
This holiday season, 850 notorious traffic offenders in Estonia will receive an unusual Christmas greeting—a black card sent by the police. Among the recipients, 102 individuals are receiving this card for the second year in a row, and 22 for the third consecutive year. Compared to last year, the number of card recipients has increased by 237.
The most notorious traffic offender of the year is a man born in 1992, who committed 27 traffic violations in 2024 alone. All of his offenses involved driving without a valid license, and he is currently serving a prison sentence for his actions. In total, 74 of the card recipients caused 81 traffic accidents during the year, resulting in injuries to 23 people.
The majority of offenders are young men aged 20 to 24, with a secondary education and Estonian citizenship. Among this year’s black card recipients are 25 women. Over the past year, these individuals collectively committed 4,542 traffic offenses, leading to nearly half a million euros in fines.
Geographically, most card recipients reside in Harjumaa and Ida-Virumaa, where 238 and 132 cards were sent, respectively. In Tartumaa, the number of recipients grew significantly, with 128 cards sent this year—53 more than last year. Hiiumaa had the fewest offenders, with only four cards sent, although this is still one more than the previous year.
The initiative serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless driving and aims to encourage safer behavior on Estonia’s roads. Stay safe and drive responsibly!