For a major reform to win broad public support, everyone must be held accountable, with no special treatment, and every violation punished in proportion to its seriousness. That is the rationale behind the draft law for the new Road Code. The document was presented by the Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities and Transport, Saïd Sayoud, to the Transport Committee of the National People’s Assembly (APN). The least that can be said is that the authorities are no longer compromising when it comes to the scourge of road accidents—and their heavy toll in lives lost.
Desperate times call for decisive action. Faced with a national emergency, an ambitious text was needed—one backed by a sufficiently tough enforcement arsenal to stem the tragedies on the roads. The authorities have therefore drafted a 190-article bill with wide scope, designed to place every actor before their responsibilities. From drivers to pedestrians, everyone is affected; no one slips through the net.
It begins with the conditions for obtaining a driving licence, under a far stricter framework and with much harsher penalties for breaches. It ends with pedestrians, who are undoubtedly part of the problem. The public may not pay much attention to it, but pedestrians will also be penalized for failing to comply with traffic rules. The new Code categorizes such offenses as first-degree violations—less serious, admittedly, but carrying a fine set at 4,000 Algerian dinars (DA).
It is worth recalling that the current text provides for a 2,000 DA financial penalty for crossing outside marked pedestrian crossings, but this provision was rarely enforced. The new Code puts an end to that laxity: road safety becomes everyone’s business, not just drivers’.
The draft law strengthens penalties by classifying offenses as infractions, misdemeanours and crimes. As for infractions, the financial scale is increased and divided into four levels of severity:
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First-degree offenses, punishable by a 4,000 DA fine, include—beyond pedestrian violations—refusing to present vehicle documents, failing to wear a seatbelt, not complying with child transport requirements, and even driving with dirty windows.
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Second-degree offenses, punishable by a 6,000 DA fine, relate to excessive use of horns and audible alarms, parking in lanes reserved for public transport, illegible licence plates, and failing to yield to pedestrians.
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Third-degree offenses, carrying a 9,000 DA fine, mainly include speeding by less than 10%, illegal parking, unjustified use of the emergency lane, throwing waste from a vehicle, risky transport of objects, or allowing children under 10 to ride bicycles in unsafe conditions.
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Fourth-degree offenses, the most serious, are punishable by a 15,000 DA fine. This category includes highly dangerous behaviour such as ignoring stop signs, accelerating during an overtaking manoeuvre, driving without a licence, using a phone while driving, lack of a roadworthiness inspection, failing to keep a safe distance, or speeding in excess of 20%.
It is not only fines that are rising; criminal penalties are also being significantly tightened. For offenses classified as serious misdemeanours or crimes—particularly involuntary homicide or unintentional injuries—sentences can reach up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 2,000,000 DA…
The measures are even tougher when the offense involves a heavy vehicle or public transport vehicle. These vehicles often make headlines, with tragedies that leave dozens of families in mourning.
The new Code also addresses drug use. The text requires medical tests certifying non-consumption when applying for or renewing a driving licence. Drivers—especially heavy goods vehicle operators and passenger transport drivers—must undergo periodic medical checks, including surprise examinations.
The same requirements apply to recruitment files for professionals in these categories. In addition, the draft covers the suspension or revocation of driving licences, repeat offenses, vehicle seizure, and the possibility of requiring a driver to undergo a medical examination to certify their physical and mental fitness.
The message is clear: from now on, it is zero tolerance and accountability for all road users—aimed at putting an end to recurring human tragedies.
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