Driving in Croatia is always a pleasure, especially if you're taking a journey across the country, from the south to the north. Having lived in Dubrovnik for a number of years before moving up north to Zagreb, I can say with confidence that the roadtrip between Dubrovnik and Zagreb is, despite its length, a particularly impressive one, offering you a chance to see the true wealth of natural diversity Croatia boasts in all its glory.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 19th of November, 2018, the changes coming to Croatia's roads have already been implemented in various degrees by other European countries, including Norway, the Netherlands, Austria, and Italy.

Boris Huzjan (56) has been the president of the Croatian Motorway's administration (HAC) for a year, and he has the restructuring of two of the largest Croatian road companies under his belt.

In an interview for Jutarnji list, Huzjan spoke about future plans for driving in Croatia and answered the question of whether or not it really is true that the plan is record all cars when they arrive at toll booths, as well as measure their speed, and that the police would potentially punish drivers who, for example, manage to arrive from Zagreb to Dugopolje near Split in less than three hours.

"We're aware that motorways allow drivers to achieve higher speeds than allowed and that this in itself significantly undermines the level of traffic safety. That's why we've decided to support the Ministry of the Interior's (MUP) efforts to control and monitor the speed on the roads in accordance with the National Road Safety Program with one single goal: the increasing of traffic safety. So it's not a repressive measure, but a rescue of human life. These [regulations] have already been implemented in various degrees by Norway, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy...

In the experience of the Netherlands, where the average speed measurement was introduced for the first time back in 2001 on the E19 motorway between Rotterdam and Delft, prove the effect of reducing vehicle speed by 0.5 percent, and the number of deaths was reduced by more than 50 percent.

By introducing continuous automatic speed controls on our highways, traffic safety will be increased, the consequences of traffic accidents will be reduced, the behaviour of drivers will be affected, and this will also reflect the behaviour of drivers on all of the other roads. Speed ​​monitoring will be performed by measuring the average speed of a vehicle at certain sections of the highway, and with radar controls at specific locations, such as locations where there are road works going on, where speeding is the most common cause of traffic accidents.

The speed-controlled locations will be marked with traffic signs that will warn you to look at how fast you're going. We want to do this in a timely manner because we don't intend to use this as a measure to simply punish people. Our goal is to make people aware of speeding, and for this project to be applied to all roads in Croatia. I believe that the most important principle of traffic policy is human life, and that must be ahead of the need for mobility.'' concluded Huzjan.

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Drivers need to beware this week as the police will be ever-present checking for the placement of winter tyres and other required equipment up and down the country's roads.

As Index writes on the 11th of November, 2018, some big changes for drivers in Croatia will come into effect as of Thursday. Namely, on most roads, they will need to make sure they're drive with their winter equipment.

The penalty for non-compliance with this important safety regulation currently stands at 700 kuna.

"Although winter begins only at the beginning of December, from November the 15th, winter equipment will be required in the Republic of Croatia.

The Decree on the Mandatory Use of Winter Equipment on Winter Roads in the Republic of Croatia, issued by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, states that winter equipment is mandatory on from the 15th November of the current year to the 15th of April next year, in this case from the 15th og November 2018, to the 15th of April 2019.

According to the Decision, the mandatory use of winter equipment applies to all types of motor vehicles, regardless of the weather conditions and the road conditions,'' explains HAK.

Pursuant to Article 193 of the Road Traffic Safety Act (OG 67/08), winter conditions include snow and ice on pavements too. If the traffic police stop a vehicle on the road without winter tyres and other necessary equipmenr at a time when winter equipment is required, they will be forced to immediately stop the vehicle, or make the driver continue driving on a road on which the movement of that type of vehicle (without winter equipment) is permitted, or to put the winter equipment in place there and then. Otherwise, the driver will face a fine of 700 kuna.

"Tyres are one of the most important parts of the vehicle, and the way in which they work between the car and the road is crucial for safety. It's good that the vehicle has the proper tyres for every time of year, since at temperatures below 7°C, summer tyres lose their elasticity as well as their adherence properties,'' they state from HAK.

Summer tyres almost have no chance whatsoever of properly functioning in the snow, with an extended stopping time which can then become very dangerous. At a temperature of -10°C, a car with summer tyres on travelling at a speed of 60 kilometres per hour will stop only after 55 metres, while a car with winter tyres on will come to a halt after 44 metres.

At lower temperatures, the braking distance is even longer. If the car still has its summer tyres on, it will stop only after 62 metres, with winter tires, it will stop by up to 50 metres.

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The Croatian police have been upping their game over recent weeks when it comes to monitoring the traffic in various locations across the country. While punishments for not buckling up or for using your phone while driving have been on the rise, much more serious offences such as exceeding the speed limit and drink and drugs testing have been being performed much more often in and around the capital.

Road accidents have risen in recent months, and this call to action from the police is part of a greater aim to get those morbid figures back down by tightening their grip on drivers who could save their own lives by doing up their seatbelt, or save the lives of others by making sure to avoid consuming alcohol and by putting their phones down while the car is in motion.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 30th of October, 2018, the fines and potential punishments for drivers breaking the law are also on the up, meaning that the lowest penalty for speeding is 300 kuna, and the highest is a huge 15,000 kuna.

The Croatian police are, as mentioned, reinforcing their presence and cracking down on would-be law breakers on roads up and down the country. The interior ministry has also purchased numerous brand new cameras, and at as many as 90 locations across Croatia, 75 cameras and 150 cages, some of which will be left empty to act as mere warnings, will arrive, RTL reports.

The bid for the new equipment and everything to do with the move should be concluded by the end of the month and by the end of the year, the new cameras will be able to be found on Croatia's roads.

Over the course of the weekend, over 1900 speeding fines were recorded across Croatia, the unlucky ''winner'' was recorded in continental Croatia, more specifically in Brod-Posavina County, driving at a ridiculous speed of 235 kmh.

As stated, the penalties are harsh, and the lowest penalty for speeding is 300 kuna, while the highest could be as much as 15,000 kuna. Drivers can go to jail for up to sixty days if the police catch them driving 50 kmh faster than allowed.

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How do you know when something in Croatia definitely won't happen? Usually when you're told that it definitely will. Some Zagreb traffic news as the much anticipated and highly problematic issue of closing the city's large roundabout, which was initially scheduled for much earlier on has been delayed yet again. 

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 29th of October, 2018, Zagreb traffic is set for some considerable disruption as the date is pushed back once again. As far as crossroads, temporary roads consisting of as many as four lanes will be constructed during the roundabout's closure.

The newly planned date for the start of for the closure of the capital city's large Remetinec roundabout is now December the 15th, 2018, and works on the area are expected to continue until January the 30th, 2020, according to a report from Dnevnik.hr, who obtained this new information from the competent City Office.

To briefly recall, the information which was being circulated before now stated that the rotor should have been closed from November the 30th this year.

"As far as the bypasses are concerned, there will be a temporary road with four lanes (two in the east-west direction) and the harmonisation of all of the traffic lights in the vicinity of the works will be carried out.

There will be temporary traffic regulation signs placed near the bypass near Lučko and at the Jankomir bridge, and a large part of the traffic that is now using the roundabout is being planned to be shifted towards other traffic directions. ZET Zagreb Holding ltd will organise substitute transport for passengers [using public transport] by introducing new bus lines, and ZET will arrange for all of its existing bus lines to continue but on the new temporary roads,'' read a statement from the City of Zagreb.

Want to keep up to date with the latest news, traffic related and otherwise from Croatia? Make sure to follow our news page for news from across the country.

After the unwelcome price hike, finally some good news for drivers.

Attention, drivers...

An undesirable fuel price hike has left Croatia's drivers somewhat disgruntled.

An almost 40 million kuna investment for MUP.

In the first eight months of 2018, the average age of 50,193 passenger cars and 5,173 light commercial vehicles was 7.2 years.

Remember to wear your seat belt and stick to the speed limit or risk a hefty fine.