Serious traffic offense might result in a vehicle confiscation: Here's what the new traffic safety law says

The assistant director of the Serbian Traffic Safety Agency, Mirko Koković, said today that the vehicle can be confiscated permanently or temporarily, even if it is borrowed.

"That will remain in the new law. Temporary confiscation can last for two years. And that's where the demurrage fee is paid. We must enter that process because it exists in Europe and there is permanent confiscation. We believe that we will rewrite that model. We will harmonize it with European practice because that measure has a big impact," said Koković.

According to him, this measure has a preventive effect on drivers who tend to drive, not only under the influence of alcohol but also under the influence of psychoactive substances.

Koković also pointed out that one of the novelties that will have a great preventive effect on the behavior of drivers and passengers in traffic is the introduction of the black box, which manufacturers of new cars will have to install.

"From July 7, all new vehicles, passenger M1 category, and light trucks, i.e. vehicles up to 3.5 tons capacity, will have to have a black box. What is a black box? It is like an airplane, where the data is collected on how long and fast, he drove. It records the speed, position of the gas pedal, and so on a few seconds before, during, and after, while not recording the sound.

However, year after year the number of drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol is decreasing, primarily because now they can more easily lose not only their driver's license but also their vehicle.

"The number of vehicles doubled, and the number of victims halved"

Koković also emphasized that compared to ten years ago, the number of vehicles in Serbia has doubled, and the number of casualties dropped by 50 percent, as well as that the Agency's vision is 0 traffic fatalities and injuries.

"The reason for those good statistics is everything, but also a combination of prevention and repression such as good roads, vehicles, change of consciousness, and repressive measures. The traffic police detected over 1,400,000 traffic violations, which means they are doing their job well. He also pointed out that more and more young beginners allow themselves to lose their driving license during the trial period when special rules apply.

"The problem is driving under the influence of alcohol, in every ninth traffic accident. In Serbia, somewhere around 15 percent of the victims were under the influence of alcohol, that is, every 192nd person drives under the influence of alcohol," said Koković.

In addition to driving under the influence of alcohol, some of the most common violations are overtaking a column of vehicles across a continuous line, not allowing an escorted vehicle to pass, and driving children in an illegal manner.

Speaking about the "Drive Rested" campaign, Koković said that its goal is to reach drivers in a different way, to change their awareness and, when it comes to fatigue, to reach them and make them understand how dangerous this fatigue is.

"In the summer months, for example in 2001, we had 245 driver and passenger deaths, while, for example, last year we had 76 passenger fatalities in those two months. The campaign lasts from July 1 to September 10, during the vacation period, and the largest volume of traffic, both transit and domestic, and that the goal is to reduce the number of traffic accidents, and the consequences caused by fatigue," said Koković.

"Fatigue is an underestimated factor"

According to Koković, fatigue is an underestimated influential factor in the occurrence of traffic accidents, because a significant number of traffic accidents occur due to fatigue.

"We all think that we can drive for 10, 12 hours as long as we need to reach certain destinations, however, the only cure for fatigue is quality rest, quality sleep lasting 6 to 9 hours. Traffic accidents are events that change the lives of all road users, relatives, so we must think about our loved ones, so we simply must listen, to respect the traffic regulations, and specifically in this case to follow the advice of people who deal with traffic safety. “Fatigue and loss of concentration and sleepiness are frequent reasons for traffic accidents," said Koković.

He added that the recommendation is to plan the trip, which means to prepare the vehicle, plan the route of the trip, to take frequent breaks, i.e. every two hours for a minimum of 15 minutes, to hydrate as much as possible, that the temperature difference between the inside vehicle and outside temperature should not be too high.

"Then to avoid driving at night and to plan the trip in advance, i.e. to ask how crowded the border crossings are, so that we don't end up in a situation where we have to wait for several hours and after that, when we cross the border, most passengers, i.e. drivers, try to make up for it lost time at the expense of speeding, and speeding, that is, speed is the number 1 killer on the roads, not only in Serbia, but also in other European cities," he said.

He explains that in the past few dozen years, the greatest number of accidents happened in the late evening and early morning hours because our body is used to sleeping during that period.

"It is understandable that people avoid driving during the day due to high temperatures and crowds, but our recommendation is to start from 7 am or from 6 pm, so that the journey is divided. To take breaks," emphasized Koković.