AZE.US
Azerbaijan’s penalty-point system is becoming a serious risk for drivers, with as many as 80% potentially facing restrictions on their driving rights, according to transport expert Elmaddin Muradli.
Under the current system, drivers who reach 20 penalty points can face a temporary restriction on their right to drive.
Muradli says this has pushed some motorists to look for ways around the system, including transferring violations to other people through powers of attorney.
The expert says the practice is not the real problem. In his view, the larger issue is a regulatory system that punishes drivers heavily while leaving key infrastructure problems unresolved.
“We are not solving anything by keeping drivers under constant pressure from penalty points,” Muradli said, according to local media. He argued that road safety cannot be achieved through fear alone, especially when driver training, traffic planning and parking infrastructure remain weak.
Muradli pointed to several recurring problems in Baku. One is the use of bus lanes, where restrictions in some areas are in force from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. He said drivers may briefly enter such lanes while turning or picking up passengers, but still receive fines and penalty points.
Parking is another major issue. According to Muradli, the city lacks enough legal places for short stops, forcing drivers to stop near sidewalks, pedestrian crossings or other restricted areas. Such violations can bring fines of 40 to 60 manats and 2 penalty points. In some cases, he said, a driver stopping for just a few seconds to drop off a passenger may receive an 80-manat fine and 2 points.
Taxi drivers are among the most exposed. Many already have 18 or 19 penalty points, meaning even a minor violation could put their livelihood at risk.
Muradli said serious violations, such as repeatedly running red lights, should be treated firmly. But he argued that minor incidents caused by poor traffic design or a lack of parking should not carry the same kind of consequences.
The debate has also raised questions about the use of powers of attorney to shift violations to other people. Muradli said he does not approve of the practice, but he also does not blame drivers who are trying to avoid losing their licenses.
“There is no legal ban on issuing a power of attorney,” he said. “The problem is not the power of attorney. The problem is the rules that put citizens in this position.”
Muradli said Azerbaijan should decide whether it wants a mass of drivers stripped of their licenses or a more disciplined road culture built on better rules, better infrastructure and better driver education.
AZE.US