New traffic safety law takes effect

Serbia's new Law on Traffic Safety, which envisions stricter penalties for traffic violations, has come into effect. The implementation of the new law, however, will start on Friday, and it will, among other new rules and regulations, introduce video surveillance, which is expected to help in determining the responsibility of those violating the law. New traffic safety law takes effect Drivers will be penalized if caught on camera speeding or illegally overtaking other vehicles. The allowed blood alcohol level has been reduced from 0.5 to 0.3 permilles. The implementation of the penalty point system will start on January 1, 2010. The new law forbids the use of cell phones while driving and the same ban will apply to the pedestrians on pedestrian crossings. Police will not be able to fine the drivers at the scene, but they will be giving payment orders instead. A person driving under the influence of alcohol with blood alcohol level higher than two permilles, or one who refuses to be subjected to an alcohol or drug test will be sent directly to jail. The law distinguishes between levels of alcohol intoxication, so the envisioned penalty for heavy intoxication, with blood alcohol level from 1.20 to 1.60 permilles, is RSD 15,000-30,000, up to 12 hours in police custody, and 10 penalty points. Drivers who are found to have more than two permilles of blood alcohol will spend 15 days behind bars if found guilty, receive 14 penalty points. 0.31 to 0.5 permilles of blood alcohol carries with it a fine of RSD 5,000 fine and exclusion from traffic. Those who cause and accident or jeopardize safety will spend a minimum of 45 days in prison and will have their license suspended for a minimum of 10 moths. If a driver runs a red light without causing an accident or endangering safety he will get a RSD 15,000-30.000 fine or up to 30 days in prison and license suspension for a minimum of three months. The new law reduces the speed limit in populated areas from 60 to 50 km/h. Aggressive driving will also be penalized. Drivers will have to pay RSD 5,000 in fines for not fastening their seatbelts, and using cell phones (without handsfree kits) while driving. Those who decide to put a child under the age of 12 years in the passenger seat risk a fine of RSD 15,000-50,000. Nw regulations on driving schools and training of drivers will be implemented once new rulebooks are adopted. Head of Road Safety Department at the Serbian Ministry of Infrastructure Demir Hadzic stated on Thursday that the aim of the new law is to reduce by half the number of people killed and severely injured in traffic accidents. Pointing out that since 2001, the number of victims of traffic accidents has been reduced, Hadzic told state broadcaster RTS that the aim is to reduce this number to some 600 a year by 2012. In the past several years, the annual figure of people killed on Serbia's roads was around 1,000. Drivers in Svilajnac take heed and drive with low beam headlights this morning (Beta)

New traffic safety law takes effect

Drivers will be penalized if caught on camera speeding or illegally overtaking other vehicles.

The allowed blood alcohol level has been reduced from 0.5 to 0.3 permilles.

The implementation of the penalty point system will start on January 1, 2010.

The new law forbids the use of cell phones while driving and the same ban will apply to the pedestrians on pedestrian crossings.

Police will not be able to fine the drivers at the scene, but they will be giving payment orders instead.

A person driving under the influence of alcohol with blood alcohol level higher than two permilles, or one who refuses to be subjected to an alcohol or drug test will be sent directly to jail.

The law distinguishes between levels of alcohol intoxication, so the envisioned penalty for heavy intoxication, with blood alcohol level from 1.20 to 1.60 permilles, is RSD 15,000-30,000, up to 12 hours in police custody, and 10 penalty points.

Drivers who are found to have more than two permilles of blood alcohol will spend 15 days behind bars if found guilty, receive 14 penalty points.

0.31 to 0.5 permilles of blood alcohol carries with it a fine of RSD 5,000 fine and exclusion from traffic.

Those who cause and accident or jeopardize safety will spend a minimum of 45 days in prison and will have their license suspended for a minimum of 10 moths.

If a driver runs a red light without causing an accident or endangering safety he will get a RSD 15,000-30.000 fine or up to 30 days in prison and license suspension for a minimum of three months.

The new law reduces the speed limit in populated areas from 60 to 50 km/h. Aggressive driving will also be penalized.

Drivers will have to pay RSD 5,000 in fines for not fastening their seatbelts, and using cell phones (without handsfree kits) while driving.

Those who decide to put a child under the age of 12 years in the passenger seat risk a fine of RSD 15,000-50,000.

Nw regulations on driving schools and training of drivers will be implemented once new rulebooks are adopted.

Head of Road Safety Department at the Serbian Ministry of Infrastructure Demir Hadžić stated on Thursday that the aim of the new law is to reduce by half the number of people killed and severely injured in traffic accidents.

Pointing out that since 2001, the number of victims of traffic accidents has been reduced, Hadžić told state broadcaster RTS that the aim is to reduce this number to some 600 a year by 2012.

In the past several years, the annual figure of people killed on Serbia's roads was around 1,000.