Bozovic: The number of traffic accidents in Serbia has increased due to a higher number of vehicles, the human factor is decisive

This year, Serbia has recorded a higher number of traffic accidents compared to 2024, and experts warn that the number of people killed in accidents per million inhabitants is significantly higher than the EU average. Traffic safety expert Milan Bozovic says that the increase in traffic accidents is due to a significant rise in the number of registered vehicles and the volume of traffic over the past ten years, assessing that the main causes of accidents are failures by traffic participants.

“Over the past ten years, we have seen an increase in the number of registered cars in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, which generates more movement, more driving, greater density, and a higher volume of traffic. In that sense, we cannot look at traffic accident data only in absolute terms, because one parameter has changed significantly, and that is participation in traffic,” Bozovic told Kosovo Online, adding that comparisons should be made based on the number of vehicles and kilometers traveled then and now.

He pointed out that with the increase in the number of vehicles and traffic volume, the risk of traffic accidents and the number of injured and killed also rise, but emphasized that the biggest factor causing accidents is still the human factor.

“The most common factor is the human being, regardless of whether it is a driver, pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, road maintenance worker, or an engineer who designs or plans maintenance. In the end, it mostly comes down to the human factor. There is, to a small extent, force majeure and the road factor, but in the end it comes down to human error,” he said.

Preventive campaigns have so far proven to be effective, our interlocutor says, noting that a drastic change in traffic behavior has been observed among certain target groups.

“So far, they have proven to be effective. Whenever specific campaigns were conducted for a particular target group, a drastic change in that group’s behavior was observed, as well as a drastic change in results in terms of traffic accidents and the severity of consequences for that specific target group. I think this should continue in the future, possibly with a strengthened and improved approach,” Bozovic added.

During the holidays, he notes, an increase in the number of traffic accidents is expected.

“Given that there is no snow, and there was snow last year, it is possible that there will be an increased number of traffic accidents, because poor weather conditions, such as snow, reduce traffic volume,” he said.

He noted that the exact number of people killed in traffic accidents this year will be known in February 2026, because accidents are recorded as the cause of death even for those who die up to 30 days after the incident, after which decisions on further preventive measures will be made.

More stringent law

Assistant Director of the Traffic Safety Agency (ABS) Mirko Kokovic warned about the high number of accidents and fatalities, emphasizing that the state allocates more than four billion euros annually to deal with the consequences of accidents.

Commenting on the data showing that Serbia last year had the highest number of traffic fatalities per million inhabitants in Europe, Kokovic said that this year 484 people were killed, which is 21 fewer than in the same period last year.

“We believe that this year we will achieve a historic minimum in the number of people killed on the roads of our country. But that number is certainly still very high, and we believe that next year, according to what is being planned, Serbia will manage to significantly reduce the number of fatalities,” he said.

Kokovic noted that since the beginning of the year there have been 32,992 accidents, in which 484 people were killed and more than 18,672 were injured, which, as he said, is 600 fewer than last year.

“The plan for next year primarily includes the adoption of a completely new Traffic Safety Law, which will be significantly more stringent than the current law. Also, according to announcements, the Ministry of the Interior will install a large number of both stationary and mobile speed cameras. The goal is to curb speeding as one of the leading factors in traffic accidents with the most severe outcomes,” he said.

He added that the ABS has prepared a draft action plan for the period from 2026–2028 with a series of measures and activities aimed at increasing traffic safety.

Kokovic also emphasized that the consequences of traffic accidents require substantial allocations from the state budget.

“In Serbia, traffic accidents cost the state and society around 4.1 billion euros annually, which represents a significant percentage of GDP. Also, according to ABS information, individual costs depending on the severity of accidents are as follows: a fatal accident costs the state around 3.3 million euros, accidents with seriously injured persons cost nearly 500,000 euros, and accidents with minor injuries around 38,500 euros,” Kokovic stated.

Statistics for this year, our interlocutor says, show a high number of fatalities compared to the EU average, which stands at 44 people per million inhabitants, while in Serbia 78 people per million inhabitants have died in accidents.

He added that the state is determined to crack down on irresponsible drivers who have led to these statistics.