Berlin, Germany – The number of traffic violations committed by drivers of diplomatic corps vehicles in the German capital has increased by 10% in 2024, according to an internal police report. The majority of the infractions, which totaled 18,288, were for halt and parking violations, followed by speed limit violations.
Police spokespersons revealed that while the diplomatic immunity of the drivers precludes any prosecution under German law, the state prosecution service in Berlin has nonetheless terminated all proceedings in these cases. The same reason, citing diplomatic immunity, has also prevented the pursuit of traffic violations.
A ranking of the worst offenders among the diplomatic corps’ drivers shows a consistent pattern, with the Saudi Arabian and US embassies typically at the top of the list. In 2024, Saudi Arabian embassy drivers were responsible for 1,225 traffic infractions, followed by the US embassy with 1,162 and then Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Egypt, Ukraine, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
The police recorded 48 accidents involving diplomatic corps vehicles in 2024, with 19 of those resulting in personal injuries, including one fatality, one serious injury and 19 minor injuries. In more than half of the cases, the drivers of the diplomatic corps vehicles fled the scene of the accident. The police launched investigations in 28 cases, suspecting the drivers of unauthorised departure from the scene of the accident, with 12 of those cases involving drivers of the diplomatic corps.