strategija eng

Republic of Macedonia

NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

2009 - 2014 November, 2008

Carried unanimously on assemble of the National Road traffic safety Council of the Republic of Macedonia on 16 of October 2008, Administrative No. 16.5.1/148 Adopted from the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia on 11.11.2008

Coordination body of SCRTS:

Nikola Angelovski, M.Sc., president Professor Mile Dimitrovski, Ph.D., coordinator Ass. professor Vulnet Palosi, Ph.D., member Ass. professor Zoran Sapuric, Ph.D., member Ljupco Stavreski, member Kuzman Damcevski, member

Republic of Macedonia

NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

2009 - 2014 November, 2008

Coordination body of SCRTS: Nikola Angelovski, M.Sc., president Professor Mile Dimitrovski, Ph.D., coordinator Ass. professor Vulnet Palosi, Ph.D., member Ass. professor Zoran Sapuric, Ph.D., member Ljupco Stavreski, member Kuzman Damcevski, member

2009-2014

NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

Cooperating experts

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prof. Pavle Stojmenov prof. Nikola Gavrilov Goran Mijovski, M.Sc., Ass. professor Fimka Tozija, Ph.D., Danco Pendovski, M.Sc., Slobodan Dimitrovski, traffic engineer Mirjana Apostolovska, lawyer prof. Boris Murgovski, Ph.D., Ass. Oliver Andonov, M.Sc. Jovan Hristov, M.Sc. Prof. Stefan Budzakovski, Ph.D.

Carried unanimously on assemble of the National Road traffic safety Council of the Republic of Macedonia on 16 of October 2008, Administrative No. 16.5.1/148 Adopted from the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia on 11.11.2008

Consulted with: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Chamber of commerce of the Republic of Serbia Road traffic safety council of Slovenia AMSM BCEOM France Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Macedonia Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Macedonia Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of the Republic of Macedonia Ministry of Health of the Republic of Macedonia Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia Police Academy City of Skopje National council for health protection

Translated by: 6th Star Design & layout: 6th Star Photography: Bojan Petkovski

Contents Executive summary ................................................................................................................................... 9 I. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 13 1. Aims of the National strategy 2. Vision 3. Mission 4. Values supporting the National strategy 5. Main areas of operation 6. Monitoring the implementation of the National strategy

II. National strategy of the Republic of Macedonia for road traffic safety ....................................................................................................................... 19 1. Introduction

III. Aims of the National strategy including proposed solutions ..........................23 1. Decrease of number of accidents and their consequences caused by speeding 1.1 preventive measures to decrease number of road accidents caused by speeding 1.2 wide implementation of elements of traffic calming especially in urban areas 1.3 increasing the number of speed controls 2. Decrease of number of accidents and their consequences caused by not giving way 2.1 improving visibility on junctions 2.2 increase of safety on railway crossings

2.3 increase of number of surveillance on driving and walking

against red light at signalized junctions

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

2009-2014 6

3. Decrease of number of accidents and their consequences caused under influence of alcohol and other drugs 3.1 Decrease of number of accidents caused under influence of alcohol

and other drugs through education 3.2 decrease of number of accidents caused under influence of alcohol and other drugs through more intensive surveillance of the Traffic Police 4. Decrease of severity of road accident consequences by increasing the rate of wearing restraint devices

4.1 through education

4.2 through enforcement 5. Better protection of vulnerable road users 5.1 increase safety of children in road traffic 5.2 increase of pedestrians and cyclists awareness of legislation

5.3 improvement of behavior of bikers and cyclists through more intensive police surveillance 6. Providing safe road environment

6.1 System determination and removal of road accident causes at black spots

6.2 road safety audit 7. Improving of post-accident car

7.1 improvement of road users behavior after an accident

7.2 improvement in accessibility of a spot by bodies of the Emergency call Center 8. Increase respect for the law by all road users

8.1 increase of efficiency of legislation

8.2 more intensive surveillance over observation of legislation

8.3 permanent harmonization of the Macedonian legislation with EU legislation

8.4 increase in work efficiency of the Macedonian Police Force and administrative authorities

8.5 increase of efficiency in obeying the legislation in road maintenance 9. Co-ordination of all activities

9.1 methodological governing of public administration within road safety

9.2 improvement of work efficiency of the National Council for Road traffic safety,

its bodies and close collaboration with State authorities

9.3 assuring analytical and conception activities 9.4 promoting intensity of other bodies involvement into road accident prevention

IV. Prognosis of expected development ............................................................................... 41 V. Attachments.......................................................................................................................................... 45 1. Analysis of road accidents situation in the Republic of Macedonia (SWOT analysis) 2. Analysis of road accident data in the Republic of Macedonia (2000 – 2007)

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2009-2014 NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

Executive summary According to the data about road accidents in the Republic of Macedonia in 2007, there were 51.5 road accidents every day, including 11.4 accidents with injured persons. In average, the number of killed people per day is 0.39, seriously injured 3.1 people per day, and the number of people with light injuries is 8.3 people per day. The number is alarmingly high, and in the long run it is unacceptable for our society. Implementation of the National strategy provides qualitative, efficient, effective and beyond all safe system for reducing the number of road accidents with injuries and fatalities.

The National strategy of the Republic of Macedonia for improvement of the road traffic safety (The Strategy) is the result of the effort of the National Council for road traffic safety Coordination body, expert group and multi – agency consultations, in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia, Government representatives, and also, National council for health protection, representatives from the Association of the Units of Local Governments of Macedonia, representatives of AMSM, Road agency, PE Macedonia Road, The National bureau for insurance, representative of the European Union and others, some with written and some with verbal observations. The process of preparation of the Strategy has been done in accordance with the following documents: White paper “European transport policy for 2010”, Brussels, 12.09.2001, Priorities in EU road safety – progress report and ranking of actions, Brussels, 17.03.2000, ETSC – European Transport Safety Council (Report 1997), EU Action program on Road Traffic Safety to 2010 (Verona declaration), “RISSE” recommendations, programs iRAR and EuroRAP, EuroTAP, World report of road safety, other acts of the World Health Organization, and acts of the European Union on road traffic safety.

The Coordination body in direct cooperation with the above-mentioned institutions and bodies has started to draft the Strategy. The Strategy was improved step by step with direct contribution of experts.

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The main task of the Strategy is to reduce a number of persons killed in road accidents by 50% and ZERO Children road users killed by the year of 2014.

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

The main acting points of the Strategy are implemented by acting in the areas of:

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• • • • • • • •

The road and road infrastructure; Technical safety of the vehicles; Road traffic control; Preventive and corrective measures for not accepting legislation; Public awareness for road traffic education; Corrective measures for road traffic delinquency; Implementation of safe technologies; Continual education and professional training;

At the moment, there is only a round assumption of the investment for realization of the Strategy, but having in mind that the socio – economic cost for each victim in road traffic is one million euro, and that the Strategy anticipates decline of the number of victims in the next 5 years for 200 people less killed in road traffic accidents, yearly investment of 40 million euro or 200 million euro in 5 year is the least investment that would justify the expectations (The cost of re-socialization of injured are not taken into account).

Enforcement of the National Strategy will contribute to direct benefit in the amount of 200 million euro, represented by decreasing the cost for medical treatment of the injured, decreased cost for material damage, reduced cost for road and road infrastructure damages, and indirect benefit in the amount of 300 million euro in the areas of environmental protection and the social sphere.

It is necessary to interrupt the negative development and the increasing number of road traffic accidents and their consequences and to begin implementing changes in the society, especially in the road traffic safety, in order to be able to fully integrate in the European Union.

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2009-2014 NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

I. Introduction The National Council for road traffic safety (SCRTS) facing the enormous growth of road accidents and their consequences in the last five years have decided, beside amending traffic laws and regulations, to create a brand new National Strategy for improvement of the road traffic safety. The implementation of the National Strategy would contribute to better road traffic safety in the period of 2009 – 2014. Following the Strategy, the number of road deaths the Republic of Macedonia would be halved by 50% and ZERO Children road users killed by the year of 2014.

It is very important, the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Macedonia, has announced many times that, the road safety is one of the countries’ very high priorities and he personally supports all efficient measures to be taken in order to improve road safety in the Republic of Macedonia.

The Coordination body of the SCRTS with the expert groups in co-operation with other ministers and agencies, including the Ministry of internal Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of transport and communications of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of environment and physical planning of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of health of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of education and science of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of economy, National Council for health protection, PE Macedonia Road, the Road agency, AMSM,NGO’s and other relevant institutions, has started to draft the strategy.

The National strategy for improvement of the road traffic safety is based on in-depth analysis of road traffic accidents and the SWOT analysis (in attachment), which created the background for partial goals and proposed measures.

Previous materials prepared by the Ministry of internal affairs – in the form of Action plans on road safety or System programme for increasing road safety are more formal and they respected specific situations in our country during this period, and they have been used when drafting this National Strategy.

The National Strategy, which is the first strategy for improvement of the road traffic safety in the Republic of Macedonia, is the follow up of the Public roads law, Law for road traffic safety, Law for vehicles (in procedure) and the National health programme “Health of the population in the Republic of Macedonia”, and other relevant legislation and regulations (used literature).

The Strategy is an open, long – term document, which will be evaluated and/or amended yearly.

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1. Aims of the National Strategy The National Strategy is aiming to solve the problems in this area, anticipating national requirements for conducting planned measures and activities in the road traffic safety, and to vouch that the vision, ideas and values suggested by the Strategy will be accomplished by reducing the number of persons killed in road accidents and minimizing the number of children road users killed in road traffic.

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

The National Strategy is essential for further measures and activities in the three backbones (road – vehicle – driver) and it is anticipating applicable tools for improving road traffic safety.

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2. Vision Republic of Macedonia, with this Strategy, as a candidate member in the European Union, is aspiring to be a respectable member in the European neighborhood and that is its consistent orientation in the area of road traffic safety. In this way the Republic of Macedonia, is walking the road of a modern state, where the road traffic safety is a key element for the wellbeing of its citizens and for improving the national economy, with clear vision of reducing the number of persons killed in road accidents by 50% and ZERO Children road users killed by the year of 2014.

3. Mission The Mission of the National Strategy is to assist in the efforts of the Republic of Macedonia to stand as an equal and respectable participant in the world political and economical integrative processes and to create conditions for prevention and effective use of the globalization of the road traffic safety through development and improvement of the road traffic safety.

The mission is to be implemented by long-term orientation and efficient interventions in the following strategic areas: • Improvement of the road and road infrastructure; • Improvement of technical safety of the vehicles; • Improvement of traffic participants behavior;

• Improvement of preventive measures for injuries from accidents on all road networks: primary, secondary and tertiary; • Improvement of the international cooperation; • Implementation of contemporary technologies in road traffic safety; • Management with changes regarding improvement of road traffic safety

4. Values supporting the National strategy The National Strategy, honoring the modern civilizations values, is establishing the main directions in the development of the road traffic safety. In the frame of goals to be accomplished, consistently is respecting the general principles on which the road traffic safety is developing, such as quality, economy, prevention, public health approach, public responsibility, justice, transparency and integration.

5. Main areas of operation Main areas of operation listed in the implementation of the National Strategy are anticipating decrease of the number of persons killed in road accidents by 50% and ZERO Children road users killed by the year of 2014, which are planned to be accomplished by acting in the following areas: • • • • • • • •

The road and road infrastructure; Technical safety of the vehicles; Road traffic control; Preventive and corrective measures for legislation not acceptance; Public awareness for road traffic education; Corrective measures for road traffic delinquency; Implementation of safe technologies; Continual education and professional training.

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6. Monitoring the implementation of the National strategy

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

The jurisdiction the National Council is to monitor the implementation of the National Strategy, to mind on the preparation of the National programs and Action plans for road traffic safety and to coordinate the preparation and drafting of the yearly action plans and reports for Strategy implementation, and to suggest further development steps through the Coordination body for preparation, planning and monitoring of the National Strategy. Within its own mechanisms the National council shall assist and boost activities and measures for implementation of the strategy. The Council will report on implementation of the National strategy to the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia on yearly basis.

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2009-2014 NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

II. National strategy of the Republic of Macedonia for road traffic safety (2009 – 2014) Introduction In the year of 2007, 199 people are killed, and almost 6133 people are seriously injured in road accidents in the Republic of Macedonia. The cost is more than 199 million euro per year (having in mind that the socio – economic cost for each victim in road traffic is one million). Improvement of the current situation can be done only by coordinated approach in repression and prevention, including approval of some necessary amendments of existing legislation.

The National Strategy for improvement of the road traffic safety of the Republic of Macedonia is the result of multi – agency working group effort consisting of the coordinative body, experts and the state administration, who were invited to offer their amendments.

The Strategy is based on: • • • • • • •

Current road network conditions; Road accident analysis in the Republic of Macedonia; Legislation in the Republic of Macedonia; Vehicle analysis in the Republic of Macedonia; SWOT analysis; International commitments of the Republic of Macedonia; Transport policy of the Republic of Macedonia;

The Strategy includes basic tasks and means for fulfilling that aim. Particular means are further elaborated into measures and then into concrete tools.

The tools can only be reached if there is consistent cooperation of all suggested measures and involvement of the widest spectrum of subjects into their implementation both on national and local level.

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Therefore fulfillment of the measures given by the Strategy assumes working them out on local level according to specific local conditions, including to point out responsibilities of concrete subjects involved and to draft ways of evaluation of these measures. We assume the Strategy will be successful with the active participation of the private sector working in transport, NGOs and wide public support.

Means and tools are formulated in the way to cover all weak points risen from the SWOT analysis and from the road accident analysis. At same time they take into account international commitments of the Republic of Macedonia.

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

The results from the analysis and SWOT analysis of the critical facts are as follows:

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• • • • • • • •

Unsuitable road and road infrastructure maintenance; Low level of legislation acceptance by road users; Low level of legislation exactness; Unsafe behavior of road users; Serious consequences of road accident caused by speeding; Serious consequences of road accident caused by not giving way; Serious consequences of road accident caused by alcohol; Low usage of passive safety devices.

The main task of the Strategy is to reduce the number of persons killed in road accidents by 50% and ZERO Children road users killed by the year of 2014.

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2009-2014 NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

III. Aims of the National strategy including proposed solutions 1. Decrease of the number of accidents and their consequences caused by speeding According to the statistics of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, speeding has in long-term been the main cause of fatal road accidents caused by motor vehicle drivers. Only in 2007, 89 persons died as a result of speeding which means almost 45% of all persons killed in road traffic in the Republic of Macedonia.

In the area of fight against irresponsible speed behavior first-rate enforcement should be on the first place.

In addition to mass-media activities it will have a preventive effect as well. Targeted police surveillance will play considerable role.

To lower speed and to protect pedestrians especially in urban areas traffic calming measures will be used.

Measure 1.1: Preventive measures for decreasing the number of road accidents caused by speeding: • Campaign aimed at keeping speed limits with special attention on driving in urban areas and on keeping distance will be launched every year; • Increase of emphasis on practical training of driver skills and habits and creation of conditions for improvement of driver skills and behavior; • Setting automatic speed cameras with displays to inform drivers.

Measure 1.2: Wide implementation of elements of traffic calming especially in urban areas: • Implementation of traffic calming elements in urban areas;

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• Motivation of the local authorities for higher level of implementation of traffic engineering measures by initiation of suitable traffic solution projects; • Implementation of entrance islands and one-way streets in urban areas; • Implementation of contemporary traffic management solutions in the cities.

Measure 1.3:

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

Increase of the number of speed controls:

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• Increase of the number of speed controls by mobile radars with recording devices, more intensive measuring of speed by mobile radars in traffic flow. Taking aim on places where road accidents caused by breaking speed and aggressive behavior often occur; • Increase implementation of speed measurements results done by stationary speed radars by criminal and administrative authorities; • Increase control of keeping speed limits by vehicles mandatory equipped with tachographs within State expert surveillance on AETR observance; • Implementation of special technical unit for control of all data integrated eurotachographs.

2. Decrease of number of accidents and their consequences caused by not giving way Not giving way is the second reason for accidents caused by motor vehicle drivers. More than 17% of road accidents in which 28 persons have been killed are caused by not giving way. Number of these accidents increases regularly.

The basic measures in this area will be to arrange traffic environment in the way that the junctions will be clearer and the road signing will be more intelligible. Constituent part will be construction – technical arrangements near pedestrian crossing. These actions will be complemented by measures from the enforcement sphere. It can be expected in case of wide implementation of measures listed below that this measure can decrease the accident risk up to 75%.

Change of behavior will be task of long term influence. Publicity and school education and training in driving schools will be targeted on support of positive behavior, considerateness and gentleman behavior.

Measure 2.1: Improvement of visibility conditions at junctions: • • • • •

Increase of intelligibility of road furniture and signing, especially on trunk roads; Maintaining visibility triangles of junctions; Improvement of pedestrian crossings and assuring their proper visibility; Construction of distinct pedestrian tracks on regional roads through populated areas; Construction of distinct bicycle and pedestrian tracks in urban areas.

Measure 2.2: Increase of safety on railway crossings: • • • •

Construction of two-level crossings of roads with railways; Improvement of road signing at crossing roads; Maintaining of visibility areas on level crossings of road with railways; Successive improvement of technical equipment of railway crossings.

Measure 2.3: Increase of surveillance on driving and walking against red light at signalized junctions: • • • • •

Founding traffic management centre; Implementation of red light cameras at selected junctions; Constructions of distinct right turn lane on junctions; Higher surveillance over give way; Education of all road users with aim to support considerate behavior.

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3. Decrease of number of accidents and their consequences caused under influence of alcohol and other drugs

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

In the Republic of Macedonia the database for road users under the influence of alcohol and other drugs is not completely accurate, but from available data it can be concluded that part of these accidents in comparison with the total number of accidents is 5 to 6%., with tendency to grow regarding the total number of people under the influence of alcohol and other drugs (medicaments, anti depressives and other psychotropic substances).

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With regards to the influence of alcohol and drugs, measures should be clearly targeted to change the behavior, especially of drivers. The main emphasis beside education will be given to prevention, and then enforcement. The police surveillance will highly increase especially during night hours and at weekends.

A campaign in mass media will be launched on yearly basis.

In case of implementation of all suggested measures with this part of the National Strategy 9 human lives should be saved each year up to 2014.

Measure 3.1: Decrease of number of road accidents caused under influence of alcohol and other drugs through education: • Campaign aimed to point out the danger raised from driving under influence of alcohol, medicines and other drugs with emphasis on responsibility of user; • Implementation of knowledge on alcohol influence and that of other drugs on driving of motorized and non-motorized vehicles and on road safety in educational programs of schools and driving schools; • Increase of information flow about influence of some medicine on ability to drive motor vehicle and on its influence on other road users towards patients.

Measure 3.2: Decrease of number of accidents caused under influence of alcohol and other drugs through more intensive surveillance of the Macedonian traffic police force: • Acquisition of sophisticated equipment for detection and confirmation of alcohol and drugs abuse in traffic.

• Increase of number of checked drivers in action aimed on alcohol and other drugs within motor vehicle drivers and cyclists; these controls should be organized at night time and weekend traffic.

4. Decrease of severity of road accident consequences by increase of restraint devices wearing rate Restraint devices (seat-belts, child restraint devices) belong among the most important elements of in-vehicle passive safety. Wearing of them both by motor vehicle drivers and passengers is widely underestimated in the Republic of Macedonia. According to surveys mentioned in the analytical part, the rate of using seat belt is about 50 to 70% depending on the type and place of road.

There is a wide space to act especially in the sphere of prevention and education of publicity. Every year campaigns are the main tool. Stress will be given to importance of seat belt wearing. It is necessary to appeal not only on driver’s own responsibility on his life but also on lives of passengers. New law regulation must bring obligation to use child restraint devices on all types of road.

Increase of usage of seat belts and child restraint devices can save up to 6 human lives up to 2014 comparing with 2007.

Measure 4.1: Increase of seat belt wearing through education and campaigning: • Every year campaign on restraint devices aimed at: ͳͳ Seat belt wearing in urban areas; ͳͳ Seat belt wearing by co-driver; ͳͳ Usage of child restraint devices.

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• Increase of seat wearing rate amongst policemen and military personnel;

Measure 4.2:

Increase of seat belt wearing rate through enforcement:

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

• Increase of checked drivers and passengers on wearing seat belts and usage of child restraint devices;

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5. Better protection of vulnerable road users One of the biggest safety problems in road traffic in the Republic of Macedonia is the very high percentage of killed or seriously injured pedestrians and cyclists. The average number of injured people per year in the last three years was 38 injured cyclists, and 164 injured pedestrians.

To change behavior of vulnerable road users, it is necessary to involve as much partners as possible, especially schools and NGO’s. Special attention has to be given to senior and handicapped persons. For example: For external protection of vulnerable road users there should be adjustments of road environment (for pedestrians and cyclist), traffic-lights for blind and handicapped persons etc.

It is expected that consistent implementation of suggested measures for this group of road participants will bring up to 5 human lives saved up to 2014 compared to 2007.

Measure 5.1: Increase safety of children in road traffic: • Expansion and support of new forms of traffic education in children on all school levels; • Nationwide implementation of the Safer Way to School program; • Ensuring mass media campaign with aim to increase children protection along with publishing of brochures for parents, assuring their distribution to kindergartners, schools and medical enterprises; • Support for renewing school patrols.

Measure 5.2: Increase pedestrians and cyclists awareness of legislation: • Public involvement, including children and disabled people, into identification of risky spots on road; • Information activities aimed at: o Pedestrians (crossing a road, visibility); o Cyclists (helmets, visibility); o Children; o Elderly people; o Handicapped.

Measure 5.3: Improvement of behavior of motorcyclists and cyclists through more intensive police surveillance • To give more attention to pedestrian crossings (crossing of pedestrians against a red light, priority of pedestrians) within a police surveillance over traffic; • To give more attention on respecting the Road Traffic Safety Law by pedestrians especially during night time through enhanced visibility of the police surveillance on the 1st and 2nd class roads; • To give more attention on education and respecting the Road Traffic Safety Law by motorcyclists (to use safety gear).

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6. Providing safe road environment Safe road environment can very efficiently eliminate of the cause for road accidents and decrease their consequences, both in rural and urban areas.

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

One of the basic principles of the National Strategy is an exact analysis of road accidents with personal consequences (death, serious injury). In the Republic of Macedonia the data collection and underreporting must be improved. This is to be done by using computer software and accurate analytical methods. Until they are implemented we will be facing the problem of incomplete data needed to solve three basic issues:

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• to respect the legislation for installing standard objects on the road and around the road; • to improve localization of individual road accidents and based on that • to introduce an obligation to remove black spots for all road authorities Basic investment into adjustment of safer road environment are, comparing to other measures, relatively high but the cash pay back is very good in terms of decrease of road accidents and their consequences in relatively short time period.

It can be seen, especially from international experience that only by creation of safer road environment – good planning, projecting, construction and maintenance of the safe road environment, 30% reduction of overall road accident consequences, lowering the cost from loss of human lives, care and re-socialization, material damage etc., could be reached in more than five year period.

Measure 6.1: System determination and removal of road accident causes at black spots: • Creation of traffic circles; • Creation of uniform obligatory methodology for determination and observing of black spots, including database of best practices how to solve them; • Creation and implementation of system of obligatory reducing of black spots (at the moment, September 2008, the number of black spots is 169), according to a five year plan.

Measure 6.2: Road safety audit: • • • • • •

Implementation of road safety audit on all new projects in road transport; Implementation of road safety evaluation of current road network step by step; Step by step initiate removing of billboards in safety areas on all types of road; Lighting roads at populated and urban areas; Implementation of EuroRAP – methodology for determination of the cause for road accidents; Implementation of iRAP for decision making for road intervention.

7. Improving of post-accident care There were some cases when the first aid was not given at all or not given appropriately, though it was necessary.

Measures are targeted especially to a first aid education for the widest group of road users. Schools and mass media will be included.

Second area is an improvement of accident spots accessibility by bodies of the Emergency Call Center E-112.

In case there is at least 50% improvement up to 2014 it can be expected to save more human lives. In parallel, the reduction of costs caused by accidents including environmental damages can be expected by society.

Measure 7.1: Improvement of road users’ behavior after an accident through education: • Dissemination of information on necessity and ways of giving the first aid through mass media; • Stressing the first aid education including the topic of human health protection under special circumstances into educational programs of elementary schools with directive of the Ministry of Education; • Improvement of practical training of behavior after an accident and improvement of the first aid

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skills with applicants for driving license; • Education of all road users with aim to improve behavior after an accident; • Research of the frazzle degree of the road surface.

Measure 7.2:

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

Improvement in accessibility to an accident spot by bodies of the Emergency Call Center E-122:

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• Creation and implementation of a system for quick and exact accident spot identification nondepending on road mileage and local conditions; • Creation of legislative framework in Act No 361/2000 on Road Traffic, for improvement of accessibility to a road accident spot by bodies of the Emergency Call Center, especially in traffic congestions; • Acquisition of equipment for fast and efficient rescue and immobilization of injured persons within all bodies of the Emergency Call Center.

8. Increase respect for the law by all road user Increase of respect for the law of all road users is an important element leading to road safety improvements.

More than 90% of all road accidents in the Republic of Macedonia are caused by human error.

Goal of the enforcement is to increase the respect of all road users to the Road Traffic Safety Law and to the Police work. A necessary presumption of an efficient enforcement is especially quick determination of punishment and its exactness. Legislative and organizational changes in the police work and enforcement in general are necessary presumption for the above-mentioned measures.

With regards to scope of this area, it is very hard to specify an impact of measures on road accident rate in quantitative form but all these measures support an effect of measures 1-7 and many times they determine their efficiency directly.

Measure 8.1: Increase of efficiency of legislation: • Implementing the penalty point system of the Road Traffic Safety Law.

Measure 8.2: More intensive surveillance over observation of legislation: • Implementation of standards in the methodology for planning, projecting and auditing, avoiding non-standard road and infrastructural solutions, and respecting all aspects of road traffic safety measures • Implementation of standards and principles of environment protection and sustainable development; • Decreasing number of potential accidents by efficient road management; • Introduction of Road Inspection Body responsible for determination of reasons and forms for avoiding traffic accident in cooperation with the analytical sector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; • Assuring systematic surveillance over road traffic with emphasis on black spots and time when road accidents frequently occur, as well as on the vehicle condition; • Assuring of efficient state licensed expert supervision over Technical Control Stations; • Assuring efficient state licensed expert supervision over driving schools and examiners.

Measure 8.3: Permanent audit and harmonization of the Macedonian legislation with European legislation: • Creating database related to traffic; • Membership in regional and national networks of cities and public transport enterprises; • Participation in projects for new innovative approaches in traffic supported by EU.

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Measure 8.4:

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

Increase of work efficiency of the Macedonian Police Force and administrative authorities:

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• Introduce road accident development in given region as one of the most important criterion for evaluation of success of police work in the field of road safety; • Consistent implementation of controls for observation the Road Traffic Safety Law amongst policemen and regular evaluation of efficiency control; • Consistent implementation of control of the way how the Macedonian Police Force and administrative authorities proceed in punishment of offences in the field of road safety and regular evaluation of efficiency of control • Increase of exactness of given sanction in an administrative procedure and fines not collected on the spot a shortening time for determination of an offence to exactness of given fine; • Inform publicity on regular basis about police activities leading to increase road safety and to promote the police.

Measure 8.5: Increase of efficiency of respecting legislation in road maintenance: • Auditing the activities on the roads and creating database for synchronized planning and maintaining according to EuroRAP and iRAP. • Creating database of road structure condition, bridges, tunnels and reconstruction measures • Standardize elements of road structure according to European road regulation.

9. Co-ordination of all activities This chapter contains summed up measures regarding organization and co-ordination of activities on the level of the state, local administration and NGOs. The Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health and the National Council of Public Health will prepare methodological instructions and will give information for implementation of road safety. The NGOs will be supported by grants.

Measure 9.1: Methodological governing of public administration within road safety.

• • • • •

Coordination and support of road safety coordinating bodies’ activities; Support of road safety activities on regional and local level; Close co-ordination of informative, preventive and repressive activities; Creation of local road safety plans with involvement of general public; Dissemination of information on best practices and experiences in increasing road safety through web sites, portals, forums of the SCRTS, and creation of data-base of traffic safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Measure 9.2: Improvement of an efficient work of the National Council for road Traffic Safety and its Bodies in cooperation with the authorities.

• Within the SCRTS, the Coordination Body in collaboration with other authorities, establishment of working groups consisting of experts from the state administration, NGOs and private sector to solve concrete road safety problems; • Additional administrative and technical equipping of the Council, according to the Road Traffic Safety Law; • Technological equipment and external experts – establishing database of experts in the Republic of Macedonia.

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Measure 9.3:

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NATIONAL STRATEGY of the Republic of Macedonia for Improvement of the Road Traffic Safety

Assuring analytical and conception activities.

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• Assuring of continuous research and development of road safety measures with priority given to following spheres: • Deep analysis of road accidents ͳͳ Safety by design; ͳͳ Research of interaction among driver – vehicle – road – environment; ͳͳ Implementation of new technology for promotion of road safety in all aspects; • Reporting to the Parliament every year; • Continuous evaluation of relevant legislation; • Systematic maintenance of road accident statistics, including consequences and causes of road accidents.

Measure 9.4: Promoting intensity of other bodies involvement into road accident prevention.

• Implementation of the Strategy through yearly operation plans by state bodies (ministries, administration, etc.); • Support selected projects of non governmental institutions on road safety in form of grants; • Recommendation on enforcement of safe behavior on road principles towards authors of mass media program; • Promoting separate program for Health protection of all injured in traffic accidents; • Respecting the ADR regulation in all elements; • Affirmation, improvement and intensive use of the Public transport and other measures for disburdening traffic.

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IV. Prognosis of expected development The prognosis of expected development of road accident situation in the Republic of Macedonia up to 2014 in case of Strategy’s implementation has been drafted on the basis of the analysis of road accident development rates in the last 9 years. The following Graph, No1, shows current and expected development of number of persons killed in traffic accidents up to 2014.

Even if the goal of the Strategy looks very ambitious, its fulfilling is realistic. It can be supported not only by comparison with many programs and strategies implemented abroad in the past but also by comparison of development of road accident consequences in the Republic of Macedonia in the period from 1980 to 2000.

Table1. Number of persons killed in traffic accidents according to the Strategy based on real comparability of data, number of inhabitants per vehicle

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VI. Attachments Attachment 1.

Road traffic accident analysis in the Republic of Macedonia (SWOT Analysis) Strong points • Interest of the Government to solve road accident problem, declared in the Road Traffic Safety Law; • Good co-operation with countries with good road accident record – Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria; • Increasing willingness of politicians to be involved in road safety issues; • Good system of road accident data maintained in long term; • Health protection provided all over the country; • Long term tradition of road safety education of children; • Tradition and good level of child road safety contests; • Increasing of activities of NGOs in the field of road safety; • Existing methodology on road safety audit; • Existence of methodology materials for training of auditors.

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Weak points

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• Road safety is not taken as a very important problem of the Macedonian society; • Low level of coordination of measures taken by various subjects, both governmental and nongovernmental; • Low public transport intensity, requiring more frequent usage of private vehicles; • Non existence of regional road safety plans; • Not adequately developed emergency medical help system; • Not adequately developed NGO sector in road traffic safety; • Recommendations of the international bodies are very often implemented formally; best practices are not implemented in way they should or could be implemented; • Small space in national mass media for road safety propaganda; • Lack of analytical information on causes and consequences of road accidents; • Low level of cooperation between local authorities and schools during recognition of weak points in road safety on routes to schools; • Careless behavior of some road users; • Low acceptance of the Road Traffic Safety Law by general public and unfortunately professionals including policemen; • Low level of enforcement; • Absence of evaluation of road safety measures; • No database on best practices; • Poor level of road safety education, usage of old fashioned methods of road safety education.

Opportunities • • • • • • • • •

Decrease of road accidents and their consequences; Decrease of road accidents of vulnerable road users, especially cyclists, children and pedestrians; Decrease of economical costs of road accidents; Closer cooperation between the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in sphere of road accident prevention; Perception on self responsibility of road safety; Increase of level of attraction of the Police work; Higher level of life style in the society; Improvement of euro-integration processes; Donations from international funds.

Threats • • • •

Lack of financial sources for implementation of necessary measures; Lack of cooperation on various levels of administration on governmental and local levels; Low willingness to cooperate among various sides involved in road safety work; In case of not reaching the targets lost of motivation for other future activities.

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Analysis of road accident data in the Republic of Macedonia (2000 – 2007)

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Number of accidents and their consequences 2001-2007

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Number of accidents in urban areas and on open road 2001-2007

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Main reasons for accidents caused by drivers

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Address: Str. Gjorgji Dimitrov No.13 1000 Skopje Republic of Macedonia Telephone: +389 2 27 000 47 E-mail: contact@rsbsp.org.mk Web page: http://www.rsbsp.mk