operating for years in other countries and proved their effectiveness.

• “Yes in Europe it has been for a long time. For example, there is a gap of 5 km, which you must pass in a certain time, and not so that before the camera reduced speed,” – writes Julia Kolomiets.

A similar opinion is expressed by Dmitry Shumanov, who draws attention to the example of Turkey:

• “Turkey has such a system. It works very well. But, for example, these cameras do not work on the autobahns on the 4th lane. A lot of such cameras are on roads that cross small towns, and there is logic in them. Or separate sections of 20-30 km on the roads of state importance”.

However, not without criticism – some users question the accuracy and fairness of the new system.

• “You stopped in a cafe or at a gas station between two cameras. І 🙂 If you braked hard, you get a fine,” jokes CK Light.

Victor Prokopchuk draws attention to another “loophole”:

• “If you drive without license plates, you can avoid braking on the camera”.

Volodymyr Paziuk looks at the problem more critically:

• “If they put cameras on the most accident-prone parts of the road and for some time drivers began to adhere to the authorized speed – super, the cameras have fulfilled their mission. But no – we have a problem: they stopped giving the desired income in the form of fines. What is the true purpose of these cameras?”.

Sergii Kostezh speaks about the uneven coverage of roads:

• “There are areas such as the Chernihiv highway, on which as much as one camera, and at 130 km – 16 settlements (more than 50 kilometers along the highway take). Behind a stupid head, as they say – and the hands hurt)))))).”

Some users welcome the innovation. Laconically and emotionally reacted Yuliia Lavryshyn:

• “Finally!”

So, the new initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already caused an emotional wave in society – from approving “finally!” to sarcastic jokes about coffee between cameras. But while Ukrainians are debating in the comments, the practice of European countries shows: control of average speed is not about repression, but about lives saved.

Whether this system will become an effective safety tool or will turn into another formality depends not only on the technology, but also on the transparency of its implementation. One thing is clear: the game of “slow down and drive on” will no longer work.