Turkish Transport Minister Apologizes After "Crazy Speed Trip" That Cost Him a Traffic Violation

Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu sparked widespread controversy after appearing in a video driving his car at a speed of 225 kilometers per hour on a highway, clearly exceeding the maximum allowed limit of 140 kilometers.

The video, which was widely circulated on social media platforms, included scenes of the speedometer rapidly increasing while the minister's car overtook other vehicles on the Ankara – Niğde highway, accompanied by folk music and clips from a speech by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about infrastructure projects.

After a wave of criticism, traffic police imposed a fine of 9,267 Turkish lira (about 280 dollars) on the minister for exceeding the speed limit. In a move to contain public anger, Uraloğlu posted a picture of the violation on his account on the "X" platform, accompanied by a brief comment: "I apologize to our nation".

This incident highlights the traffic safety crisis in Turkey, where official data showed that more than 6,300 people were killed in about 1.5 million traffic accidents last year alone, reflecting the seriousness of neglecting traffic laws even at the highest levels of government.