The father of a 12-year-old boy who died in a car accident called on the Rada to impose harsher penalties on drivers
Oleksiy Glushych, a member of the Ukrainian National Guard whose 12-year-old son, Hryhoriy, died in a high-profile traffic accident in Kyiv, appealed to members of parliament to impose stricter penalties for dangerous traffic violations.
He emphasized that drivers who commit systematic violations should have their licenses revoked before they cause a fatal accident.
Meanwhile, it was reported that today the Verkhovna Rada considered Bill No. 15348 and held an indicative vote on it. Following this, the parliamentary session was adjourned—on September 16, lawmakers are scheduled to resume work by reviewing this legislative initiative.
As the soldier noted, his son died three months ago in a traffic accident at Karavaevy Dachi in Kyiv. According to Glushych, the Mercedes was traveling at a speed of about 150 km/h in a 50 km/h zone and crashed into an underground pedestrian crossing. Four people were killed, and three others were injured.
“This was no accident. It was no coincidence. It is a clear consequence of the fact that drivers in Ukraine are essentially above the law,” Hlushych stated.
According to him, the driver who caused the fatal accident had previously violated traffic rules dozens of times.
“You can violate the rules 39 times, kill a person on the 40th time, and no one will stop you. You’ll just be fined—the fines are laughable—and your license won’t be revoked,” the military official emphasized.
Glushich called on members of parliament to support Bill No. 15348 and its alternative version during the first reading, and to refine the provisions before the second reading so that liability for dangerous violations is stricter.
He cited European countries as an example, where, he said, Ukrainian drivers immediately change their behavior due to significantly stricter penalties.
“It has to hurt to break the rules. If people don’t understand that the rules aren’t about fines but about saving lives, then the fines must be high. It shouldn’t be 340 hryvnias, but 34,000 hryvnias. Licenses must be revoked—before someone gets killed,” Glushych stated.
After his son’s death, the soldier launched a public campaign to improve road safety. His petition to the president, calling for stricter penalties for drivers who violate traffic laws and for the National Security and Defense Council to address road safety issues, garnered the required 25,000 signatures.
Glushich announced this in a statement published on social media.
The parents of Grisha Glushich, who died in a traffic accident, called on the authorities to urgently address the situation on the roads.
A 12-year-old boy died in Kryvyi Rih after being struck by a judge at a crosswalk.
