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Turkey Cuts Road Violence in Half After New Traffic Law Takes Effect
A 7574 amendment to the Turkish Highway Traffic Law, effective 27 February 2026, introduced heavy penalties – up to 180 000 TL, a 30‑day traffic ban and a 60‑day licence withdrawal – for drivers who follow another vehicle aggressively or jump from a vehicle. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi ordered a nationwide crackdown after viral videos of road aggression.
Police and gendarmerie actions across 81 provinces led to a 51.6 % drop in traffic‑related assault cases during the 27 Feb‑28 Jul period, from 4 806 incidents in 2025 to 2 328 in 2026.
Enforcement also produced large fines: in Konya, 10 drivers were penalised a total of 586 719 TL for drift, road‑blocking and other violations. A separate Konya crash saw taxi driver Hasan Kalkan exceed the 60 km/h limit by reaching 112 km/h, run a red light and fatally strike a mother and her 13‑year‑old daughter; he was detained for negligent homicide. Other incidents reported include a 0.97 ‰ alcohol‑related crash in Alpagut (25 000 TL fine), a forest‑fire vehicle‑motorcycle collision in Emet with one injury, and a motorcycle‑car collision in Isparta that also left one person hurt. These cases illustrate both the heightened enforcement under the new law and the ongoing risks on Turkish roads.
Entities
A. S. A. · Bolu Police Department · Hasan Kalkan · Karaman Municipality · Konya · Konya Police Traffic Department · Konya Traffic Police Department · Kütahya Forest Service · Mehmet A. · Mustafa Çiftçi · Turkish Highway Traffic Law (7574 amendment) · Turkish Interior Ministry
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A 7574 amendment to the Turkish Highway Traffic Law took effect on 27 February 2026. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahaber.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A forest‑fire response vehicle and a motorcycle collided in Emet, Kütahya, injuring one person. www.gazetebirlik.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Traffic‑related assault cases dropped 51.6 % nationwide between 27 Feb‑28 Jul 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, falling from 4 806 to 2 328 incidents. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahaber.com · haber.doviz.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The amendment imposes a 180 000 TL fine, a 30‑day traffic ban and a 60‑day driver‑license withdrawal for drivers who follow another vehicle aggressively or jump from a vehicle. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahaber.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi ordered an intensified crackdown on road aggression after viral videos of traffic violence. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahaber.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ten drivers in Konya were fined a total of 586 719 TL for violations such as drifting, road blocking and illegal lane use. www.konyaninsesi.com.tr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In Konya, taxi driver Hasan Kalkan drove at 112 km/h, ran a red light and struck a mother and her 13‑year‑old daughter, who died at the scene; he was detained for negligent homicide. www.avrupagazete.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In Alpagut, a driver with a blood‑alcohol level of 0.97 ‰ received a 25 000 TL administrative fine after a collision with a motorcycle. www.aksiyon.com.tr