(BUDAPEST) - In the past, it's been almost common practice in Hungary for drivers caught speeding or drunk at the wheel to simply slip policemen a fiver to get them off the hook.

But things are a-changing and in a new "zero tolerance" policy to stamp out corruption at all levels of society, the Socialist government under Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is getting tough on even the most petty offenders.

The installation of speed cameras and radars on motorsways is helping to curb the bloodshed on Hungary's roads.

And draconian measures, such as the immediate confiscation of their licence, await any motorists caught over the limit, both in terms of speed and alcohol.

The measures appear to be working.

"The number of fatal accidents dropped by 37.8 percent in the first four months of this year, compared with the same period last year," said Ferenc Kondorosi, a law professor and the government official in charge of the new road safety programme.

"However, the real difficulty lies in changing the mindset of people," he cautioned.

A recent study by Transparency International found that corruption is seemingly almost endemic in Hungary, with more than a thousand cases reported every year.

Historians point to the country's past as a possible explanation for the pervasivness of corruption in all areas of Hungarian society.

Living first under Ottoman rule as far back as the 16th century, then under the Austrian Habsburg empire and finally under the Soviets, Hungarians had to learn how to trick the establishment.

But corruption remains deep-rooted even after the fall of communism and Hungary's transition to a market economy, Transparency International found.

Poor redistribution of resources, an extraordinarily high level of bureaucratic red tape in public administration, and a tradition of nurturing contacts via a system of mutual favours constitute the structural reasons for corruption in Hungary, according to the report.

As a result, it is not unusual, for example, for doctors to use equipment and facilities of public hospitals for their private patients.

Around three Hungarians out of every four, or 77 percent, see nothing wrong with slipping money to public doctors for a service to which they would normally be entitled anyway, TI says.

In addition, almost 40 percent of Hungarians find it normal to bribe policemen, customs officers, tax officers or land registry officers to let them off a fine.

Along with "financial arrangements" for keeping traffic wardens sweet, another phenomenon seems to be taking root in parking lots -- the abuse of free parking permits for the disabled.

For just 40,000 forint (160 euros) a year, television celebrities, Miss Hungary and people who are perfectly fit and healthy have been known to buy the sought-after cards using the official stamp of deceased doctors. No effort is made on the part of the municipality authorities to check the authenticity of the doctors' certificates.

Hungarian National Bank President Andras Simor sees the widespread nature of corruption as a result of the "immoral" financing of party politics.

The Court of Auditors focuses solely on data provided by the parties themselves and is not required to consult independent sources about real expenses. That leaves the door wide open for corruption, Simor says.

In tenders for public contracts, Transparency International estimates that bribes account for anywhere between three and 25 percent of the total value of the contract, which can translate into as much as 800 million euros (1.2 billion dollars) a year.

The ruling parties and the opposition carve up the proceeds among them in a ratio of 70:30.

Transparency International observes that, in general, corruption is accentuated by financial difficulties facing local authorities, the low level of pay for politicians and local functionaries, bad cultural habits and a "lack of administrative resolve" to fight the phenomenon.

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