The Ministry of the Interior has announced a hardening of the highway code with the automatic removal of the permit in the event of speeding or red lights crossed. The text awaits the approval of the Parliament.
Invited on national radio waves this Monday, July 28, 2025, Sami Rachiko, director of the traffic police, unveiled the main lines of a new road safety bill, drawn up in coordination with the ministries of transport and equipment.
More severe sanctions
The text provides for much more severe sanctions, in particular the automatic withdrawal of the driving license in the following cases:
- 1 month of withdrawal from 10 km/h of exceeding compared to the authorized speed,
- 2 months from 20 km/h,
- 3 months beyond 30 km/h,
- Red light crossing: automatic license withdrawal
The bill, already approved in ministerial council
The bill, already approved in ministerial council, must still be examined by the assembly of people’s representatives after parliamentary holidays. Its entry into force is expected as soon as possible.
On the authorities’ side, this hardening is presented as a deterrent measure in the face of dangerous behavior on the roads. “The fear of permit must change habits,” said Sami Rachiko.
This new legal framework is part of a broader strategy to combat road insecurity in Tunisia, where road accidents remain one of the main causes of mortality. To support this reform, article 100 of the Highway Code will be modified in order to authorize the observation of offenses via surveillance cameras and other modern technologies.
In parallel, the Ministry of the Interior works with the National Observatory for Road Safety on awareness campaigns, in particular targeting young drivers, too often involved in speeding or driving in a state of drunkenness.
