Month: September 2019

Cyclists required to wear a reflective vest

Lithuanian police point out that in recent days there has been a misrepresentation of 2014 in the public sphere. July 1 some provisions of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Road Traffic Safety have come into force.

This concerns Article 17 of this law – Requirements for bicycle riders. Cyclists must wear a bright-colored reflective vest with reflective tapes during daylight hours or have a white light at the front and a red light at the rear. It should be noted that this requirement applies only to the carriageway. When cycling, side walking or sidewalks (this innovation for sidewalks is part of the newly drafted Road Traffic Code), you do not need to wear reflective vests or ride with bicycle lights on.

Article 2 (55) of the Road Safety Law defines the term “bright-colored vest with reflective elements”. This is not only a yellow, orange or red vest but also another garment of the upper body (neck to waist) with reflective materials visible to other road users from all sides. By deliberately silencing these details, the public is encouraged to oppose these measures to improve traffic safety.

Bicycle path infrastructure in Lithuania is not yet well developed, as in most of the old EU Member States, where the main bicycle traffic is done by bicycle paths, not the driveway. Also, in such countries, road users themselves are actively concerned with their safety, which makes it a common practice for them to wear a brightly colored vest and safety helmet.

Police recalled that 9 bicycle drivers have already been killed in traffic accidents in Lithuania this year, including 7 in daylight hours, injuring 160 of them, including 135 in daylight hours. Police officers believe that the health and life of every person are more important than certain constraints or inconveniences, in the interests of road users.

Protect Children on the Road – Protect Me

Twenty years after the Protect Me campaign – twice as few children injured, four times as many killed Protect me, the longest-running social responsibility campaign in the country, will take place this year for the 20th time. As every year, its organizers invite all road users to be extremely careful on the road, thus protecting children on their way to school and home. According to the data of the Lithuanian Road Police Service, the number of killed children has quadrupled in 20 years, and twice as many were injured. The number of injured children traveling on foot alone reached 634 in 2000, and in 2018 dropped to 202 injured children. The Protect Me campaign also contributes to improving numbers. Every September, the initiative “Protect Me”, which takes care of the safety of children on the roads, is organized by Vilnius City Municipality, the largest insurance company in Lithuania “Lietuvos dramas” and its partners – Vilnius County Police and other municipalities in the country. Lietuvos Draudimas, the initiator of “Protect Me”, as well as annually ensures all schoolchildren of the country against road accidents for 5 thousand. amount of EUR. Personal insurance coverage for schoolchildren is available from September 1 to September 30 throughout the country for 24/7 hiking and cycling. In total, over 322,000 students will be covered this year. This year, in cooperation with the municipalities of twelve cities, this year the insurance company 13 thousand. elementary school students will don light reflective vests.

Traffic focus in Vilnius Every year after the summer holidays, traffic, especially in the big cities, intensifies as thousands of schoolchildren return to the streets. In the city of Vilnius, the municipality, in anticipation of the new school year, is implementing measures to improve road safety on the streets, which reduce the likelihood of accidents, encourage drivers to comply with speed requirements, and consider other road users. More than 100 speeding hills, 70 directional lights, and other road safety improvement elements have been installed in the streets, near educational institutions, pedestrian crossings and junctions and other dangerous places. Almost 100 pedestrian crossings have been newly marked with the “Protect Me” label to protect children’s safety and to draw the attention of drivers to educational institutions. By facilitating the movement of pupils, transport is improved by building cycle paths, sidewalks and restructuring existing infrastructure. Yellow lines also mark areas of street intersections, 75 intersections, update existing street signage, introduce safer and more informative traffic arrangements at the Volunteer roundabout. The municipality has bought and will distribute about 2400 signal vests and 4000 reflectors to the students of Vilnius city. “Together with our partners, we look for solutions every year to help raise awareness of child safety on the road. In recent years, we have included seniors on duty at school crossings to help children cross the streets safely. We share reflectors and reflective vests with reflective tape  for children, with an emphasis on safe cycling. These initiatives and actions bring results, but we not only have to teach children in theory, but they also have to implement practical knowledge on how to be safe. along the way. Not all adults, and especially children, know how to ride scooters correctly and safely. I want to encourage adults to set a good example for children and to behave correctly on the road, and to wish children a safe school year,” says Deputy Mayor Edita Tamošiūnaitė. Crossings near schools are marked with a special yellow campaign sign across Lithuania. There are more than a thousand of them this year. The sign is already recognized by the vast majority of drivers and pedestrians. Insured every student Lietuvos draudimas reminds that students and their parents or guardians do not need to apply for insurance to come into effect – every child is already insured. In the event of a traffic accident in which the pupil is injured, his parents or guardians should notify Lietuvos dramas at short number 1828 or via the company’s website www.ld.lt and the victim will be compensated. “The Protect Me campaign takes care of children returning to the streets and roads every year after the summer holidays. With this initiative, we encourage all adults to take responsibility for the little road users and to protect them by disciplining them for carelessly running across the street and setting the right example for themselves,” says Kęstutis Šerpytis, CEO of Lietuvos Draudimas. For the third year in the Protect Me campaign, Lietuvos Draudimas has been donating reflective vests to the beginners of smaller towns and districts. During this time, the safety of 33 district primaries has already been taken care of, with 34 thousand vests distributed to them. “This year we donated light reflective vests to make their trips safer. Light reflective vests with reflective material are one of the simplest but highly effective means of ensuring pedestrian safety on the road. They are especially needed during the autumn and winter season when it gets dark quickly – wearing a vest can protect against a severe disaster both in the city and in the country,” says Kęstutis Šerpytis, CEO of Lietuvos Draudimas.

The situation is getting better According to Saulius Gagas, Chief of Vilnius County Police Headquarters, the situation on Lithuanian roads as well as in the city of Vilnius is improving – fewer and fewer children are injured and killed in road accidents. No children died in the capital during the first half of this year, and the number of injured has decreased compared to the same period last year. As the new school year begins, officers of the Vilnius County Police Headquarters will traditionally pay special attention to ensuring traffic safety, especially near schools and preschools. Officials are urging drivers to be extra vigilant and reduce speed on the streets, especially when passing schools or preschools. “The safety of all our children also depends on an adult’s responsible approach to traffic culture. The most effective way to teach safe behavior on the streets and highways is to set an example for our children,” says Saulius Gagas, the Vilnius County Police Chief.

Don’t change your healthy lifestyle against road safety

Cycling and jogging are the most popular outdoor activities in Latvia. However, only slightly more than half of them use means to be noticeable on the road and reduce the likelihood of being involved in a road accident. Active citizens have been shown to take greater care of children by providing them with reflective vests and reflectors, while not paying as much attention to their safety.

The survey shows that 68% of active people in Latvia are engaged in cycling and 37% in jogging. Hiking (33%), dog walking (15%) and Nordic walking (5%) are also popular activities. The main reasons for these activities are people maintaining themselves in good shape, improving their health, and the bicycle is also used as a way of movement.

More than half (52%) of active people engage in outdoor activities throughout the year, regardless of the weather, while 39% opt for the warm and dry months of the year. Most, or 63%, of those surveyed, do these activities in the evening after work, and almost a third in the morning.

Less than one third, or 31%, use high visibility reflective vests with reflective tapes to enhance their safety. The most popular means are the use of luminaires (53%), the use of reflectors and other reflective accessories (46%), but 4% of the respondents rely on the reflective materials in their clothing.

Statistics from the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) for 2018 report that 625 cyclists and 867 pedestrians were injured in road accidents in Latvia last year. By contrast, the number of fatal cyclists in 2018 was 9 and the number of pedestrians was 51. Lack of visibility is mentioned as one of the main causes of accidents, resulting in drivers noticing the cyclist or pedestrian too late.

Why in the dark the driver is always right

The new Traffic Rules, which are being promoted in the draft law on traffic and its safety, have not removed the obligation from the pedestrian to make themselves visible at the pedestrian crossing. Police investigators say this moment avoids punishment for drivers who beat a man on a “zebra” in the dark. There are many illuminated pedestrian crossings in Vinnytsia, which are known both by Vinnytsia who is traveling by transport and by those who are moving on their own two. The editorial board tried to find the most dangerous of the zebras with the help of experts. And yet – to find out whether the city authorities are going to eliminate the problem of darkness at pedestrian crossings once and for all. The blood near Ferida Plaza. A motorcyclist knocked down a girl at a crosswalk. It was in the dark. And not on the darkest zebra in town. But there are dozens like this headline in the news feed 20minut.ua. Only this year, according to the regional police, 34 people were killed in traffic accidents involving pedestrians, and 6 were killed. In the same period last year, there were twice as many people killed in road crashes with pedestrians. Drivers the journalist spoke to, exploring the problem of illumination of unregulated pedestrian crossings, said: most of them in the outskirts of the city. The center helps to see pedestrians driving the street lights. And out of town – it’s dark, though in the eye. “At the bypass, near Kurochka cafe and the police department, there the cars go off at all and never stop. The only way out is to install signs that are illuminated by lanterns in the dark, or pedestrians need to wear light-reflecting vests with reflective tape,” says Vinnytsia activist Andrei Gaidai.

The refractive elements on pedestrians’ belongings and clothing will not be overturned by the new Traffic Regulations, which are promoted in the draft law “On Traffic and its Safety”. According to one of its authors, human rights activist Volodymyr Karavaev, the new rules ask for pedestrian crossings to be marked in two ways at the same time – by a road marking and a warning sign. “The legislation now requires a pedestrian crossing with signs or markings. We insist – both signs and markings. This is a fundamental difference,” the human rights activist explains. “We bring back the practice that used to be when pedestrian crossings were safer. But he agrees that sometimes the signs are not visible – they cover up tree branches or over time lose the ability to reflect the headlights of cars.

“I drove from Vinnytsia along the Zhytomyr highway and paid attention to the signs – they are not visible. Either they do not have reflective properties at all, or they merge,” says Vladimir Karavaev. “These are not new routes! As for urban conditions, it is not necessary to say that the driver will see a pedestrian on an unlit road. 90 percent will not see, because no one simply rubs the signs. They are covered with dust and dirt and they do not reflect light properly. This is another problem,” continues the human rights activist. The police are not trained to give a clear assessment of the circumstances of the accident. If the car knocked down a pedestrian at such a crossing, as you say, the police will blame the driver. It will not be understood that the driver ran into the man because he did not see a sign that has not been wiped for ten years. If such cases were held responsible for those responsible for the state of the roads, then the situation would change. So do new rules change for pedestrian safety? What do they say about illuminating unregulated pedestrian crossings? They also oblige pedestrians to make sure there are no vehicles and make themselves visible in the dark before crossing the road. At the last moment, an investigator specializing in the investigation of resonant road accidents with deaths told the journalist that the suspected drivers could be avoided. The protection of the pedestrian-hit driver always tries to prove the victim’s mistake in this way. Like, he did not provide his visibility, as required by the rules, then he is guilty. “Physically, forcing our pedestrians to wear reflective vests is simply unrealistic,” says Vladimir Karavaev. There are traffic lights everywhere, one of them, near the former brewery, works around the clock, and has good lighting in the dark. However, students at this school are well aware of the fact that flickers (or fliers) were given to them by the reflectors of the liquidated service last year, and the children were used to wear them constantly. “I have flickered on my hen and my backpack,” says Maxim, a fourth-grade student at Gymnasium No. 6. “And my classmates all wear things that glow in the dark. It’s cool. And we also know that the drivers see us from afar. From a distance, pedestrians can also be seen on the crosswalks that are on Zodiac Street. No, the residents of Podillya do not wear flicker.”

“There is a need for lighting, but it must be done very carefully,” says human rights activist Karavayev. If you do not work out a single standard for illumination of non-regulated pedestrian crossings, then you can adjust the firewood. Someone would spin a 40-watt light bulb to shine somewhere in the transition area and assume that there was the lighting. This light bulb does not affect. There are now transitions, apparently illuminated, but there is still no pedestrian there. Have the only rules to cover “zebras”. We ask Volodymyr Karavaev if the number of transient accidents will reduce the lighting projects currently underway in Kyiv.

“If we don’t do the transition lighting, everything will be a plus. Definitely, without doing anything, we will not change the situation,” says the human rights activist. “In Europe, they have come up with a lot of novelties that can be borrowed. But everything is based on financing, as always in our country. It should also be understood that lighting is not the only problem,” continues the interlocutor. On the brightest sunny day, pedestrians also get under the cars. They arrange problems for themselves. They are beaten by the tens every month. And they cannot understand at all that they must take care of their safety. Here it will be winter, it will be slippery, and they will also go out on the carriageway in front of the car, with absolutely not even looking in the direction of the car. At the same time, there will be earphones in the ears sticking out, a hood will be worn on the head, which completely covers the inspection.

European Child Safety: Schools Start to Get Reflective Vests

Vest Propagation Project Launched by National Traffic Injury Prevention Program for Children and Youth.

49 metropolitan schools began to receive reflective vests for children of grades 1-3 from public activists and the Patrol Police within the framework of the project “Express Yourself”. The Vest Propagation Project was initiated by the National Traffic Injury Prevention Program for Children and Youth. Information partner of the national Glavcom program.

Activists say that reflective vests are needed for schoolchildren when they go to school outside school. By dressing the toddler in such bright vests, the babies become well visible to drivers, other road users and those who accompany them. This is especially important when moving along roads, or when crossing a carriageway, dangerous intersections, and so on.

Which general educational institutions will receive reflective vests, was selected by the patrol police of Ukraine together with school administrations and representatives of the Traffic Challenge. Among the selection criteria, there should be dangerous driving areas near these schools. Such a school is, in particular, the 266th comprehensive educational institution. Police and activists handed over to the school 1 set (30 pieces) of vests. “There is a very busy track near this school. There are many pedestrian crossings, but children still run straight across the street. Now, going for walks throughout the class, children will be able to be seen at a great distance thanks to these vests,” explains patrol police inspector Louise Sidelnikov.

According to her, there are also categories of schools that have very active administrations that actively teach children road safety.

The police say that the practice of vest distribution in Ukrainian schools has not been done so far. But wearing such reflectors is a pan-European practice.

“The traffic rules state that when a pedestrian is on the roadway or moving along the road in the dark, they must stand out, that is, have reflective elements on their outer clothing. Of course, we do not follow these rules,” Siedelnikova stresses.

Traffic Challenge chairman Olga Drobysheva says the problem is that people do not even understand the importance of wearing reflectors on clothing and vests.

“It is important for people to understand that this is saving lives. When we were little, we were not taught in schools or universities, or even in driving courses, how close we are as drivers to see a pedestrian without reflective materials in their clothes. For example, a person in dark clothing can be seen from a distance of 5 to 30 meters, depending on weather conditions. But 30 meters is a very short distance for the car to brake. Because the braking distance of the car is an average of 3 seconds. This is unless we have ice and a good dry road,” Drobysheva says.

Therefore, children should be dressed in bright colors. Then they are visible in the daytime under good weather conditions up to 100 meters away.

In many European countries, wearing reflective vests by adults in adverse weather conditions is a prerequisite for traffic regulations. And it is important to have reflective fabrics on clothing in, for example, Poland and the Baltic States. Their absence is punishable by fines.

Activists argue that such vests should be in all schools. The vests have already been handed over to most of the schools planned, and the vests will be in Chernihiv next week. Messages from teachers and parents from all over Ukraine began to arrive at us. They want to have these vests to send their children on excursions, school walks and more.

In total, 8,000 light-reflecting vests will be distributed in 10 oblasts of Ukraine within the framework of the “Manifest Yourself” project.

How to choose a school bag?

From September, our child will have a daily companion bag, which, if wrongly chosen, can cause shoulder and back pain.

Quality instead of fashion

It may be tempting to get a cheap but more fashionable backpack during your bag deals but don’t. The life of such a bag will probably be only a few weeks, maybe a month, and then we have to look for another bag. So it’s better to invest now and land on a durable, quality piece. Let’s see if the material it is made of is strong enough. Doesn’t it disappear somewhere? Will, it does not easily separate along the stitches/perforations? The zipper should always be covered with fabric to protect it from the rain!

Size matters

If the size of the bag is not good, the child will be misplaced while wearing it, which is a direct way to back and shoulder pain. Therefore, when choosing a school bag, the most important consideration is perfect size and comfort! Here are some practical tips for doing this.

1. Select the appropriate size: The width of the bag should be approximately the width of the child’s back. In short, a young child should not carry an adult backpack. The upper part of the bag should ideally start 5-6 inches below the shoulder and end at the waist or slightly above the waist.

2. An ergonomically designed, well-ventilated back is important: It protects the small spine and does not sweat in warm weather.

3. Wide, padded, adjustable shoulder strap: This is important for comfort and weight reduction. It is important that we adjust the shoulder straps to equal lengths and that our child does not carry his/her schoolbag halfway.

4. Looking for a multi-pocket, multi-compartment bag: This helps ensure better weight distribution. Heavier books or objects should be placed close to the child’s back and lighter ones should be placed in the front pockets. Of course, it is not the last one in terms of organization.

5. The weight of the bag should never exceed 15% of the weight of the child: The bag and its contents should remain below this value. This means a maximum of 6 pounds for a 45 kg child. The newest models weight less than 1 kg.

6. Stable soles: For the underwear especially, but also for older children, it is advantageous to have a hard plastic soleplate so that it can be placed firmly on the floor and the books are better placed inside.

7. It does not hurt to have fluorescent reflective materials or reflective tapes on it: It is essential for the safety of our child when traveling alone in the rain or fog.

8. Before You Buy Try It Out: Take some of the things your child will normally carry in the bag, put it in the piece of choice and check the weight distribution.

Halifax cyclist uses pink pool noodle for added safety

When Ella Dodson rides her bike on the streets of Halifax, she’s easy to spot.

The woman from the city’s north end has strapped a bright pink pool noodle covered in reflective tape and twinkly lights to the back of her bicycle.

The noodle, she says, is a “polite reminder” of the law that cars must give at least one meter when passing cyclists.

“It’s a very cheap piece of personal protection,” Dodson said.

The idea came shortly after a close call with a car near the corner of Agricola and Charles Streets, where the city has added a pedestrian bump-out. It makes things safer for pedestrians but made the lane smaller for cars and cyclists.

“I was quite terrified,” she said. “So I was so angry. I wrote to the city complaining about the pedestrian bump-out saying that if this is a cycling street, they really ought to also provide for cyclists,” she said.

Only a week later, she was visiting a friend who was hit and injected while in a marked crosswalk over a year ago.

“Some of her injuries are never going to heal. After seeing how much was changing in her life, I decided to screw it all. I was going to become a dorky old lady with a pool noodle on the back of my bike.”

Dodson went to Canadian Tire and bought a $ 1.99 pool noodle as well as matching pink bungee cords to hold it in place.

Cyclist using a pool noodle to demonstrate Ellen’s Law says he was hit by a car

The bicycle is Dodson’s sole form of transportation.

“I’m a bit older and I’m a very slow rider and I use my bike for transporting groceries,” she said.

“As I started thinking about it, I kept hoping that other people would do it too because there seems to be a great deal of animosity between cyclists and drivers.”

She says she’d like to see wider roads and cycling lanes, but she hopes city planners will think about catering to those besides just young commuters.

“There’s a whole range of other people who aren’t cycling in Halifax because they don’t feel safe,” she said.

“And safety is going to come when we have enough people cycling on the road and enough people who are visible on the road.”

Big police action kicks off

It is an old year and many today will embark on a trip, visiting family, organized New Year’s Eve, and some people will go further, whether at home or abroad. Also, last-minute shopping can cause additional stress, resulting in a lack of concentration and nervousness in traffic, with traffic jams in shopping malls.

Also, increased traffic and congestion are expected on all major thoroughfares, as well as at border crossings.

Unfortunately, in the Old Year last year and the first hours of New 2018, we recorded an increase in the number of traffic accidents involving fatalities, more specifically in four road accidents five people were killed.

For this reason, we would like to remind you of the tips for drivers, which we always repeat during the holidays when there are crowds and congestion:

Don’t rush, take the time and go on a journey sooner rather than cause a traffic accident,

Prepare your vehicle and yourself for the journey, especially if you are going for the long haul,

Get up-to-date on road conditions and traffic flow, as well as weather conditions that may affect you while traveling,

Observe traffic rules and regulations, do not initiate risky vehicle actions (e.g., off-peak traffic, vehicle column overtaking),

Adjust the speed to the road conditions and keep to its limits,

Keep the distance you need when moving behind another vehicle,

Pass pedestrians and exercise caution and slow down when approaching pedestrian crossings.

Tips for drivers who have consumed alcohol:

Leave your car parked properly and walk away – it will benefit you and you will not endanger anyone,

Use public transit,

Use taxi services because it will be far safer and cheaper,

If you are in the company, arrange in advance who will stay sober and drive back,

Ask someone sober to drive you,

Do not sit behind the wheel for at least 24 hours after drinking a large amount of alcohol,

While driving under the influence of alcohol, you are not only endangering yourself but also other road users,

On nights of high risk (weekend), drive slower and more cautiously, whether you drink or not,

Remember that no reason is warranted for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

In addition to the driver, we also have some tips for pedestrians and cyclists:

Specifically, in winter, when days are shorter and visibility is often reduced due to weather conditions (fog, cloudy, precipitation), pedestrians are more difficult to spot for drivers.

Therefore, we advise everyone, especially older pedestrians, to wear lighter clothing or at least one garment in a lighter color to increase their visibility and thus directly affect their traffic safety. In addition to lighter clothing, we also recommend the use of reflective details (reflective vests, reflective hand straps with reflective tapes or socks) for both pedestrians and cyclists, whose visibility is also reduced in the winter. Bicycle traffic has declined during the winter, however, a significant number of people continue to use it as a means of transport, which is why unlighted bikes and cyclists without reflective clothing are at increased risk of road traffic accidents.

The police have acted intensely throughout December, which will continue today, as well as throughout this week, and will focus its activities on preventing and sanctioning the most serious offenses, in particular, the so-called “offenses”. The “four major traffic killers” (alcohol, speed, seat belt, and cellphone) and, according to repeat offenders, repeat offenders.

In addition to the police, motorists, like all other road users, with their responsible behavior, can also contribute to increasing the level of road safety.

Road safety: Equipment for safer driving of HRK 150

Protective equipment is not always required, but it is good to wear it because the cyclist is more visible to others in traffic. Everything can also be purchased at shopping malls.

I often cycle and wonder if I should wear a cycling safety vest. When should I have it and do I have to wear it when I drive through the Maksimir forest, the reader asked us.

“A bicycle driver who rides a pavement must have a reflective vest sew on reflective tape, reflective cycling attire or another reflective mark at night and, if the visibility is low,” the Ministry of Interior replied. This means that the reader driving through the Maksimir Forest is not obliged to have it, but it is still better to be visible in traffic.

According to the Road Traffic Safety Act, a bicycle rider who does not wear a reflective vest with reflective material or other reflective mark is in violation and is fined HRK 300. The same penalty applies to those cyclists who do not have lights.

“At night, from the first dusk until full sunrise, and in the daytime, if visibility is low, the bike must have a white light on the front and red on the back,” says Article 101 of the Traffic Safety Act.

The Ministry of Interior replied that the technical requirements for vehicles involved in road traffic, as well as for bicycles, were laid down in the provisions of the Ordinance on the Technical Conditions of Road Vehicles.

“The bicycle must be equipped with a road light and position light, or rear light. It must also have ‘cat eyes’, cat adopters, red on the back of the bike and yellow on the pedals, reflective elements on the wheels and bells,” says Article 166 of the Regulations.

It also states that the headlamp must be adjusted to illuminate the road for at least 10 meters and at most 50. A poorly placed headlamp, especially if it is a strong LED lamp, can be a problem for anyone who comes across it. Namely, if the careless rider did not point the lamp slightly downwards but straight ahead, he would blind the cyclist coming to meet him on the cycle path.

Cyclist under 16 must wear a helmet when driving on the road. Children under the age of eight must also wear a helmet if older people ride them on a bicycle in the seat.

Highway Tips: What to do in the event of an accident

Although traveling by road is statistically one of the safest ways to travel by car, it is essential to be careful about unforeseen circumstances and unsafe drivers.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed several highway accidents where high speeds make it difficult to avoid tragic consequences.

Here are some tips to help you make your trip as safe as possible:

Turn on the dipped beam and take off your sunglasses before entering the tunnel. Pay attention to traffic lights and other traffic signs in the tunnel.

Drive at the permitted speed. Keep track of the security devices in the tunnel and places such as emergency exits and SOS phones.

Stop only in case of extreme need and at extensions.

Before traveling on the road and while driving, keep track of the weather forecast and traffic information.

Keep track of messages on traffic info displays on individual sections of highways and notifications of possible detours.

You respect the traffic signage that indicates a detour, as it will take you back to the highway again and towards your desired destination.

When driving on a wind-driven section, strictly observe the variable speed-limiting light signs and maintain a safe distance between vehicles.

When engaging in highway driving, in all cases (tolls, loops, landings), be careful and follow the traffic signs so that you do not find yourself in the opposite direction of any part of the highway.

When driving on a highway, be aware of the possibility of encountering a vehicle moving in the opposite direction, so it is advisable to check the traffic lane ahead of you, in addition to checking vehicles moving behind you.

Keep up to date with traffic information on the road, which will give you timely insights about a possible highway accident on the highway, as well as important messages and tips for safe driving.

Observe obligations and restrictions through light-variable signage and messages on information portals.

If you get traffic information in the opposite direction, reduce the speed to 40 km / h on the section of the highway you are on, and proceed with caution in the right lane without overtaking with all four direction indicators turned on. Stop the vehicle at the first stop along the highway and wait for information on the end of the hazard.

If you have spotted a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction on a highway, report the information immediately to the police.

Only when you are informed that the incident situation has ended do you continue your normal highway journey.

Procedures in the event of a traffic accident

Turn on all four direction indicators and, with extreme caution, stop your vehicle in the stop lane a safe distance. Turn off the engine, stay calm and calm.

Wear a safety reflective vest with reflective tapes and secure the crash site with a safety triangle, if not already done. Notify the police immediately.

Do not move injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of fire or explosion.

Provide first aid to injured persons in a car accident, within your knowledge and ability. Stay on the scene until police arrive.

Highway assistance

In the event of a vehicle breakdown, if there is no possibility of stopping in the parking lot along the highway, stop the vehicle in the stop lane (or SOS extension or resort) just off the edge of the roadway and switch on all four direction indicators.

Have all passengers leave the vehicle on the right and away from the car and lane. Do not stand in the lane!

Wear a reflective vest with reflective material and place a safety triangle at the prescribed distance to mark a stopped vehicle (the recommended distance is 100 meters on the highway).

Whether or not you have a subscription, call the on-the-go help desk.

In case the driver is unable to remove the car from the highway due to a breakdown of the vehicle, a specialist service will be responsible for this.

Keep your distance !!!

Driving too short a safety distance is statistically one of the most common causes of road accidents. Most of this pattern is also related to speeding.

According to the traffic rules of the Law on Traffic Safety (ZOBS), the driver is obliged to keep the vehicle at such a distance from other vehicles in traffic that, given the speed of movement of the vehicle and other traffic circumstances, it does not cause danger and does not interfere with other drivers.

Most drivers drive too close because of their lack of knowledge about the length of their vehicle’s stopping distance about changes in speed and road conditions.

What is a safe distance?

The safety distance is the rule: a driver driving another vehicle in the same lane must drive at a distance not less than the distance traveled by that vehicle in two seconds unless otherwise specified by a traffic sign.

On wet pavements, the distance should be increased to four seconds and in winter conditions to a minimum of 6-8 seconds.