From Italy’s new road code to Germany’s expanded company liability rules, nearly every major European market has updated its penalty schedule, meaning that for international fleets, keeping up with local rules is more important than ever.
In 2026, Italy takes the lead for the toughest penalties overall: a speeding offence of more than 60 km/h over the limit can cost up to €3,382, and even a hand-held phone carries up to €660.
The Netherlands follows closely for distracted driving, with a €440 fine for using a phone behind the wheel, while Poland tops the table for red-light violations, charging 500 złoty (about €115) and adding a crushing 15 penalty points.
For drink-driving, Italy’s zero-tolerance policy for professional drivers is the most severe, while France and Germany still apply the traditional 0.5 ‰ blood-alcohol limit. Across Europe, the message is consistent: the higher the vehicle weight and risk, the steeper the bill.
Netherlands: higher fines, strict phone ban and 0.2‰ alcohol limit
The Dutch motorists’ association ANWB has published provisional traffic fines for 2026, showing increases of around 3–4 % due to inflation.
- Phone in hand while driving: €440 (up €10 vs 2025)
- Red light: €320 (up €10)
- Speeding: +4 km/h in built-up area = €37
- Seatbelt: €180
- Alcohol limit: 0.2 ‰ for professional and novice drivers; 0.5 ‰ for others
Foreign hauliers are routinely fined via EU cross-border enforcement, as most violations are detected automatically.
Dutch enforcement is famously automated: more than 90% of speeding fines are issued by fixed cameras, and even foreign-registered trucks receive penalties via EU data-sharing. Some hauliers report getting fines before their drivers return from delivery.
United Kingdom: £200 fine and 6 points for phone use, DVSA enforcement for hauliers
The UK maintains one of Europe’s strictest approaches to mobile phone use, while penalties for speeding and red-light offences remain moderate compared with EU levels.
- Hand-held phone use: £200 fine and 6 penalty points. The rule applies even when the vehicle is stationary with the engine running.
- Red light: £100 fixed penalty and 3 points; courts may impose higher fines or temporary bans.
- Alcohol limits:
o England & Wales: 0.8 g/l (0.35 mg/l breath)
o Scotland & Northern Ireland: 0.5 g/l (0.22 mg/l breath)
There is no lower professional limit, but professional drivers risk vocational sanctions even when below the legal threshold.
- Enforcement: The DVSA issues graduated fixed penalties for driving-hours, load, and documentation breaches, while the Traffic Commissioner can suspend or revoke vocational licences.
Although fines are relatively low, the risk of losing a professional licence makes compliance critical for HGV drivers.
Britain’s roadside enforcement is less automated than on the Continent, but DVSA spot checks are feared for their thoroughness — officers can inspect tachographs, load securing, and vehicle condition in a single stop. Even paperwork errors can lead to an immediate immobilisation or a report to the Traffic Commissioner.
Germany: high penalties for rest-time, tachograph and overloading offences
Germany’s Bußgeldkatalog 2025 imposes separate fines on drivers and companies.
| Offence | Driver | Company |
| Daily driving time > limit ≤ 1 h | €30 | — |
| > 2 h (per 30 min) | €60 | €180 |
| Short break missing | up to €60 | up to €180 |
| Missing tachograph download | €250 | up to €750 |
| Overloading > 20 % | €425 + 1 pt | up to €850 |
| Phone use | €150 + 1 pt | — |
Tachograph tampering is a criminal offence; overtaking bans for HGVs are heavily policed.
German police frequently use mobile inspection units with portable scales and tachograph readers. Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia even operate HGV-only speed and overtaking controls on selected motorways. Violations there can trigger both a fine and Flensburg penalty points within minutes.
Spain: lower alcohol limit and automatic acoustic radars
Spain’s DGT has tightened rules for 2025–26.
- Alcohol: professional limit 0.3 g/l (0.15 mg/l breath); planned 0.2 g/l for all drivers
- Phone: up to €500 + 6 points
- Red light: €400 + 4 points
- Low-emission zone entry: €200
- Driving-hours/rest breaches: €200–€500
Spain has been experimenting with acoustic radars in cities like Madrid and Barcelona to fine excessively noisy vehicles, an innovation now expanding to mountain roads popular with motorcyclists. For truckers, these sound sensors are yet another layer of enforcement alongside speed and emission cameras.
Italy: new road code brings heavier sanctions and zero tolerance
Italy’s updated Codice della Strada introduces some of the harshest penalties in Europe.
- Speeding:
+10–40 km/h: €173–€695 + 3 pts
+40–60 km/h: €543–€2 170 + 6 pts + licence suspension 1–3 months
+60 km/h: €845–€3 382 + 10 pts + suspension 6–12 months
- Phone use: €165–€660 + 8 pts; repeat = licence suspension 1–3 months
- Alcohol: 0.5 g/l general; 0.0 g/l for professional and novice drivers; offences carry €543–€6 000 and up to 1-year suspension
- Drugs: €1 500–€6 000 + licence suspension 1–2 years
The reform also increases roadside checks on vehicle safety systems and tachograph compliance.
Italy’s road police, the Polizia Stradale, have a reputation for strict on-the-spot enforcement, especially on Alpine corridors and near ports. Fines for mobile phone use are often issued together with licence suspensions, and foreign vehicles can be held until the fine is paid — cash or card on site.
France: €135 for phone or red light, 0.5‰ alcohol for HGVs
- Phone in hand: €135 + 3 points
- Red light: €135 + 4 points (+ possible suspension)
- Speeding: +30 km/h = €135 + 3 points; ≥ 50 km/h = €1 500 + 6 points
- Alcohol: 0.5 g/l blood (0.25 mg/l breath); ≥ 0.8 g/l = criminal offence (€4 500 + up to 2 years in prison)
- Lower limits: 0.2 g/l for novice and bus drivers
France’s automatic radar network is one of Europe’s densest, and the government has begun deploying unmarked police cars with onboard cameras that fine drivers without visible enforcement points. Some departments are also trialling AI-based systems to detect seatbelt and phone offences through windscreens.
Poland: heavy point penalties and recidivism doubling
- Phone: 500 PLN + 12 points
- Red light: 500 PLN + 15 points; 1 500 PLN if collision
- Speeding: +31–40 km/h = 800 PLN (1 600 repeat); ≥ 71 km/h = 2 500 PLN (5 000 repeat) + 15 points
- Alcohol: 0.2 g/l limit; 0.2–0.5 = misdemeanour; ≥ 0.5 = crime
Poland applies some of Europe’s highest demerit points, with doubling of fines for repeat offences within two years. Roadside checks and red-light cameras are widespread on major transit routes.
Poland’s 2022–2024 reforms created one of Europe’s most punitive point systems. Enforcement officers can confiscate driving licences on the spot for major speeding or alcohol offences, and foreign trucks are often stopped for overweight checks at regional transport inspection posts known as ITD.
Comparison of key fines and limits (truck drivers, 2026)
| Country | Phone use | Red light | Alcohol limit (professional) | Typical speeding fine | Notes |
| NL | €440 | €320 | 0.2 ‰ | +4 km/h = €37 | Strict cross-border enforcement |
| UK | £200 + 6 pts | £100 + 3 pts | 0.8 g/l (E&W) / 0.5 g/l (Scot.) | +10 mph ≈ £100 | DVSA & Traffic Commissioner oversight |
| DE | €150 + 1 pt | — | 0.5 ‰ | Overload > 20 % = €425 + 1 pt | Company also fined |
| ES | up to €500 + 6 pts | €400 + 4 pts | 0.3 ‰ → 0.2 ‰ | 10 km/h ≈ €100 | Sound radars, LEZ fines |
| IT | €165–€660 + 8 pts | €167 | 0.0 ‰ | +40 km/h = €543–€2 170 | Licence suspension |
| FR | €135 + 3 pts | €135 + 4 pts | 0.5 ‰ | +30 km/h = €135 | Licence retention possible |
| PL | 500 PLN + 12 pts | 500 PLN + 15 pts | 0.2 ‰ | +31–40 km/h = 800 PLN | Doubled fines for repeats |
Across Europe, authorities are tightening enforcement against phone use, speeding, and drink-driving, with Italy, Poland, and Germany leading the way in fines and licence penalties.
