Just a few months ago we reported about the new traffic fines in Croatia. Today, the Croatian police reported about the results of the implementation of those new fines.
In the report, between the numbers of the fines collected and prison days served, the really important piece of the statistics is hidden: in the 11 months of 2019, there are 38 fewer people killed in traffic than in the same period of the last year. Croatian police see that as an indication that the stricter law and bigger fines are effective in preventing the worst traffic accidents.
Since the beginning of August, since the new law was implemented, until the end of November, 3316 perpetrators of the most serious traffic violations have been fined. They have been fined between 10 and 20 thousand kunas or prison sentences of up to 60 days. Most of those include driving under the influence of the alcohol (at very high blood alcohol levels), driving before getting the driver's license, driving while the license is suspended and refusing to undergo a blood test.
The police also decided to compliment the courts for imposing the strictest fines and prison terms for the worst offenders. In addition to saying that the courts are helpful in reducing the number of traffic accidents with the worst consequences, they have also acknowledged that the media reporting has raised awareness of the changes. The Croatian media have repeatedly reported on the increased fines for repeat offenders, which the police say has played a role in reducing the number of casualties in the traffic (260 in first 11 months of 2019 vs. 298 in the same period in 2018).
The highest final traffic fine in this period, based on the changes of the law, was 30,500 kunas. Prison sentences of 30 to 120 days were given to drivers with very high blood alcohol levels, those driving before taking the test or while having their license suspended.
