Road safety in Serbia in sorry state

Every year, around 50 children die and 1500 are injured in road traffic accidents in Serbia. Serbia has one of the worst records for road safety in Europe. Road safety in Serbia in sorry state Children most often fall victims as pedestrians, and the most at-risk category are seven- to nine-year olds. Road accidents are the most common cause of death for children. One third die as passengers in accidents, around 15 percent when riding their bike or rollerblading, and over half as pedestrians. The majority of accidents take place in villages or as they are crossing the road. Injuries sustained by children can be serious and multiple. Among the gravest are head injuries, that occur in two-thirds of accidents. “Neuro-trauma means head injuries, above all brain damage, and of course spinal injuries, that can be very severe and have serious repercussions,” says Head of the Department for Neuro-Surgery Mira Raicevic. With road accidents, even when a child seems to be well, parents should still take him or her to a doctor. One should not give the child food or liquids under such circumstances. Most at risk are babies, as their symptoms are concealed, and can escape parents’ attention. “Precisely because the child might seem fine at first glance, but in fact there’s been bleeding, is why I’m talking about neuro-trauma. That blood vessel slowly releases blood, the child is still happy, cheerful, maybe scared, but nothing major,” says Raicevic. She adds that “the parents then let the child get some sleep.” “And, the child can sleep because of mild concussion because there’s been pressure on the brain, but by then it can already be too late,” she warns. Children under the age of 12 are poor judges when it comes to cars' proximity. Their peripheral vision is narrower than that of adults, and they also find it harder to tell the direction of where noise is coming from. Children’s movements are unpredictable and they do not take enough care. That’s why children, as pedestrians, are at particular risk, and road accidents are the most common cause of long-term child disabilities.

Road safety in Serbia in sorry state

Children most often fall victims as pedestrians, and the most at-risk category are seven- to nine-year olds. Road accidents are the most common cause of death for children. One third die as passengers in accidents, around 15 percent when riding their bike or rollerblading, and over half as pedestrians.

The majority of accidents take place in villages or as they are crossing the road.

Injuries sustained by children can be serious and multiple. Among the gravest are head injuries, that occur in two-thirds of accidents.

“Neuro-trauma means head injuries, above all brain damage, and of course spinal injuries, that can be very severe and have serious repercussions,” says Head of the Department for Neuro-Surgery Mira Raičević.

With road accidents, even when a child seems to be well, parents should still take him or her to a doctor.

One should not give the child food or liquids under such circumstances.

Most at risk are babies, as their symptoms are concealed, and can escape parents’ attention.

“Precisely because the child might seem fine at first glance, but in fact there’s been bleeding, is why I’m talking about neuro-trauma. That blood vessel slowly releases blood, the child is still happy, cheerful, maybe scared, but nothing major,” says Raičević.

She adds that “the parents then let the child get some sleep.”

“And, the child can sleep because of mild concussion because there’s been pressure on the brain, but by then it can already be too late,” she warns.

Children under the age of 12 are poor judges when it comes to cars' proximity.

Their peripheral vision is narrower than that of adults, and they also find it harder to tell the direction of where noise is coming from.

Children’s movements are unpredictable and they do not take enough care. That’s why children, as pedestrians, are at particular risk, and road accidents are the most common cause of long-term child disabilities.