TIRANA, Aug 10 /ATA/ – Albania has introduced tougher penalties under amendments to its Road Code, targeting drink-driving, mobile phone use and dangerous driving in an effort to improve road safety and reduce accidents.
Road Police Director Perlat Vatoci said in a press conference on Monday that people caught driving without a licence could now be barred from obtaining one for up to one year, or two years if they are minors.
Drivers found with blood alcohol levels above 0.5 g/l who have previously been penalised for drink-driving or driving while intoxicated will face permanent revocation of their driving licence.
Penalties for dangerous driving, including inappropriate speed, aggressive manoeuvres and un-signalled lane changes, have risen from 20,000 to 60,000 leks, Vatoci said.
The revised code also penalises mobile phone use while riding bicycles, motorbikes of up to 50cc and motorised scooters. For car drivers, a licence suspension will now follow two mobile-phone violations within the same year, compared with three previously.
“Using a mobile phone while driving is one of the main causes of losing control of a vehicle and, consequently, of road accidents,” Vatoci said.
New drivers who have held a licence for less than 24 months will face specific alcohol and speed restrictions. The amendments also remove the option of avoiding a licence suspension by paying twice the maximum fine; where suspension is prescribed, it will now apply automatically.
“Penalties are not our goal. Our goal is to prevent violations and accidents and, above all, to protect lives,” Vatoci said.
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