Belgrade, Dec.8th 2009 (Serbia Today) - It has been the complaint of visitors and residents alike that traffic in Serbia is unmanageable and drivers do not observe the basic safety rules, especially in the big cities. All of that is about to change with the implementation of the new law on traffic security which will become effective December 10th.
The new Law on Traffic Safety, as it is formally known, will introduce a negative points system which is not unlike existing European or US systems for maintain driver’s records. The new law will also introduce more rigorous penalties for a variety of violations.
Video surveillance will be introduced, in order to enable easier identification of responsible parties when more serious traffic violations occur. The law prohibits the use of mobile phones while driving, and the same restrictions on phone use will also be applied to pedestrians while crossing the street.
The law also contains measures for penalties for aggressive driving. Bicycle and motorcycle riders will have to wear helmets.
Some of these laws may seem over due to the Western observer, but Serbia has gone through a dramatic period of political changes that were accompanied by economic hardships. Urban planning was forced to take a back seat to more pressing needs, as authorities concentrated on basic services.
On the roads of the Serbia, 60,000 traffic accidents occurred annually, including between 850 and 1200 fatalities and between 16,000 and 19,000 injured. In 1/3 of the traffic incidents with casualties, the main cause was high speed of a vehicle.
The drafters of the law have adopted the goal of decreasing the number of deaths in traffic by half in the next three years.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment