Today, the Sarajevo Canton Assembly dedicated an emergency session to traffic safety, and introductory information was presented to the representatives by Cantonal Prime Minister Nihad Uk and Minister of Internal Affairs Admir Katica, who pointed to the need for the urgent adoption of traffic laws, as well as amendments to the Criminal Code and the Law on enforcement of criminal sanctions at the level of the Federation of BiH, but also of the State of BiH.
Prime Minister Uk told the representatives that the Government was prompted by the tragedy, the traffic accident in which Azra Spahić was killed on May 27, to adopt emergency measures and conclusions related to the prevention of traffic safety as well as repressive measures.
The measures are the presence of a larger number of policemen on the streets, and for this purpose, almost 200 new policemen have been hired, who will carry out controls, especially in the evening hours. They also insisted on increasing radar control and confiscating vehicles.
“The preventive measure is the reduction of speed in certain locations, adaptive traffic management, but also the urgent amendment and amendment of the law on traffic safety,” pointed out the Prime Minister.
Minister Katica said that the CS MoI continuously works on traffic safety and general safety, as well as the implementation of conclusions, but he also believes that changes to the Law on the Basics of Traffic Safety, as well as a new law on misdemeanors, are necessary.
“We need these laws in order to define drunken and violent driving, and to put an end to that, more rigorous penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol, for multiple returnees, positioning the measure of permanent confiscation of the vehicle,” stressed Katica.
The coordinator of the working group for the development of guidelines for improving the state of traffic safety in CS Semir Šut, the chief of uniformed police CS Džafer Hrvat, the minister of transport CS Adnan Šteta and the minister of pre-school, primary and secondary education Naida Hota also gave their presentations, each from their department.
“We have witnessed that more and better is possible, but there is also a strong need to engage other bodies and institutions whose activities will contribute to improving traffic safety in CS and beyond. Therefore, the guidelines imply the amendment of the law on the basics of traffic safety with tougher penalties for serious law breakers and the introduction of permanent confiscation of vehicles from multiple returnees who commit serious violations,” emphasized Šut.
The representatives have several proposals and initiatives on improving traffic safety, and their consideration and adoption should, as said, result in a long-term solution to the problem of not only traffic safety, but also general safety.
