Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) is to submit a draft bill that will hand out harsher penalties for speeding, especially to those who share images of their driving on social media.
"Speed is along with distraction and driving under the influence one of the three killers on our roads. I cannot accept that some people use our roads as Formula 1 circuits and then brag about it on social media."
Gilkinet explained that the social glorification of speed or other behaviours that undermine road safety is far too commonplace and extremely harmful. "There can be no tolerance for those who openly and without any limits obstruct the provisions of the highway code, including those relating to speed limits," he explained on Monday.
In practical terms, offenders will be punished with a fine and a driving ban between one month and one year for any person who promotes this behaviour by sharing footage of themselves speeding. Examples of such behaviour include slaloming between other vehicles, showing aggression, refusing to give way, wheeling in traffic or driving under the influence.
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For harsher penalties, the offender must be driving on a motorway. The penalty will also apply even if the images were originally intended for a limited number of people. Mobile messaging and social networks make it easy to spread footage and images widely, something the author of the message "must be aware of", according to Gilkinet.
The French-speaking Green and Deputy Prime Minister wants to see his plan be put into effect this year.
