Traffic safety for all

Description

The general goal of the project "Traffic safety for all” is to strengthen the advocacy role of NGOs in the process of participating in the adoption of legal provisions and advocating for a clear and unambiguous interpretation of existing laws and regulations. The specific objectives are to increase the capacity of citizen associations to evaluate the implementation and monitor the quality of the implementation of legal provisions, with the involvement of citizens, and networking of NGOs in order to strengthen advocacy potential.

The solution is to encourage public authorities, which are responsible for creating and adopting legal solutions to involve citizens in the planning processes from an early conceptual stage, taking into account the arguments and needs that citizens have. 

Therefore, we have two main target groups. Citizens, whose needs are safe and equal mobility and participation in traffic, regardless of their mode of transportation. Without their involvement in decision-making processes, their needs will not have an adequate solution. The target group is also public authorities, in order to influence them to increase the involvement of citizens in decision-making, i.e. an incentive to consider issues that citizens point out, which affects their security and equality. In addition, significant influence of NGOs is needed in achieving a clear and unambiguous regulatory framework that has for decades disadvantaged certain groups of citizens with different and often misinterpreted legal provisions by public authorities.

SB will try to overcome some of the obstacles that citizens, which choose sustainable mobility, encounter in everyday life, by analyzing the current practices of creating and interpreting legal provisions, based on examples of good practices of other countries.

Summary of project results

The target group includes all of those who choose alternative metods of transportation in their communities, such as bicycles. This includes children, youth, women, Roma, and all vulnerable groups in Croatia. Until 2004, education for independent bicycle riding was conducted in primary schools in collaboration with the Croatian Automobile Club, after which participants underwent theoretical and practical knowledge assessment. Since 2004, children''s training in this regard has not been institutionally provided due to the absence of a formal program. Given that more than 16 years have passed since then, the system has not ensured this type of training for a significant number of adults today.

Nevertheless, in Croatia, any adult can purchase a bicycle and participate in traffic in a completely legal manner without having any education on traffic regulations or being familiar with how to ride a bicycle safely and according to the rules. Paradoxically, the same system, through repressive actions carried out by police administrations in their regions, penalizes cyclists for committing traffic offenses. This problem is further exacerbated by the incorrect interpretation of the Road Traffic Safety Act by police officers, which sometimes leads to cyclists being fined even in cases where they have not committed any violations. These cyclists must then seek justice in court, a process that is often long and arduous, causing them to lose money, time, and experience health consequences. Many do not choose to pursue justice in court even though justice is on their side.

This negative practice needs to be stopped, especially since bicycle traffic is on the rise, and the number of accidents could increase drastically.

Activities within Activity 1.1:

• We collected and analyzed data on bicycle accidents in 5 Croatian cities based on the Ministry of Interior''s statistics.
• The results of the analysis were presented in a written document and sent to the Ministry of Interior with the aim of improving bicycle safety.
• The Bicycle Union participated in e-consultation before the start of the project and informed the public about the results.

Activities within Activity 1.2:

• A document was prepared as a written report on the analysis of bicycles as a factor in health and material risks in traffic, along with an analysis of legal regulations. This document was published on the website and made available to the public.

Activities within Activity 1.3:

• A document was prepared as a written report on the collection of anonymized accidents and their comparison. This document was published on the website. Citizen activation and mobilization, who are not members of civil society organizations (CSOs), were achieved by inviting and sending testimonies about traffic accidents they were involved in, as well as fines imposed by the police.

Activities 2.1 and 2.2:

• Interdisciplinary workshops for young people and CSOs were held to distribute the digital Handbook and documents. The workshops aimed to inform citizens and CSOs about traffic safety in Croatia, opportunities for involvement in CSOs, participation in public consultations, and monitoring of local government and regional authorities regarding safety and traffic system development. This strengthened advocacy methods and positions for CSOs and created an informal network.

Activity 2.3:

• An interdisciplinary workshop was held with public authorities (Ministry of the Interior), CSOs, experts, and citizens. During the workshop, documents were distributed, and discussions took place about traffic safety issues, accidents, and the Ministry of the Interior''s lack of understanding of the problems faced by injured cyclists.

The main accomplishment of the project is the creation and distribution of a handbook for pedestrians and cyclists, which was later updated to include scooter riders. This handbook is designed to be used nationally and is applicable to any city or town in Croatia. It covers various vulnerable groups, including all individuals who use these modes of transportation. By investing in the development of such infrastructure in underdeveloped areas, the project aims to inform citizens about their rights and responsibilities when it comes to cycling, scooter riding, and using traffic surfaces like pedestrian-bicycle paths. Inter-generational cooperation was fostered through workshops and distributing printed copies of the handbook to senior citizens'' associations. Notably, the project''s success led to collaboration with the Zagreb Police Administration, which approached the Bicycle Union to organize joint workshops, positioning the association as a valuable partner in improving traffic safety. This collaboration has positively impacted new volunteers, helping them become familiar with the organization''s activities and methods.