Safety in traffic for vulnerable military road users

• Main Author: Aleksandar J. Bulajić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Defence in Belgrade 2012-04-01
• Series: Vojnotehnički Glasnik
• Subjects: Serbian Army; traffic safety; pedestrian safety; traffic accidents
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0042-8469/2012/0042-84691202323B.pdf
• ISSN: 0042-8469; 2217-4753

The Army of Serbia, as a relatively closed system, regulates the field of traffic safety; however, during peacetime, general rules apply to all participants in traffic circulation. The Republic of Serbia is in the group of countries with a high number of road fatalities. The level of traffic safety in the Serbian Army has been on constant increase since 2000, although the relevant transport authorities in the military are not yet satisfied with the achieved level (even one lost life is too much). The increase can be deceptive, since if we take into account the substantial reduction in vehicle use due to various factors in the last few years (poor financial situation in the country as well as in the military, under-investment in the purchase of new vehicles, purchase of transportation services, fewer drivers drafted and more vehicles driven by trained officers, etc.), it is not surprising that there are fewer accidents and fewer road deaths and injuries among military personnel. This paper aims at approaching the problem of pedestrian safety as a segment of road safety and at making an educational impact on all members of the military, because they all participate in traffic daily, if not as drivers or passengers, then certainly in large numbers as pedestrians. The basis of this paper is aimed at shedding light on the causes of pedestrian road fatalities due to their mistakes, i. e. 'negligence' of the participants in car accidents with the participation of pedestrians, as well as at proposing measures to reduce and prevent traffic accidents with pedestrians.