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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

First UN week dedicated to road safety begins

Belgrade, 23 April 2007

Head of the interior ministry’s Traffic Police Department Stojadin Jovanovic said today that from 1980, when such events were first documented, until 2006 there was a total of 1,068,110 traffic accidents in Serbia in which 36,490 people died and 490,198 were injured.

At a press conference at the Serbian government building on occasion of the first UN Global Road Safety Week, Jovanovic said that around 60,000 accidents happen every year in Serbia in which 1,000 people die and between 15,000 and 18,000 are injured.

He stressed that one third of all accidents are caused by speeding, and other causes are careless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Coordinator of the Ministry of Health Slobodan Lalovic announced that from today until April 29 state organs will carry out several activities in an attempt to contribute to a general increase in road safety.

Lalovic said that road accidents are the second cause of death in the world, particularly among young people below 25 years of age, adding that according to current data, around 1.2 million people are killed in road accidents and between 20 and 50 million are injured.

Head of the World Health Organisation’s office in Serbia Dorit Nitzan said that 1,000 people get killed in road accidents on a daily basis in the world, adding that this is the second greatest cause of death on the planet.

According to Nitzan, this year the UN Global Road Safety Week will follow action plans which will deal with issues such as speeding, drunk driving, seat belts and children’s seats, bad road infrastructure, as well as smoking and talking on the mobile phone whilst driving.

Also taking part in the UN Global Road Safety Week are ministries of health, interior, capital investment and education and sport, as well as the Serbian Automobile Association (AMSS) and the Serbian Red Cross.