Serbia Records 95 Traffic Crashes in a Day, 1 Dead
One person died and 39 were injured in crashes over the previous day. Ahead of the weekend, police warn of heavier traffic, dense fog and drinking behind the wheel.
The Traffic Police Directorate of the Interior Ministry (MUP) released its tally for the previous day on Friday, October 16: 95 traffic crashes on roads across Serbia, in which one person died and 39 were injured. The figures came with an appeal to drivers ahead of the weekend, when heavier traffic and dense fog are expected.
What do we know about the tally?
The statement gives the total number of crashes, one death and 39 injuries. The parts of the statement carried by the media include nothing on where the crashes happened or what caused them, so no conclusion can be drawn about where it was most dangerous.
Driver attention is a recurring topic. In our earlier piece, “Focus on the Road,” we reported that 3,046 drivers in Serbia were fined for using a phone while driving.
What does the police ask of drivers this weekend?
Police announce significantly heavier traffic on all major routes in the country. Because of a sudden swing between warm and cold weather, dense fog is expected, with visibility likely to be worst in the evening and early morning.
Drivers are advised to:
- adjust their speed to road conditions
- be patient
- obey traffic signs, above all on stretches with roadworks or changed traffic regimes
- not get behind the wheel after drinking
Police say alcohol-related crashes most often happen on weekends, in the evening and at night. They named alcohol as one of the most influential risk factors in the most serious crashes.
“Traffic police ask for maximum patience behind the wheel,” reads the appeal, as carried by the portal Una.
The statement ends with a line from MUP: “The Traffic Police Directorate wishes you a pleasant day and safe travels.”
How do you drive when you can’t see the road?
In the driving-in-fog recommendations carried by Euronews Serbia, the first step is slowing down considerably, with fog lights on if the vehicle has them. High beams are not used, because they reflect off water droplets and make visibility worse; low beams are used instead. Overtaking in dense fog is prohibited.
If the road cannot be seen at all, the advice is to pull over at a nearby lay-by, gas station or lit parking lot, switch on all four hazard lights and wait for conditions to improve.
