The proposed legislation is designed to reduce traffic accidents, better protect road users' lives and health, and strengthen accountability for dangerous driving offences, according to the lower house of parliament.
One of the key provisions would introduce criminal liability for individuals who allow minors to drive if doing so results in moderate or serious bodily injury, a fatality or other grave consequences.
The bill also proposes tougher administrative penalties for allowing minors to operate vehicles, organizing or participating in illegal street races, leaving trucks parked at night in a way that endangers other road users, violating procedures for deregistering vehicles, and exceeding the speed limit by more than 80 km/h.
The bill would also allow courts to order the temporary impoundment of vehicles for between six months and one year. The measure would apply when offences such as road hooliganism, organizing illegal races, drunk driving or refusing a sobriety test are committed by people who do not hold a valid driver's license or have been stripped of their driving privileges.
Under the draft law, the temporary impoundment order would be imposed by district or city criminal courts in cases specified by law.
Another proposed change would suspend the right to pay traffic fines at a discounted rate for a specified period if certain serious traffic offences are committed repeatedly.
The bill also seeks to tighten penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol and for refusing to undergo mandatory sobriety testing.
During the debate, lawmakers stressed that the main purpose of the proposed legislation is not to impose harsher punishments, but to prevent dangerous traffic violations at an early stage, encourage greater responsibility among drivers and place the protection of human life at the center of road safety policy.
The draft law has now passed its first reading in the Legislative Chamber.
