Police consider raising speed camera fine threshold from three to six km/h

Estonia's police are considering raising the speed camera intervention threshold from three to six kilometres per hour, which would give drivers more leeway. The change would significantly affect the number of fines, as small speeding violations of up to three km/h currently account for nearly half of all fines. Police are expected to reach a decision in the coming weeks.

The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) is considering raising the speed camera intervention threshold from the current three kilometres per hour to six kilometres per hour. The change would give drivers more leeway, but would also significantly affect the total number of fines.

What the change would mean

Currently, a speeding fine is issued when a vehicle's speed exceeds the permitted speed limit by more than three kilometres per hour. The devices also account for a measurement error of four kilometres per hour. For example, on a road with a 90 km/h speed limit, a fine is currently issued starting from 97 km/h. If the threshold were raised to six km/h, this would shift to 100 km/h.

PPA Deputy Director General Kristi Mäe explained that the agency's focus is on offenders with higher risk. "We have focused on those offenders who exceed the speed limit more. Our goal is to keep traffic safe and fines should go to those who exceed more," said Mäe.

Half of fines from minor violations

According to police data, approximately 50 per cent of all speeding violations currently fall in the range of two to three kilometres per hour. This means that raising the intervention threshold would significantly reduce the number of fines.

Dago Antov, senior researcher in transport at Tallinn University of Technology, assesses the change's impact on average vehicle speed as modest. "Generally, it is estimated that raising the speed limit by ten kilometres per hour leads to an increase in average travel speed of around three to four kilometres. Based on this, I would venture to say that raising the threshold by three kilometres would lead to perhaps one or two kilometres per hour increase in average speed, which actually is probably not a major issue," explained Antov.

Member of parliament supports the idea

Member of Parliament Valdo Randpere (Reform Party) believes the change is reasonable, citing statistics on the large share of minor violations. "If indeed this range from three to six gives you half of the fines, then I think that is a bit much. Perhaps we should not issue so many fines; this is no longer directly a traffic safety issue, it is a question of the purpose of issuing fines," said Randpere.

Randpere stressed that in improving traffic culture, fines should not be the primary tool and raising public awareness is equally important.

Connection to parliament decision

Police originally proposed raising the intervention threshold as an alternative to parliament's plan to require warning signs to be placed before speed cameras. Although parliament accepted the warning sign requirement this week, police did not abandon their proposal. According to Mäe, the agency has also introduced softer measures over the past year, including caution stops, conversations with drivers and proactive preventive work, and intends to continue with these.

Police are currently analysing the plan and are expected to make a final decision in the coming weeks.