Seventh summer traffic crackdown: 17 dead since July began

Serbia’s traffic police are carrying out their seventh central enforcement action on roads across the country from July 13 to 19. The action was launched because road safety has sharply deteriorated at the height of the tourist season. The toll from the first days of July confirms it in numbers.

Since the start of the month, 17 people have died on the roads. Another 123 have suffered serious injuries. The Interior Ministry says the safety situation has worsened significantly during the summer, when roads carry far heavier traffic than at other times of the year.

The checks target the most dangerous violations. Officers are monitoring speed, driving under the influence of alcohol and psychoactive substances, seatbelt use, and how children are transported. These, the ministry says, are the behaviors most often behind crashes with severe outcomes.

Why is the toll this heavy in July?

The answer lies in the number of vehicles on the road. During the summer months, traffic is much denser, especially on highways and international corridors. Large numbers of domestic and foreign tourists head for the coast and the mountains, so queues build up even on stretches that are usually not overloaded.

As traffic density rises, so do the risks. Fatigue, long stretches behind the wheel, and frustration in slow-moving queues change how drivers behave. Overtaking where it is not allowed and driving at unsafe speeds become more frequent, and the consequences more severe. The statistics from early July show that the margin for error on summer roads is extremely small.

Data from individual cities illustrate the problem further. In Nis, 136 violations were recorded over a single weekend. Of that number, 20 drivers were caught under the influence of alcohol. The figure shows that drink-driving remains one of the most serious risk factors, despite years of campaigns.

What is asked of drivers during the action?

The ministry is urging all road users to adapt their speed to conditions and to obey the rules. It places particular emphasis on resting during long journeys and on staying sober behind the wheel. The message is simple: every crash that is avoided means one life saved.

This year’s seventh action is not a formality. It is a response to a concrete, measurable rise in the number of casualties. The heightened presence of patrols will last until July 19, but the risks last as long as the season does. On your next trip to the coast, will you set aside a few extra minutes to rest and check your vehicle before you join the queue?