🚗 Speeding fine: a testimony from bereaved parents before payment

Since September 2026, paying a traffic fine in Belgium has no longer always been a purely financial transaction. Drivers who consult their fine on the Just-on-web platform are now first shown an awareness message highlighting the human consequences of speeding.

This national campaign gives a voice to two mothers who lost their children in road traffic accidents.

🎥 A testimony before paying the fine

When a person logs on to Just-on-web to pay a traffic fine, a short road-safety awareness video appears before payment can be made.

The video features Michelle and Viviane, two mothers who are members of the Parents of Road Victims – SAVE association.

Michelle lost her son Olivier, who was almost 13 years old. While cycling home, he was struck by a driver who was speeding and under the influence of alcohol. Olivier died a few hours later without regaining consciousness.

Viviane lost her 19-year-old son Nathan on 1 March 2014. He was killed in a serious accident caused by a speeding driver.

Through their testimonies, both mothers wish to remind drivers that a decision made in a few seconds behind the wheel can permanently change several lives.

The campaign’s central message is clear:

“Saving a few seconds is never worth a human life.”

✉️ A personal message enclosed with speeding fines

The awareness campaign is not limited to online payments.

Every federal fine letter relating to a speeding offence is also accompanied by an information sheet containing the personal testimony of either Michelle or Viviane.

The sheet includes a photograph of a parent who lost a child, their testimony and a QR code providing access to the campaign materials.

Its purpose is to remind drivers that, beyond the financial penalty, excessive or inappropriate speed can have devastating human consequences.

🌍 Are the testimonies available in Dutch and other languages?

Yes.

The campaign videos are available in four languages:

• 🇫🇷 French;
• 🇳🇱 Dutch;
• 🇩🇪 German;
• 🇬🇧 English.

In each of these languages, the Belgian Federal Public Service Justice provides both a short version intended for the payment process and a full version of the testimony.

The official posters and written campaign materials are announced in French, Dutch and German. The Federal Public Service Justice does not expressly mention an English version of the paper information sheet enclosed with the fine.

The awareness message may therefore also appear when Just-on-web is used in Dutch, German or English.

📅 A national campaign launched in September 2026

The new campaign focusing on the dangers of speeding was launched on 7 September 2026.

It is the result of cooperation between:

• Parents of Road Victims – SAVE;
• the Federal Public Service Justice;
• the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport;
• the Vias institute;
• the Belgian Federal Police.

According to the authorities, excessive or inappropriate speed is still involved in one in three fatal road accidents in Belgium.

Testimonies from road traffic victims were first incorporated into the Just-on-web payment process in 2025. Within one year, the videos were reportedly viewed 1.2 million times.

⚖️ Does this message affect the legal procedure?

No. The video and information sheet are intended solely for prevention and awareness purposes.

They do not alter:

• the legal classification of the offence;
• the amount of the fine;
• the applicable time limits;
• the right to examine the relevant evidence;
• the right to challenge the alleged offence.

The presence of a particularly emotional testimony does not mean that the driver must automatically admit the offence or pay the fine immediately.

🔎 What should you check before paying?

Before making any payment, it is advisable to examine carefully the information contained in the official report or payment request, including:

• the driver’s identity;
• the vehicle registration number;
• the location and date of the alleged offence;
• the speed initially measured;
• the speed retained after applying the technical correction margin;
• any particular circumstances surrounding the alleged offence.

If there is an error, a dispute regarding the facts or uncertainty about the legal consequences of payment, legal advice should be obtained before the fine is paid.

🛡️ Raising awareness while respecting the rights of the defence

This campaign pursues a legitimate objective: reminding drivers that speeding is not merely an abstract offence and may cause irreversible tragedy.

Road-safety awareness must nevertheless remain separate from the legal assessment of each individual case. A driver who receives a fine retains the right to verify the allegations and, where appropriate, challenge the offence in accordance with the applicable procedure.

📩 Have you received a traffic fine and would you like to verify its validity, understand its possible consequences or examine whether it can be challenged? Please feel free to contact me so that I can review your situation and provide you with appropriate legal advice.

Sources

• Belgian Federal Public Service Justice, “Road-safety awareness campaign: driving just a few kilometres per hour too fast can change a life forever”, 7 September 2026.
• Belgian Federal Public Service Justice, official campaign page containing the testimonies and the different language versions of the videos.
• Parents of Road Victims – SAVE, presentation of the national speeding awareness campaign.