Croatian roads see an enormous amount of traffic during the warmer months in summer, with many tourists having driven from neighbouring and surrounding countries to spend time on the glorious Croatian coast and islands. With the capital gaining in popularity, the Zagreb bypass should receive a much needed third lane in time for 2020's summer season.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 15th of February, 2020, by this year's tourist season, the Zagreb bypass should receive a third traffic lane to ease the pressure on the road. Croatian motorways (Hrvatske ceste) have embarked on a pilot project for that road, which is known as the busiest part of the Croatian motorway network.

According to Vecernji list, HAC says that by summer, they plan to turn the stopping point into a carriageway on the section of the road from Jakuševac to Ivanja Reka in both directions, that is, in the length of eleven kilometres, while the third lane would be 13.5 kilometres long, from Jankomir to Jakuševac, and that will be introduced after the tourist season.

HAC points out that the third lane on the Zagreb bypass will be constructed at its existing width, which means that the amount of investment will increase the flow rate by up to fifty percent.

The existing stop lane will be converted into a slow lane for trucks, the middle lane will be intended for trucks, buses and cars, and the left lane of the Zagreb bypass will be intended only for cars and buses. In the slow and medium lane, the speed limit will be 80 kilometres per hour, provided that in the middle lane, vehicles must travel at a minimum speed of 70 km/h in ideal conditions.

The speed on the left lane of the Zagreb bypass will be limited to 100 km/h. HAC says that the width at the narrowest part of the bypass is 10.80 metres, which is sufficient width to accommodate three traffic lanes plus side lanes.

The existing stop lane is 2.5 metres wide and will be expanded to 3.25 metres when converted into a lane. The existing lanes, on the other hand, are 3.75 metres wide, so the middle lane will be reduced to 3.25 metres and the left lane to 3.5 metres.

HAC explained that these widths are adapted to speeds in accordance with legal requirements. Horizontal, vertical and variable signaling needs to be adjusted for the introduction of the third lane, and the estimated value of these works on the part from Jakuševac to Ivanja Reka stands at 4.5 million kuna.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 4th of February, 2020, the Zagreb Police Department has announced that with regard to two fatalities which occurred in traffic accidents this weekend in the area for which the Zagreb Police Department is responsible, enforcement will be stepped up.

In Samobor, a 20-year-old driver was tragically killed on the road, and in Zagreb, more precisely on Jadranska avenija (Adriatic avenue) a motorcyclist was killed. As such, the Zagreb Police Department have readily announced upcoming repressive measures on the roads.

Accordingly, it has been pointed out that back in 2015, and in particular in 2019, the main quantitative objective of the National Road Safety Program 2011-2020 was reached, according to which, in the period from 2011 to 2020, the number of people killed in road accidents should have been halved when compared to back in 2010.
 
In 2019, in the area over which the Zagreb Police Department is responsible, a positive trend of increasing road safety continued, which was established in 2018 when 55 people sadly died, and in 2019, 38 people were killed in traffic accidents. While still tragic, the number is much lower.
 
In almost all traffic accidents involving persons killed, the cause is either breaking the speed limit, which is often directly related to driving with a blood alcohol level which is over the limit, and also the illicit use of mobile phones and other handheld electronic devices by drivers. Not wearing a seabelt tends to exaggerate the consequences of such accidents, as it does with the loss of life incurred.
 
Furthermore, given the high proportion of pedestrians injured in road traffic accents, it's worth noting that the most common driver errors are once again speeding, while the most common pedestrian errors are the improper crossing of the road by not using the pedestrian crossing or continuing to cross when the ''little green man'' has turned red again.
 
For this reason, intensive measures will be taken by the Zagreb Police Department in the upcoming period with the aim of increasing the overall road safety situation. The measures will be aimed at reducing the number of misdemeanors that most often lead to traffic accidents with the most serious consequences, ie, to the so-called "four killers on the road'' - alcohol, speed, mobile phone usage and not wearing a seatbelt.

The Zagreb Police Department has noted that alongside the four aforementioned points, they will also be watching closely for any other traffic misdemeanors.

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As Novac/Vedran Marjanovic writes on the 1st of February, 2020, Croatian Motorways (Hrvatske ceste) has signed a contract with the Trafficon Pro urbe business association to develop a study on connecting southern Dalmatia to the motorway system, adding a highway to Dubrovnik, which actually marks the completion of the Zagreb-Dubrovnik motorway.

HAC expects the Trafficon Pro urbe association to create a study two routes within the aforementioned interconnection of southern Dalmatia into the highway system. The first direction is from the Metkovic junction on the A1 motorway to the future Peljesac bridge, and the second from the Doli junction down to the City of Dubrovnik in the very south.

With regard to the Peljesac bridge and access road profiles, one of the questions that the aforementioned traffic connection study will have to answer is the feasibility of a full highway profile with the option to begin the construction of two-lane thoroughfares.

The Croatian Government ordered HAC to commission the study at its session in Dubrovnik last February. On this occasion, Minister of Maritine Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic, expressed his expectations that the transport connection of southern Croatia to the A1, more specifically the highway to Dubrovnik, would receive European Union (EU) co-financing, much like Peljesac bridge did.

On the other hand, according to the provisions of the respective open call from HAC, the study is actually not linked to EU funding. HAC will allocate 2 million and 387 thousand kuna for the preparation of the study, and the successful bidder in the tender is obliged to submit the ordered document, completed by the end of this year.

At the aforementioned session in Dubrovnik, members of the government didn't mention either the amount of investment in connecting southern Dalmatia with the A1 motorway, nor did it mention the actual date of commencement of the works. The expected deadline for completion of Peljesac bridge is August the 1st, 2021, and the access roads should be completed one year later.

When it comes to the cost of completing the highway to Dubrovnik, Jutarnji list recalled the now distant 2009 calculations when the previous idea for the project to build a highway to Dubrovnik was studied, which would have come with a hefty price tag 732 million euros for 80 kilometres of highway from Ploce in the Neretva valley down to Dubrovnik. In this variant, ten viaducts and eight tunnels would need to be built on the imaginary thoroughfare.

Since a part of the highway from Ploce to Dubrovnik was indeed constructed in the meantime, and the study ordered may suggest different routes that would be used by the roads from previous solutions, the said amount of cash needed when it comes to the actual investment will certainly be changed when in comparison to 2009.

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The Zagreb roundabout (Remetinec roundabout) has been a major issue in the City of Zagreb for a while now. After being closed to the public for thirteen long months, the finishing touches to the lighting and electricity are complete and the roundabout is finally now open for traffic.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 26th of January, 2020, on Sunday morning, traffic was allowed to enter and drive on the finally reconstructed Zagreb roundabout, as well as along the tunnel underpasses and along all of the access routes from Remetinec road (Remetinečka cesta), Dubrovnik Avenue (Avenija Dubrovnik) and Adriatic Avenue (Jadranska Avenija) as well as the Adriatic Bridge (Jadranski most), and by early May this year, there will be new tram lines, walking and cycling routes.

The head of Zagreb's city transport office, Dinko Bilic, stated that the implementation of the Zagreb roundabout project had to be defined through two usable units, which had to be divided into parts of the construction that required a temporary thoroughfare and works that could be performed only after the temporary thoroughfare had been removed.

"On the basis of such distribution, an amendment to the main design was made in which it was determined that approximately 95 percent of the works would be performed before the removal of the temporary thoroughfare, and that the works to be performed in the positions of the temporary thoroughfare would be performed after the commissioning of that unit and after the demolition of the temporary roads,'' explained Bilic.

Therefore, today saw the very first operational unit put into service this morning, which includes roads whicn run along the reconstructed Zagreb roundabout, the tunnel underpasses and all access road routes from the aforementioned directions.

The completion of the second unit is planned by the beginning of May this year, the city transport office announced.

Watch the video of a drive along the newly reconstructed Zagreb roundabout by Matija Habljak below:

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 21st of December, 2019, the divestment itself, as they have also pointed out from the City of Zagreb, would allow for a much higher acceptance of traffic on these Zagreb roads, and thus relieve the city centre of traffic, which would also help in a more accurate timetable for public transport.

A third lane and partial denivelation appear to be in the City of Zagreb's plans. The level of traffic in Zagreb these days has caused issues, so, after the City of Zagreb announced a call for proposals for the conceptual design of an extension to Kranjčevićeva, they are now looking to complete a traffic study that will solve the traffic jams on three main Zagreb roads: Slavonska, Zagrebačka and Ljubljanska avenues, Vecernji list writes.

All of this will come with a price tag of 800,000 kuna, and the new design of the Zagreb roads should demonstrate the ability to avoid the congestion that, from west to east, sees about 80,000 vehicles every day as they cross those particular avenues.

For those who want to do a traffic study for the City of Zagreb, this should be done according to a project assignment that already states clearly that the whole problem could be solved by adding a third lane to the currently predominantly two-lane Zagreb roads, and in parts, it should be levelled because these additional traffic jams, at least according to the city government, are created at intersections.

''At peak traffic intervals, saturation is present on certain sections or throughout the avenues. One of the causes of congestion is that most of the intersections on that corridor are at the same level with the roads that connect to it. Despite the fact that all intersections are equipped with state-of-the-art signalling devices and equipment that works depending on the amount of traffic, it's very demanding to try to harmonise the signalling plans, which will allow for the satisfactory flow and travel time of the cars, due to the high traffic load and the limited capacity of roads,'' they stated from the city government.

They want the traffic study they are commissioning to show whether the avenues should be widened to add another lane and whether they should level or "possibly reshape" the existing traffic lights, which are now level with other connecting roads.

The experts who will conducted the 800,000 kuna traffic study must, among other things, count the vehicles along the corridor of the three aforementioned Zagreb roads and anticipate what will happen to the volume of cars, buses and trucks by 2030 if no road interventions are made and no action is taken, at the minimum of what is now being proposed.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 21st of October, 2019, Croatia has been warned by the European Commission (EC) for not complying with its tunnels with Directive 2004-54-EC on the minimum safety conditions for tunnels longer than 500 metres along the trans-European network.

For the same reason, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria and Belgium also received a warning. As far as Croatia is concerned, as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure informs, the warning regards a total of 34 tunnels on motorways and expressways operated by Croatian motorways (Hrvatske autoceste), the Rijeka-Zagreb motorway, Bina Istra, the Zagreb-Macelj motorway and Croatian roads.

For all these tunnels to properly comply with the Directive, it is estimated that just over two billion kuna will need to be invested. Most of this amount is related to the Učka tunnel, accounting for about 1.48 billion kuna, and for others, about 500 million kuna needs to be allocated. For other tunnels, it is necessary to invest just over 60 million kuna and this is mostly related to minor shortcomings, according to Vecernji list.

The Ministry has already prepared an EC response detailing the situation for each tunnel and what has been done so far and what is being done to eliminate non-compliance with the Directive. Therefore, they expect that the EC will accept this statement and that it will not end up in the EU Court, meaning that hopefully penalties won't need to be paid.

The Učka tunnel, for one, does not comply with the Directive entirely. One relates to escape routes and exits in case of emergency. It is determined that emergency exits are necessary if relevant risk analysis shows that they're needed. From this point on, the EC will want to find out from Croatia about Učka's full compliance with this point of the Directive, and that it will be achieved by providing evacuation routes.

Until it is built, compensatory measures are being implemented, so that four professional firefighters are on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week in the tunnel, and the evacuation of users is also triggered by special traffic signaling, which directs users to the three existing turns to exit the tunnel.

The EC will also be informed that the situation is being dealt with appropriately by Bina Istra, for which the location and building permits have already been issued. However, this also requires approvals from the EC, and the final decision depends on the conditions on the capital market that should be acceptable to the concessionaire to make that investment.

It is expected that this could be resolved next year. The Brezovica tunnel is also non-harmonised under this point of the directive, and compensatory measures are being implemented, meaning that the installation of alarm systems is in progress, and additional fire extinguishing water is being provided.

According to the EC letter, Croatian tunnels should be harmonised in a total of 26 points according to the Directive.

Other discrepancies include, for example, the installation of evacuation lights at a height of not more than 1.5 metres, which should be changed, for example in the Sveti Rok and Mala Kapela tunnels, where these lights are now at a height of up to 1.2 metres.

The design procurement is underway and the mismatch will be resolved by December 2020. For example, in Mala Kapela, the distance between the two emergency stations is 280 metres, and the Directive states that it should not exceed 250 metres. The design procurement process is also underway and the works should be completed by the end of 2020.

For example, a hydrant network needs to be built in the Bisko and Stražina tunnels. Other discrepancies relate, for example, to information radio station information signs available in tunnels, and to clearly visible signs.

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More technologically advanced cameras than previous generations have now officially been placed along Croatia's roads by the Croatian police (MUP), and would-be speed freaks and careless drivers are being warned to beware.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 7th of October, 2019, over the last few weeks, you have probably read several articles both from us and likely from elsewhere in which the Croatian Ministry of the Interior (MUP) boasted about them having purchased and installed a large number of brand new, modern traffic surveillance cameras throughout Croatia, or on all major thoroughfares between cities.

These are next-generation cameras that are technologically more advanced than previous generations, much harder to spot, and will surely start filling the state budget up with cash from careless drivers very soon, according to a report from Racunalo.com.

At the moment, they are only being tested, but statistics have already shown that in just two months, they recorded more than 50,000 traffic violations, with the most common offence being drivers exceeding the speed limit. But that's not all, Croatia's new road cameras can also capture videos of, for example improper overtaking, as well as the use of smartphones while driving, or not wearing a seat belt. MUP's new and updated Big Brother sees it all.

Various sources cite different figures when it comes to just how many cameras are now set up along Croatian roads, but without going into specifics, be sure that literally hundreds of new cameras will monitor traffic.

Various sources are still claiming that you can get a “50 percent discount” on fines of less than 2,000 kuna, of course, if you pay it within three days of receiving the penalty, among other things.

Here are some of the technical features of the new cameras poised and ready to capture driving offences along Croatian roads that are good to know:

- The cameras' radar beam covers up to six traffic lanes, working 24/7

- Vehicles are “hunted” at 100 meters and a photo is taken at 35 meters

- They can record up to 32 vehicles in a bundle at any one time (going both ways)

- They can measure speeds up to 300 km/h

-  They boast a 20MP sensor that captures four frames per second

Make sure to take care, buckle your seat belt, stay off your phone and observe the speed limit when driving along Croatian roads in future, as it seems that there'll be very little chance of you getting out of a fine now.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 30th of September, 2019, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) will acquire sixteen new fixed cameras and speed control devices, 28 cases/cabinets, 24 manual, and 18 stationary speed measurement devices next year, Vecernji list reported on Monday.

This year, the Croatian police installed 59 new fixed cameras to monitor the speed of vehicles and 122 cases/cabinets in which these devices are installed. In addition, in 2019, 76 manual and 32 stationary devices for measuring the speed of movement of vehicles were purchased, which, according to MUP, will also submit images to the central server and process them through the OEP application, as stated by the aforementioned article from Vecernji list.

Back in 2010 and then five years later in 2015, the Ministry of Internal Affairs acquired 28 fixed speed monitoring devices and placed them at 62 locations, also with their accompanying cases/cabinets, meaning that 87 speed monitoring cameras and 184 accompanying cases (which will have their cameras replaced) have been installed along Croatian roads to date. The sixteen new devices which MUP will introduced along Croatia's roads next year, that figure will reach 103 fixed cameras and 212 cases/cabinets.

The brand cameras set up by MUP, in addition to catching speeding offenses, can catch drivers in other offenses such as the improper use of mobile phones, not using a seatbelt, and improper overtaking.

The system operates as a Doppler radar, so the devices measure two oncoming traffic lanes and two leaving lanes at the same time. They also have the ability to automatically read the vehicle's license plates, as MUP explained.

According to the police, by September the 19th this year, around 50,000 traffic violations were detected by road cameras along Croatia's roads, and they typically related to improper or illicit speed, Vecernji list reports.

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Croatian Motorways (HAC) has installed a unique (at least by European standards) new system on Croatia's roads.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 26th of September, 2019, Croatian Motorways (HAC) installed the first horizontal 3D signage in the Republic of Croatia on Tuesday night this week in order to warn drivers when they're heading in the wrong direction. The first artificial ones with a 3D effect were installed at the Popovec junction along the A4 Zagreb-Goričan, reports Večernji list.

Horizontal 3D traffic signaling will visually act as a physical obstacle in addition to the existing signs which state ''STOP - WRONG DIRECTION'', thus further alerting drivers when they're going in the wrong direction.

This modern method of preventing vehicles from continuing driving in the opposite direction than they need to be is unique in Europe and is still used as a pilot only over in nearby Austria.

The new horizontal 3D traffic signaling consists of two parts. The first part consists of several smaller marks or lines, usually three, which are transmitted in 3D view, creating an optical deception of encountering "spikes" along the road, and the second, larger part, is also transmitted in 3D view, creating an optical ''illusion'' of an artificial projection, or a "raised surface" which could damage the vehicle.

As such, these 3D signals function in a much better way than the simple signs you're likely to see along Croatia's roads, particularly in the capital, and quickly see to it that drivers who have made a mistake on the road and are heading in the wrong direction are properly informed in a way that they cannot ignore or accidentally bypass.

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Big Brother has finally taken up residence in the ''city that flows'', also known as Rijeka. After numerous reports of the cameras being placed there, they're now fully up, running and functional and have already delivered hefty fines to those who decide to commit driving offences in five different locations in the city.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 16th of August, 2019, as of yesterday, offences recorded by Rijeka's brand new, modern traffic surveillance cameras, set up at five locations in the city, have already seen some of their respective punishments dealt out.

Drivers in Rijeka - beware. There are five locations within the city that have otherwise repeatedly been reported to be ''home'' to some of the highest number of traffic violations - the intersection of Riva street and Splitska street, then the intersection of Riva Boduli Street and Riva street, and Ivan Zajc street, Fiumar street and Adamićeva Street street (near Adriatic square/Jadranski trg). If necessary, it has been stated that it might be possible to extend this new camera system to other locations, that is, to purchase yet more cameras to place across the City of Rijeka.

According to a report from Novi list, this is a system put in place for the monitoring of the common and improper stopping and parking of vehicles, which was initially presented to the public back in mid-July. The goal is to increase Rijeka's overall traffic safety and reduce the number of violations which end up slowing down the regular flow of traffic at key checkpoints within the city.

The 200,000 kuna system works by setting the cameras record and document all vehicle stops automatically and in real time, 24 hours a day, every single day, by creating visual records, after which traffic monitors decide whether or not what has been recorded is a misdemeanor.

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