AZE.US
Azerbaijan may review the system of penalty points imposed on drivers for some traffic violations, with the debate focused mainly on stopping, parking and bus-lane rules.
Under the current practice, drivers can receive not only a monetary fine but also two penalty points for violations such as illegal parking, stopping in a second lane or breaching certain rules related to bus lanes.
That system has become particularly sensitive for taxi drivers, who spend long hours on the road and may accumulate points quickly. Azerbaijan’s current limit is 20 penalty points, after which a driver can face restrictions on the right to drive.
Traffic expert Elmaddin Muradli said the existing approach creates growing pressure on taxi drivers, especially in Baku, where passenger pick-up and drop-off areas near bus lanes are still being developed.
He said a taxi driver may be fined 100 manats, about $59, and receive two penalty points for picking up a passenger in a bus lane. A driver may also be fined 80 manats, about $47, and receive two points for stopping in a second lane.
Muradli argued that the issue should be regulated differently. In his view, monetary fines may remain in place, but the application of penalty points for such violations should be reconsidered.
Specialists are not calling for penalty points to be removed entirely. They say points should remain for more dangerous violations that can directly lead to accidents, including running a red light and other serious traffic offenses.
Muradli said the penalty-point system may be reviewed in the near future, with proposals being prepared particularly on points applied for stopping and parking violations.
The broader question is not whether traffic rules should be enforced, but whether drivers should receive license-threatening penalty points in situations where the city’s own parking and passenger pick-up infrastructure remains incomplete.
AZE.US