Decade of Action in Serbia

The Decade of Action for Road Safety was launched in Serbia on 11 May 2011 at an event in the central square of Belgrade. The Automobile Club of Serbia (AMSS) organised the event together with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Road Safety Agency. Other road safety stakeholders, including governmental, non-governmental organisations and the private sector, also participated in the event in order to support the improvement of road safety in Serbia in the forthcoming 10 year period.

AMSS Secretary General, Aleksandar Nikacevic, expressed his satisfaction that the long-running work of AMSS in the field of road safety has received the support of the governmental sector, which should help strengthen AMSS’s position as the leader in road safety initiatives in the region, in the next ten year period and beyond. 

Stakeholders included the Ministries of the Interior, Infrastructure and Energy, Education, Health, Defence, as well as the Red Cross of Serbia, the Public Health Institute, the University of Belgrade and the National Driving Academy.

The first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Mr Ivica Dacic, was one of the main speakers at the event. He announced the beginning of the Decade of Action in Serbia and said that in the last decade (2001-2010), Serbia had already managed to reduce the number of fatalities by nearly 50%, from 1275 in 2001 to 660 in 2010. Since the introduction of the new Law on Road Safety in December 2009, 180 human lives have been saved.

“180 human lives saved” was also the title of the performance played during the event. Sirens announced the end of danger and the beginning of new actions to save more lives in the Decade of Action. The central square was filled with stakeholders' stands in which they featured their road safety activities.



Speaking after the main event, Dorit Nitzan, Head of the WHO office in Serbia, said that the launch of the Decade of Action had been organised in the best possible way, as it had mobilised all governmental and non-governmental organisations to further reduce the number of fatalities and seriously injured on roads in Serbia. The AMSS was presented with the iRAP road inspection vehicle, which is taking part in both national and international road inspection projects.

The Red Cross of Serbia stand included the simulation of first aid techniques that can save lives in cases of road crashes, while the medical staff of the Public Health Institute offered advice to visitors on matters relating to medical conditions for drivers and safe driving. Together with the National Driving Academy, the AMSS also had seat belt simulators on display. 

The Traffic Police Directorate, together with the sector responsible for traffic and logistics of the Ministry of Defence, also displayed their activities, which included vehicles (cars and motorcycles) for speed control on the roads in Serbia.

Children also had their share in the programme, and were able to participate in a special traffic education quiz show, apart from drawing traffic related images on the ground. A traffic polygon was set up to offer kids a chance to try to ride a bike as if they were in the AMSS traffic education contest. The smallest ones were able to take a photo in a card-board car also displayed at the stand. Last but not least, a choir of young singers in small police uniforms sang children’s songs with road safety messages.

The official programme was followed by a musical performance, with the participation of some very popular Serbian bands and singers. During the event, the public were given campaign tags and printed material, including leaflets that were prepared by all stakeholders gathered for the launch of the Decade of Action in Serbia.