COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Monitoring Road Safety Progress in the EU - Croatia Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Report on the Implementation of the EU Road Safety Policy Framework at the Mid-Point
Date: 2026-02-13
Institutions: Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
Subjects: Croatia, EU investment, accident prevention, common transport policy, innovation, road safety, road transport, transport accident, transport infrastructure, transport statistics

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 13.2.2026  SWD(2026) 36 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Monitoring Road Safety Progress in the EU - Croatia Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Report on the Implementation of the EU Road Safety Policy Framework at the Mid-Point {COM(2026) 77 final} - {SWD(2026) 33 final} - {SWD(2026) 34 final} - {SWD(2026) 35 final} - {SWD(2026) 37 final} - {SWD(2026) 38 final} - {SWD(2026) 39 final} - {SWD(2026) 40 final} - {SWD(2026) 41 final} - {SWD(2026) 42 final} - {SWD(2026) 43 final} - {SWD(2026) 44 final} - {SWD(2026) 45 final} - {SWD(2026) 46 final} - {SWD(2026) 47 final} - {SWD(2026) 48 final} - {SWD(2026) 49 final} - {SWD(2026) 50 final} - {SWD(2026) 51 final} - {SWD(2026) 52 final} - {SWD(2026) 53 final} - {SWD(2026) 54 final} - {SWD(2026) 55 final} - {SWD(2026) 56 final} - {SWD(2026) 57 final} - {SWD(2026) 58 final} - {SWD(2026) 59 final}  
 
 
Contents 

1. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

2.3. 

2.4. 

2.5. 

3. 

3.1. 

3.2. 

4. 

4.1. 

4.2. 

5. 

Summary ............................................................................................................ 2 

Road Safety Strategy and Measures .................................................................. 3 

Road Safety Strategy...................................................................................... 3 

Road Safety Governance................................................................................ 3 

Main Safety Issues ......................................................................................... 3 

Road Safety Targets ....................................................................................... 4 

Road Safety Measures.................................................................................... 5 

Road Safety Progress ......................................................................................... 5 

Road Safety Outcomes ................................................................................... 5 

Road Safety Performance Indicators ............................................................. 8 

Monitoring Road Safety Strategy Implementation ............................................ 9 

Implementation Progress ............................................................................... 9 

Best Practices ............................................................................................... 12 

Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................ 13 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Croatia 

1. Summary 

In  2024,  Croatia  was  24th  out  of  the  27  EU  countries,  with  62  road  fatalities  per  million 
inhabitants, which is well above the EU average (45). Compared to 2019, a decrease of 20% in 
road  fatalities  was  achieved.  In  2024,  3,238  people  were  seriously  injured  in  road  crashes, 
which is 30% higher than the respective figure in 2019.  

Compared to the EU average, the distribution of fatalities in Croatia showed a relatively high 
proportion of fatalities on urban roads, especially for passenger car occupants. 

In  the  National  Road  Safety  Plan  of  Croatia,  the  target  of  halving  the  number  of  road 
fatalities in 2030 compared to 2019 has been set. Also, the targets of halving the numbers of 
crashes  resulting  in  fatalities  and  serious  injuries  compared  to  2019  have  been  defined.  In 
addition  to  the  above  general  targets,  Croatia  has  set  12  additional  targets.  A  total  of  190 
activities  categorised  into  71  measures  and  thirteen  areas  of  action  are  included  in  the 
National Road Safety Plan. 

Based on the latest available data for 2024, Croatia is close to being on track to meet the 2030 
target of halving the number of road fatalities, with a 20% reduction since 2019. However, 
Croatia  falls  short  of  meeting  the  remaining  two  general  targets  set  in  the  Plan,  with  the 
observed number of crashes resulting in fatalities and serious injuries being higher than the 
target values in 2024. 

Regarding  progress  inthe  implementation  of  the  measures  foreseen  in  the  Plan,  there  is  a 
smooth implementation flow without any particular gaps being reported. Based on the self-
reported assessment, the implementation of the measures in 15 areas has been completed and 
measures in 9 areas are on track. The baseline is assessed as high for 14 out of the 26 road 
safety areas and as medium in 11 areas.  

A series of best practices are available for Croatia. They include the updated Road Traffic 
Safety Act and the development of decrees for the technical inspection of vehicles in relation 
to  fully  automated  vehicles.  Also,  ITS  solutions  have  been  provided  at  identified  isolated 
pedestrian crossings to increase pedestrian safety. Furthermore, there has been an emphasis on 
enforcement, with 87 speed cameras being installed in the last 3 years and a continuous supply 
of  speed  measurement  devices  and  enforcement  vehicles.  A  National  Bicycle  Transport 
Development Plan for the period 2023-2027 has been prepared. Measures have been taken to 
increase  motorcycle  safety  on  high-risk  sections  of  national  roads.  Finally,  subsidies  are 
granted  for  the  purchase  of  new  energy-efficient  vehicles  with  a  view  to  renewing  and 
upgrading the vehicle fleet. 

Finally,  progress  in  the  implementation  of  the  foreseen  actions  is  well  on  track,  which  is 
reflected in the evolution of the number of fatalities, with Croatia being close to meeting the 
2030 target. However, Croatia still remains one of the countries with the highest fatality rates 
in  the  EU  and  more  effort  appears  to  be  needed  to  reach  the  additional  general  targets  set. 
Possible ways to address this could be:  

reviewing the degree of implementation of the actions, 

• 
•  exploring  any  other  relevant  activities  with  emphasis  on  urban  road  infrastructure, 

vulnerable road users and post-crash care. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.  Road Safety Strategy and Measures 

2.1. Road Safety Strategy 

The new National Road Safety Plan of the Republic of Croatia for the period 2021–2030 has 
as its main objective the further improvement of road safety, primarily by reducing the number 
of road fatalities, as well as by reducing the number of crashes and consequences arising from 
them. The Plan is in line with global and European documents, especially the objectives defined 
by the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021–2030 – Next Steps towards Vision Zero, and 
the  Stockholm  Declaration  on  Road  Safety  (the  outcome  document  of  the  Third  Global 
Ministerial Conference on Road Safety 'Achieving Global Goals 2030’). 

A Working Group appointed by the Minister of the Interior is in charge of its implementation. 
Financing or co-financing of the implementation of measures and activities is provided from 
several  sources.  The  decisions  on  the  priorities  and  method  of  financing  the  measures  and 
activities is made by the Working Group1. 

Table 5.1: National Road Safety Plan  

Timeframe 
Lead Authority 

Croatia 
2021-2030 
Ministry of Interior, Police department for road safety (drafted by FPZ) 

Link 

https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages//2022/06//NPSCP%2021-30_engl.pdf 

2.2. Road Safety Governance 

The Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of 
Justice, the Ministry of Science and Education, the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Insurance 
Bureau,  the  Faculty  of  Transport  and  Traffic  Science,  the  Croatian  Auto  Club  (HAK),  the 
Centre for Croatian vehicles, the Croatian motorways and the Croatian Roads are responsible 
for the formulation of the national road safety strategy.  

The Ministry of Interior is responsible for the monitoring of road safety developments in the 
country. 

2.3. Main Safety Issues 

According  to  the  National  Road  Safety  Plan  of  Croatia,  based  on  the  national  road  safety 
statistics of the period 2011-2019, some key issues are identified: 

•  Passenger cars are involved in the vast majority of road crashes resulting in fatalities 

and serious injuries (57%). 

•  Two-wheeled  vehicles  are  involved  in  a  high  percentage  of  crashes  resulting  in 

fatalities (20%). 

1 https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages//2022/06//NPSCP%2021-30_engl.pdf 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  The number of crashes resulting in fatalities and serious injuries was particularly high 

inside urban areas (74%). 

•  Speed is the leading cause in a total of 39% of crashes resulting in fatalities and serious 

injuries. 

•  Alcohol as the potential cause was recorded in 23% of serious crashes. 

•  Reckless driving was one of the potential causes of as many as 59% of serious crashes. 
Reckless  driving  refers  to  improper  driving  and  violation  of  traffic  rules  (including 
speeding and drink-driving). 

2.4. Road Safety Targets 

The following general targets have been set at the National Road Safety Plan 2021-2030 of 
Croatia: 

•  By 2030, a 50% reduction in fatalities compared to 2019 (from 297 to 148) 

•  By 2030, a 50% reduction in fatal crashes compared to 2019 (from 279 to 139) 

•  By 2030, a 50% reduction in crashes resulting in serious injuries compared to 2019 

(from 2,213 to 1,106) 

In addition to the above general targets, the Republic of Croatia sets the following targets: 

Table 5.2: National road safety targets  

Nr of serious road crashes 

Safe speed 

Not driving under the influence of alcohol, 
drugs and medicines 

Safe driving 

Safety of motorcyclists and moped riders 

Prevention of distracted driving 

Active transport modes 

Professional drivers 

Safety devices in vehicles 

Safe infrastructure 

Safe vehicles 

Fast and efficient emergency services 

Increased capacity of the traffic police and 
inspection services 

2019 
(Baseline) 

Target 2029 

429 

92 

959 

673 

274 

797 

349 

214 

46 

479 

335 

137 

398 

174 

The potential expressed through other targets that should 
be achieved in order to meet the potentials of all areas of 
action. 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.5. Road Safety Measures 

A  total  of  190  activities  categorised  into  71  measures  and  thirteen  areas  of  action  are 
included in the National Road Safety Plan of Croatia2.  

Table 5.3: Road safety fields of actions and number of measures  

Field of Actions 

Measures 

Activities 

1.  Safe Speed 
2.  Not  driving  under  the  influence  of  alcohol,  drugs 

and medicines 

3.  Safe driving 

4.  Prevention of distracted driving 

5.  Safety of active transport modes 

6.  Safety of motorcyclists and moped riders 

7.  Safety of professional drivers 

8.  Safety devices in vehicles 

9.  Safe infrastructure 

10.  Safe vehicles 

11.  Fast and efficient emergency services 
12.  Increased  capacity  of 
inspection services 

the 

traffic  police  and 

13.  Database and data collection 

Total 

3.  Road Safety Progress 

3.1. Road Safety Outcomes 

8 

3 

7 

3 

7 

3 

3 

2 

15 

8 

5 

4 

3 

71 

22 

8 

21 

9 

21 

7 

7 

4 

33 

18 

15 

14 

11 

190 

Based on data for 2024, Croatia ranked 24th out of the 27 EU countries in terms of the lowest 
numbers of fatalities per million inhabitants. In fact, 62 road fatalities per million inhabitants 
were recorded that year, which is substantially higher than the EU average (45).  

2 https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages//2022/06//NPSCP%2021-30_engl.pdf 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 5.1 Mortality rates by country, 2024  

Sources: CARE database on road crashes; population data from Eurostat (online data code demo_pjan). 

Compared to 2019, which is the baseline year for the target 2030 set in the Plan, a decrease of 
20% in road fatalities compared was recorded in 2024. Thus, Croatia appears to be  close to 
meeting the 2030 target of halving road fatalities. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of 
serious injuries increased by 30%.  

Figure 5.2 Road fatalities and target 2030  
(Source CARE database) 3 

However, based on the latest available data, Croatia does not appear to be close to meeting the 
remaining two targets of the Plan, with the observed number of crashes resulting in fatalities 
and serious injuries being higher than the target values in 2024. 

3 It is noted that the global COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the CARE data for 2020 and 2021 for many 
European countries. Traffic volumes dropped sharply during the pandemic due to traffic restrictions, which was 
associated with a significant drop in road traffic crashes and fatalities. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 5.4: Monitoring of road safety targets  

1.  Number 

of 

road 
resulting in fatalities 
road 

of 

2.  Number 

crashes 

crashes 

resulting in serious injuries 

2019 
(Baseline) 

Target 2024  

Observed 
2024 

Difference 

279 

2,213 

215 

1,710 

219 

2,894 

+4 

+1,184 

Compared to the EU average, the distribution of fatalities in Croatia shows a relatively high 
proportion of fatalities on urban roads, especially for passenger car occupants4. In fact, 53% of 
road fatalities and 71% of serious injuries occurred in road crashes inside urban areas in 2024. 

An overview of the evolution of road fatalities and serious injuries during the period 2019-
2024 is provided below for specific types of roads, crashes and road users. In Croatia, road 
fatalities  declined  by  20%,  with  the  highest  decrease  being  recorded  for  fatalities  in  single 
vehicle crashes (60%). On the other hand, the highest increases were recorded in fatalities on 
motorways, in multi vehicle crashes and PTW fatalities over the same period.  

The number of serious injuries increased by 30% over the period 2019-2024. They increased 
in  all  categories  examined  below,  except  single  vehicle  crashes.  The  highest  increase  was 
recorded in serious injuries on motorways.  

Table 5.5: Evolution of road fatalities, 2019-2024 

Fatalities 

2019 

2024 

Total road fatalities 

Inside urban areas 

Outside urban areas 

Motorways 

Single vehicle crashes 

Multi vehicle crashes 

Car occupants 

PTW riders 

Cyclists 

Pedestrians 

297 

164 

115 

18 

102 

153 

141 

55 

16 

61 

239 

126 

84 

29 

41 

187 

98 

71 

11 

40 

%  
in 2024 
- 

% change 
2019-2024 
-20% 

53% 

35% 

12% 

17% 

78% 

41% 

30% 

5% 

17% 

-23% 

-27% 

+61% 

-60% 

+22% 

-30% 

+29% 

-31% 

-34% 

4  European  Commission  (2023),  Country  Profile  Croatia.  Road  Safety  Observatory.  Brussels,  European 
Commission, Directorate General for Transport. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 5.6: Evolution of serious injuries, 2019-2024 

Serious Injuries 

Total serious injuries 

Inside urban areas 

Outside urban areas 

Motorways 

Single vehicle crashes 

Multi vehicle crashes 

Passenger cars 

PTWs 

Cycles 

Pedestrians 

2019 

2,488 

1,812 

622 

54 

805 

1,366 

989 

639 

269 

421 

2024 

3,238 

2,312 

731 

195 

798 

2,199 

1,227 

913 

336 

431 

%  
in 2024 

% change 
2019-2024 

- 

71% 

23% 

6% 

25% 

68% 

38% 

28% 

10% 

13% 

+30% 

+28% 

+18% 

+261% 

-1% 

+61% 

+24% 

+43% 

+25% 

+2% 

3.2. Road Safety Performance Indicators 

The use of seat-belts in Croatia is considerably lower than the EU average. Also, the passenger 
car fleet of Croatia is older than the average European. 

Table 5.7: Road Safety Performance Indicators, 2022 – 2025 (Source: ERSO, Country 
Profiles) 

Speeding5 
% of passenger cars travelling within speed limits a 

Motorways 
Rural Roads 
Urban Roads 

Seat belt & CRS use rates (%) a*,b 

Front 
Rear 
Child restraint systems (roadside observations) 
Child restraint systems (in-vehicle inspections) 

Helmet use rates (%) a 

PTW driver 
PTW passenger 
Cyclist 

DUI of Alcoholc 
(self-reported) 

% of car drivers who have driven at least once in the 
last 30 days over the legal limit 

Driver Distraction a 

% of drivers not using hand-held mobile 
device/phone while driving 

Croatia 

EU 

2022 

2025 

2022 

2025 

- 
- 
- 

81.0 
36.0 
- 
/ 

- 
- 
- 

- 

- 

45.0 
65.0 
- 

91.7 
22.3 
82.4 
/ 

99.5 
99.3 
11.8 

- 
- 
- 

93.1 
75.3 
67.0 
- 

97.0 
94.4 
37.8 

- 
- 
- 

92.4 
69.9 
83.3 
- 

97.6 
97.0 
34.5 

- 

11.8 

11.8 

94.4 

94.8 

94.5 

5 An EU average is not available for speeding, due to different legal speed limits among countries, which does not 
allow for a straightforward comparison.  

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Croatia 

EU 

2022 

2025 

2022 

2025 

Vehicle Safety 

% of new passenger cars rated with 4 EuroNCAP 
stars and above a 
Average age of passenger car fleet (years)d 

- 

- 

14.8 

13.4 

83.6 

12.3 

82.7 

12.5 

Sources: a Baseline and Trendline projects, b ETSC (2022), c ESRA3 project (2024), d ACEA (2024, 2025), Notes: 
*2025 data only for weekdays 

4.  Monitoring Road Safety Strategy Implementation 

4.1. Implementation Progress 

Road Safety Management 

Based on the self-reported assessment, Croatia starts from a medium level in two road safety 
areas related to Road Safety Management (National Road Safety Budget and Road Safety 
Legislation), from a low level in the area of the national road safety observatory and from a 
high level in the area of national road safety governance. In 2024, the measures related to the 
area of national road safety legislation were on track, while the implementation of the measures 
in the area of national road safety governance has been completed. No measures relative to the 
remaining two areas have been planned in Croatia. 

Table 5.8: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to road 
safety management 

B1 

Road Safety Management 

1 

2 

3 

4 

National road safety authority 

National road safety budget 

Road safety legislation 

National road safety observatory 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

high 

medium 

medium 

low 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

completed 

not applicable 

on track 

not applicable 

In Croatia, there is a dedicated road safety fund for financing activities and measures of the 
National Road Safety Plan. Also, amendments to several laws and regulations related to road 
safety are in progress.  

Safe Road User Behaviour 

In relation to the pillar of Safe Road User Behaviour, Croatia starts from a high level in almost 
all road safety areas, except education and vulnerable road users. In 2024, most of the relevant 
measures to this pillar have been completed. The measures related to education and vulnerable 
road users are on track. 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 5.9: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to road 
user behaviour 

B2 

Safe Road User Behaviour 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Enforcement 

Education 

New drivers training 

Communication campaigns 

Measures for vulnerable road users 

Measures for professional drivers 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

high 

medium 

high 

high 

medium 

high 

completed 

on track 

completed 

completed 

on track 

completed 

More specifically, the capacity of the traffic police and inspection services has increased, with 
87 speed cameras having been installed in the last three years. Regarding road safety education, 
there is a continuous education of young drivers, and education on road traffic safety principles 
is  expanded  to  driving  schools.  Concerning  campaigns,  preventive-educational  and 
promotional activities are implemented.  

Concerning safety of vulnerable road users, the Croatian Roads Ltd. has installed ITS solutions 
at identified isolated pedestrian crossings to increase pedestrian safety, including smart traffic 
lights, variable message signs, and internally illuminated traffic signs.  

Measures have also been taken to prevent drink- and drug- driving for professional drivers. 

Safe Speeds 

Regarding the Safe Speeds pillar, Croatia starts  from  a high  level  in  all  related road safety 
areas. In 2024, the implementation of all planned measures was completed.  

The update of speed limits is continuously carried out as part of projects for the treatment of 
black  spots  and  targeted  road  safety  inspections.  Concerning  speed  enforcement,  there  is  a 
continuous  supply  of  fixed,  stationary  and  portable  speed  measuring  devices,  as  well  as 
enforcement vehicles. Additionally, preventive-educational and promotional activities related 
to speeding have been carried out. Speed enforcement has been introduced on sections and sites 
with increased crash frequency. 

Table 5.10: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to safe 
speeds 

B3 

Safe Speeds 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Update of speed limits 

Enforcing speed limits 

Campaigns on speeding 

Monitoring speeding 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

high 

high 

high 

high 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

completed 

completed 

completed 

completed 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Safe Roads 

Regarding the Safe Roads pillar, based on the self-reported assessment, the baseline is high in 
two  areas  (motorways  safety  management  and  Road  safety  audits  and  inspections),  and 
medium in the remaining areas. In 2024, all measures were on track, while the implementation 
of the measures related to motorways safety management and road safety audits and inspections 
has been completed. 

Table 5.11: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to safe 
roads 

B4 

Safe Roads 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

City mobility & safety plans 

Urban infrastructure for VRUs 

Rural roads safety interventions 

Motorways safety management 

Road design standards 

Road safety audit and inspection 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 
medium 

medium 

medium 

high 

medium 

high 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 
on track 

on track 

on track 

completed 

on track 

completed 

More  specifically,  concerning  city  mobility  and  safety  plans,  focus  is  given  on  sustainable 
mobility, reducing traffic congestion, enhancing infrastructure, and ensuring safety for all road 
users. In this context, a National Bicycle Transport Development Plan has been prepared for 
the period 2023-2027. 

Among the measures related to urban infrastructure for VRUs, analyses of traffic safety levels 
in school zones on state roads using the iRAP Star Rating for Schools methodology have been 
carried out leading to proposals for safety improvements. 

Additional  measures  have  been  taken  to  increase  motorcycle  safety  on  specific  sections  of 
national roads.  

Also, guidelines have been developed for the implementation of flexible barrier systems on 
motorways and for the design, installation, and maintenance of roadside barriers. 

Regarding road safety audits and inspections, activities were carried out related to meeting the 
requirement that all newly designed roads should have a rating of at least three stars for all road 
users, depending on the road category and the anticipated traffic load by road user group. In 
Croatia, 24 road safety audits are in progress, covering project documentation, as well as audits 
during and after the completion of construction works. 

Safe Vehicles 

In relation to the pillar of Safe Vehicles, Croatia starts from a high level in all areas, except 
fleet renewal. In 2024, the implementation of all planned measures for the examined period has 
been completed.  

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 5.12: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to safe 
vehicles 

B5 

Safe Vehicles 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Fleet renewal 

Promotion of ADAS 

Technical vehicle inspection 

Automation preparation 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

medium 

high 

high 

high 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

completed 

completed 

completed 

completed 

Activities to increase the share of electric vehicles are ongoing. The Environmental Protection 
and Energy Efficiency Fund subsidises the purchase of new energy-efficient vehicles in order 
to renew and refresh the vehicle fleet. 

Additionally, educational activities are carried out on new safety systems in vehicles and how 
to use them. In this context, a brochure titled “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems for Vehicle 
Control” has been published. 

Continuous adjustments to the technical inspections of vehicles in line with developments in 
vehicle technology are made. Regulations for the technical inspection of vehicles have been 
developed in relation to fully automated vehicles. Additionally, measures are taken to prepare 
systems, processes or infrastructure for automated operations.  

Post Crash Care 

Regarding the Post-Crash Care pillar, Croatia starts from a medium level in 2021 in both road 
safety areas. All measures of this pillar are on track.  

The road traffic safety act sets out a safety passage for emergency vehicles. Promotional and 
educational  activities  are  also  carried  out  on  the importance  and  how  to  create  “emergency 
corridors” in case of road incidents.  

Table 5.13: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to post 
crash care 

B6 

Post Crash Care 

1 

2 

Reduce EMS reaction time 

Support people injured 

4.2. Best Practices 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

medium 

medium 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

on track 

on track 

A series of best practices are available for Croatia. The evaluation of their effectiveness on 
road safety results is in progress. 

Road Safety Management 

•  The Road Traffic Safety Act was passed and decrees were developed for the technical 

inspection of vehicles in relation to fully automated vehicles. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Safe Road User Behaviour 

•  87 speed cameras installed in the last 3 years.  
•  Expansion of education on road traffic safety principles in driving schools. 
•  Primary school competition "Safe in traffic". 
•  Croatian  Roads  Ltd.  has  installed  ITS  solutions  at  identified  isolated  pedestrian 
crossings to increase pedestrian safety including: smart traffic lights, variable message 
signs, and internally illuminated traffic signs. 

Safe Speeds 

•  Analysis  of  road  safety  levels  in  school  zones  on  national  roads  throughout  Croatia 
using  the  iRAP  Star  Rating  for  Schools  methodology,  with  proposals  for  safety 
improvements. 
Introducing speed enforcement on sections and sites with increased crash frequency. 

• 

Safe Roads 

•  National Bicycle Transport Development Plan for the period 2023-2027. 
•  Additional measures have been taken to increase motorcycle safety on the section of 
national road DC8 from Senj to Lukovo Šugarje (12 locations), as well as on national 
road DC25 (location 'Takalice') and on national roads DC32 and DC66 (10 locations) 
•  24 road safety audits are underway, covering project documentation, as well as audits 

during and after the construction works. 

Safe Vehicles 

•  The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund is subsidizing the purchase 
of new energy-efficient vehicles in order to renew and rejuvenate the vehicle fleet. 
•  A Brochure titled 'Advanced Driver Assistance Systems for Vehicle Control' has been 

published. 

•  Ordinances on the technical inspection of vehicles were developed in relation to fully 

automated vehicles. 

5.  Conclusions and Recommendations 

In  the  National  Road  Safety  Plan  of  Croatia,  the  target  of  halving  the  number  of  road 
fatalities by 2030 compared to 2019 has been set. Also, the targets of halving the number of 
crashes  resulting  in  fatalities  and  serious  injuries  compared  to  2019  have  been  defined.  In 
addition  to  the  above  general  targets,  Croatia  has  set  12  additional  targets.  A  total  of  190 
activities categorised into 71 measures and 13 areas of action are included in the National Road 
Safety Plan. 

In 2024, Croatia, with 62 road fatalities per million inhabitants, ranked 24th out of the 27 EU 
countries  in  terms  of  road  mortality.  Compared  to  the  EU  average,  the  distribution  of 
fatalities in Croatia showed a relatively high proportion of fatalities on urban roads, especially 
for passenger car occupants. 

However, between 2019 and 2024, a decrease of 20% in road fatalities was recorded, indicating 
that Croatia is almost on track towards meeting the 2030 target of halving the number of 
road fatalities. On the other hand, the number of serious injuries increased by 30% over the 
period 2019-2024. Based on the latest available data for 2024, Croatia is not on track to meet 

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the  remaining  two  targets  set  in  the  plan,  with  the  observed  number  of  crashes  resulting  in 
fatalities and serious injuries being higher than the target values in 2024.  

Regarding the implementation of the road safety actions foreseen in the national road safety 
action plan for the period 2021-2024, based on the self-reported assessment, there is a smooth 
implementation flow without any particular gaps being reported. The implementation of the 
measures in 15 areas has been completed and measures in 9 areas are on track.   

Finally,  progress  in  the  implementation  of  the  foreseen  actions  is  well  on  track,  which  is 
reflected in the evolution of the number of fatalities. However, Croatia still remains one of the 
countries with  the highest  fatality rates in  the EU and more efforts  are  needed to  reach the 
additional general targets set. Possible ways to address this could be:  

• 

reviewing the degree of implementation of the actions and consider reinforcing the road 
safety measures accordingly, 

•  exploring  any  other  relevant  activities  with  emphasis  on  urban  road  infrastructure, 

vulnerable road users and post-crash care. 

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