‘Horror caravans’ fined over EUR 42 thousand – VIDEO

The operators of dangerous semi-trailers hauling western European used cars to the East, also dubbed “horror caravans”, have been fined a total of 15.5 million forints for violating road safety regulations, the Innovation and Technology Ministry said on Friday.

The transport authority has been given improved powers since January 31 to act against the dangerous vehicles, the ministry said in a statement.

Under the regulations extended to include additional vehicle categories, a fine of up to 500,000 forints (EUR 1,400) can be imposed on trailers used

above their capacity or inadequately securing their cargo.

Police and the transport authority can also seize their licence, it added.

State secretary for transport policy Laszlo Mosoczi said in the statement that in the recent period, some 21 fines were issued as a result of excess load and 17 fines for other irregularities, including inadequate documentation.

Here is a video about a horror caravan, made in Szolnok, C Hungary:

• Budapest to begin testing new road safety measures

As we reported before, foreign nationals accrued over 13 million euros’ worth of fines in 2020 on the roads of Hungary, and even that huge number pales in comparison with the data from 2019.

Culprits come from many countries, but there’s one nation that easily takes the cake. As 24.hu reported, based on data obtained from the Hungarian Police, in 2020, a total of 160 745 foreign citizens were financially penalised for traffic-related reasons. That’s 44% less than the figure from 2019 (285 392), a reduction that is clearly a consequence of the pandemic.