Albanian Road Code Article 147: safe following distance and tailgating fines
Article 147 requires drivers to keep enough distance from the vehicle ahead to always be able to stop immediately and avoid a collision. The fine is higher when a collision with serious damage results.
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Distance rules
While moving, vehicles must keep a safety distance from the vehicle ahead that in every case guarantees an immediate stop and avoids hitting it (paragraph 1).
- outside built-up areas, where overtaking is banned only for certain vehicle categories, those vehicles must keep at least 100 m between them; this does not apply on sections with two or more lanes per direction (paragraph 2);
- near machines clearing or spreading snow at work, drivers must take special care and keep at least 20 m; oncoming vehicles must stop if needed so as not to obstruct the work (paragraph 3).
Fines under article 147
If the same person commits the paragraph 5 breach at least twice within 12 months, the last breach brings a licence suspension of one to two years (paragraph 5).
Amounts are taken from the published Code text; check the exact amount to pay in the official payment channel before paying.
- 1,000 to 3,000 lek for breaching the article (paragraph 4);
- 5,000 to 20,000 lek if not respecting the article leads to a collision with serious vehicle damage requiring the check under article 79, paragraph 7 (paragraph 5).
If people are injured
If the collision causes serious injuries, criminal sanctions for unintentional injury or unintentional killing apply to the driver (paragraph 6).
How to read the code on a fine
The code “147 §4” on a fine means article 147, paragraph 4 of the Albanian Road Code.
You can check active unpaid fines for a licence plate for free on the Gjoba Alert home page.
This page is reference information, not legal advice. The Code may change.
Fines under this article
| 147 §4 | 1,000 ALL to 3,000 ALLText of the Code (Albanian)Cilido, që shkel dispozitat e këtij neni, ndëshkohet me masë administrative, me gjobë nga një mijë deri në tre mijë lekë. |
|---|---|
| 147 §5 | 5,000 ALL to 20,000 ALL In addition: Kur i njëjti subjekt, brenda dymbëdhjetë muajve kryen të paktën dy herë të njëjtën shkelje sipas kësaj pike, në shkeljen e fundit zbatohet masa plotësuese administrative me pezullimin e lejedrejtimit nga një deri në dy vjet. Text of the Code (Albanian)Kur si pasojë e mosrespektimit të dispozitave të këtij neni ndodh një përplasje me dëmtime të rënda për mjetin, të tilla që duhet të kryejnë kontrollin sipas nenit 79, pika 7, ndëshkimi është me masë administrative me gjobë nga pesë mijë deri në njëzet mijë lekë. |
Source
Consolidated text of the Albanian Road Code (Law 8378/1998 as amended up to Law 58/2026), p. 97. Reference information, not legal advice.
Amendments to the article: Ndryshuar pika 4 me ligjin nr. 10488, datë 5.12.2011
The place, article and other details of a specific fine are available in the Telegram bot.
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Frequently asked questions
What following distance is required in Albania?
Article 147 gives no general figure: the distance must guarantee an immediate stop and avoid a collision (paragraph 1). Specific figures apply only to certain cases: 100 m (paragraph 2) and 20 m from snow-clearing machines (paragraph 3).
What is the fine for tailgating in Albania?
1,000 to 3,000 lek (paragraph 4), or 5,000 to 20,000 lek if a collision with serious damage results (paragraph 5). Check the exact amount in the official payment channel.
When is the licence suspended under article 147?
If the paragraph 5 breach is committed at least twice within 12 months: for one to two years.
What does “147 §4” on a fine mean?
It means article 147, paragraph 4 of the Albanian Road Code. You can check active unpaid fines for a plate for free on the Gjoba Alert home page. This page is reference information, not legal advice; the Code may change.