From 1 July 2026, many traffic fines in Belgium will increase by 10%. The De Wever government announced the measure late last year as part of its efforts to raise additional budget revenue. The effective date has now been set.

The increase applies to immediate-collection fines: the standard penalties imposed for many common offenses without a court hearing. It will affect drivers caught speeding, driving without a seatbelt, using a handheld phone at the wheel, or driving under the influence.

The impact is clear in a few everyday examples. A minor speeding offense that currently costs about €68 will rise to roughly €74. Failing to wear a seatbelt will go from €126 to €138. Using a handheld phone while driving, a third-degree offense, will increase from €182 to €201.

Drink-driving penalties also rise, although the total depends on the alcohol level recorded and on the sanction imposed. In serious cases, the financial penalty is only part of the consequence.

Will higher fines make roads safer?

That is the key question. Road-safety experts are skeptical that a relatively modest increase in the fine itself will significantly change driver behavior.

According to Stef Willems, spokesperson for the Vias road-safety institute, the likelihood of being caught is a far stronger deterrent than the amount of the fine. A speed camera, visible police control, or targeted roadside check is therefore more likely to influence behavior than a small increase in the amount payable.

This does not mean fines have no role to play. But their safety impact depends on what happens around them. Revenue from fines can help improve enforcement, awareness campaigns, and road infrastructure. Targeted controls at junctions, school environments, pedestrian crossings,s and other places where vulnerable road users face greater risk can make a tangible difference.

License withdrawal has a greater impact

For some offenses, the consequences already go beyond a fine. Since February, using a handheld phone while driving can result in an immediate 15-day withdrawal of the driving license. For drink-driving, a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.8 g/l or more can also lead to an immediate 15-day withdrawal.

These measures may have a stronger effect than a higher fine because they directly disrupt daily life. Losing the ability to drive affects work, family responsibilities, and mobility in a way that an additional €10 or €20 often does not.

“A cash cow” for the state?

Motorists’ organizations have long argued that traffic fines are too often used to fill public coffers rather than to improve road safety. Their criticism is likely to intensify now that the rise is explicitly linked to budgetary needs.

The real test will be whether the government pairs higher fines with better enforcement and safer road design. Critics argue that controls should be concentrated where dangerous traffic flows meet and where pedestrians and cyclists are most exposed—not simply in low-risk locations where fines are easy to collect.

Higher fines may generate more revenue. Whether they also make Belgium’s roads safer will depend mainly on the chance of being caught and on how the money is used.