- Speeding penalties apply for any exceedance; points depend on the excess.
- 1-9 km/h over: warning or fine; no penalty points.
- 10-20 km/h over: fine + 2 points; 21-40 over: 3-4 points.
- Stop sign at railroad crossings: 6 penalty points and fines.
Understanding the penalties points system in Romania is essential for every driver. Many people are confused about when these sanctions apply, especially regarding speeding or failing to respect the meaning of road signs. Let’s analyze these aspects in detail to understand exactly when and how we are penalized.
Question in the driving exam
The question in the driving license test is formulated as follows and has three possible answers:
A: failing to respect the meaning of the “Stop” sign installed at a level crossing
B: speeding 31-40 km/h over the maximum allowed speed on the respective road section for the vehicle’s category
C: speeding 10-20 km/h over the maximum allowed speed on the respective road section for the vehicle’s category
Explanation of the correct answers
All three options (A, B and C) are correct, and this may seem surprising at first. Let’s analyze each situation to understand why all answers are valid.
Speeding violations - variants B and C
General rule for speeding
A fundamental aspect to understand is that for any exceedance of the maximum allowed speed on the road section we are driving on, we will be sanctioned. These penalties include both penalty points and fines.
How penalty points are applied
The amount of penalty points varies depending on how many kilometers per hour we exceed the legal limit by:
- 1-9 km/h over the limit: warning or fine, without penalty points
- 10-20 km/h over the limit: fine + 2 penalty points (variant C)
- 21-30 km/h over the limit: fine + 3 penalty points
- 31-40 km/h over the limit: fine + 4 penalty points (variant B)
- 41-50 km/h over the limit: fine + 5 penalty points
- Over 50 km/h: fine + 6 penalty points + license suspension
Why both options are correct
As observed, the only situation where we do not receive penalty points is when we exceed the limit by only 1-9 km/h. Therefore, both variant B (31-40 km/h over) and variant C (10-20 km/h over) are correct, because in both cases penalty points apply.
Disregard of the “Stop” sign at railroad crossings - option A
What this sign means
The Stop sign (C10) installed at a railroad crossing is one of the most important traffic signs in Romania. It obliges the driver to stop completely before crossing the rail, whether or not a train is approaching.
Penalties applied
Disregarding the meaning of this sign is considered a serious traffic safety violation. The consequences are severe:
- 6 penalty points
- Fine
- High risk of a railway accident
Why penalties are so severe
The drastic penalties are justified by the fact that ignoring a stop at a railway crossing can have catastrophic consequences. Collisions between vehicles and trains are extremely dangerous and often fatal, given:
- The mass and speed of a train
- The long braking distance of a train
- The inability to maneuver or avoid
- The devastating force of impact
Romania’s penalty points system
How it works
The penalty points system was introduced to discourage dangerous behavior on the road. Each driver starts with a theoretical pool of points, and points are deducted with each violation.
Consequences of accumulating points
When you accumulate a certain number of penalty points within the license’s validity period:
- Upon reaching the maximum allowed points, the license is temporarily suspended
- A new psychological and/or medical exam may be required
- Reacquiring the license via re-examination may be necessary
Importance of obeying traffic rules
The penalty points system is not meant to punish drivers unnecessarily; it aims to ensure compliance with traffic regulations and responsible driving. Each rule exists for safety, either for the driver’s safety or for the safety of other road users.
Conclusion
For the driving exam question analyzed, all three possible answers (A, B and C) are correct. Penalty points apply both to speeding (except for the 1-9 km/h interval) and to disobeying the Stop sign at railroad crossings. Knowing these regulations is essential to avoid penalties and, more importantly, to ensure our own safety and that of other road users.
Safe driving and adherence to all traffic rules not only help us avoid penalties but also contribute to reducing the number of road accidents. Each penalty point represents a violation that could have led to an accident, and awareness of this should be enough to motivate us to be more responsible drivers.