Cyclists are not required to wear a helmet, use a cellphone or headset

According to the Law on Basics of Road Traffic Safety in BiH, which officially came into force on February 15, cyclists who do not respect the old and new articles of the law will face fines of 30 to 50 KM. The new law, among other things, prohibits the transport of a person under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive substances, the use of a cellphone and a headset in his ears, but permits driving without a helmet.

Some of the regulations have not been approved by cyclists who believe that the Act has been amended to make many people give upcycling and that some of them are not clearly defined.

By law, it is strictly forbidden to release the steering wheel from your hands, except in the case of announcing a change of direction, then removing the foot from the pedal, holding on to another vehicle, guiding or pushing other vehicles or animals, carrying objects that may interfere with steering, wearing headphones on both ear or use of mobile phones.

"Pedaling was put down and not sufficiently clarified, but it was probably thought that riding a bicycle was not a reckless act that could put the rider or other road users in danger. We put comments and remarks on the headset and mobile phone because it was, for example, car drivers allowed to use their phones if they use hands-free devices, while cyclists are not allowed to do so. Listening to music affects the collection of information when driving while in traffic and is justified, "Tihomir Dakic of the Environmental Center told Klix.ba Banja Luka.

One of the new regulations that have previously only been generally treated is the transportation of a person under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive substances.

"We think this provision is rigid. It is certainly not necessary to promote the use of alcohol and cycling, but it is still more useful for people to go on a bicycle than a car when they have had a glass more. That is, if you have a drink, your balance center is under influence and you are not able to ride a bicycle, the problem is that many in such a condition can drive motor vehicles on the roads and this is a real danger, "our interlocutor points out.

Wearing a bicycle helmet is optional, but the BiH Road Safety Basics Law prohibits the carriage of a child under eight without a helmet buttoned on and a special seat adapted to the child's age.

"Now all cyclists can decide whether or not to wear a helmet. This item has adversely affected the popularity of using a bicycle as a means of transport and has not in any way diminished the causes of road accidents that have had to be worked on at all times. "We believe that for rural areas, but also citizens of poorer financial standing, and that is quite a number in BiH, there is still a noun to set aside up to a hundred convertible marks for this allowance and the police should keep that in mind," Dakic points out.

Another obstacle that, according to the Environmental Center, lies between man and bike is the mandatory use of a reflective vest, which ensures adequate visibility in the period from dusk to dusk, as well as in case of reduced visibility during the day.

"In the first law passed in 2006, light-reflecting vests with reflective tape were not even mentioned, so that by 2010 they would be put as the only option and required to be worn by all cyclists. Thus, this provision greatly discouraged cyclists. especially in urban areas, where many people who were biking to work, to the theater, to the city, did not want to ride a bicycle but went by car or on foot. This year, we insisted on adding a section that describes retro-reflective equipment that increases the visibility of cyclists. especially when it comes to lateral visibility. This extension makes it easier to select equipment that is more affordable and easier to use on the market, encouraging people to use as much equipment as possible and be visible without affecting their comfort," he said.

The Giro di Sarajevo Association also notes that electric bicycles are now counted as bicycles if their rated power is no more than 0.25 kilowatts and if the speed does not exceed 25 km / h, which is a limit for cycle paths.

What to check on the car before the trip

Traveling at the peak of the highway can also be tedious and dangerous. If you find yourself in a column, do not lose your nerve, and at the first signs of fatigue, turn to rest and rest.

Both the driver and the car must be ready for the trip. A conscientious driver does not become overnight, it is worth doing. Realize that your car is not an impenetrable fortress on wheels and that you are not resistant to fatigue or injury. Observe traffic regulations and think about possible moves by other road users. Seeing someone else's mistake in time can save your life. Always fasten your seat belt and make sure passengers are also tied.

This is especially true for children who have to wear a seat belt in an adequate safety seat, depending on the age of the child. Also, insist that the rear seat belt is also attached to the seat belt. In the event of a car accident - even at city speeds - unbound passengers in the rear bench are flying uncontrollably in the cabin, causing serious injury to the driver and front passenger. Also, they can fall out of the car in an accident.

Maintain your car regularly throughout the year to keep it in good working order, and a long check is recommended before a longer trip. If you do not want to or cannot do it yourself, have it serviced. But a lot of things on the vehicle each driver should be able to control himself. This is primarily meant to control the engine oil level, to supplement the level of the windscreen washer fluid, to control the coolant, and the condition of the tires and the pressure in them. The ideal oil level should be between the markings on the dipstick. Just in case, put a spare liter of engine oil in the boot, as your car could consume more oil than usual when traveling long. Due to the sometimes turbulent weather and the sudden heavy summer showers, check the condition of the wipers.

During summer trips, the possibility of vehicle overheating should be taken into account. If overheating occurs, it is important to respond promptly. Stop the vehicle immediately and switch off the engine to cool down. Do not spray cold water on the car engine immediately after stopping, they advise at the Croatian Vehicle Center, as this could cause even more damage. However, to avoid overheating, make sure your cooling system is properly filled with a mixture of coolant and water before traveling. Check the tires. Tire pressures should be by the pressures given in the vehicle booklet or on one of the labels on the vehicle. Too little tire pressure increases their wear and fuel consumption, and too much pressure increases the risk of bursting due to the subsequent increase in pressure due to high temperatures. It is also good to check the condition of the air conditioner before the trip.

Before traveling, make sure you have the necessary safety equipment in your car. Safety equipment includes a reflective safety vest, safety triangle, spare bulbs and wheel, and a first aid box. The reversing vests must be sufficient for all occupants of the vehicle, and the triangle and first aid must be at hand when stacking things in the car, be careful not to cover the triangle and the first aid box. When you have completed these reworks, determine which route is most effective for you to reach.

Although tolling is a significant item in planning travel expenses, the freeway is in principle a safer and faster choice. Traveling at the peak of the highway can also be tedious and dangerous. If you find yourself in a column, do not lose your nerve, and at the first signs of fatigue, turn to rest and rest.

We replaced the car with a tram and scooter. Here's the result.

Do you know the road rules for scooter riding?

According to the competent authorities, the most stressful traffic situation in the cities is when people move from cars to public transport or use some other options in the form of sharing bicycles or scooters.

We have decided to support this idea in our test and find out what is the fastest way of transportation. We made less competition between an electric scooter and public transport. We chose from the outskirts of Bratislava towards the city center, but how it turned out in our video.

However, we have one more important thing to pay attention to. The electric scooter is not (yet) included in the legislation, but according to the police there are certain rules for such a scooter:

"A person who is on a scooter is considered to be a pedestrian under the Road Traffic Act, so the scooter is subject to the same rules for pedestrians on the pavement and the road. a scooter walking along the side of the road or on the edge of the road visibly placed reflective materials or dressed reflective safety clothing," says Michal Slivka, a spokesman for the Presidium of the Police Corps.

"A person moving on a sidewalk on a scooter, but also skates and skateboards, or similar sports equipment, may use the right side of the sidewalk, without endangering or restricting other persons using the sidewalk. on sports equipment, a scooter moving on a scooter with an auxiliary electric motor is obliged to use such a path, "concludes Slivka.

Police will hand out hundreds of thousands of reflective tapes

The police will hand out 100,000 reflective tapes to pedestrians next week. It will help them avoid fine.

Pedestrians must wear reflective elements or clothing with reflective elements under reduced visibility. This obligation applies not only outside the commune but also in the commune if they follow the road or road edge.

"Otherwise, pedestrians are invisible and run the risk of colliding with a vehicle, or at best a penalty of up to € 30," said Denisa Balogh, a spokeswoman for the police presidium.

What are reflective and fluorescent materials

Reflective or retro-reflective materials are special materials that can reflect incident light up to a distance of 200 meters.

Reflective material can be seen at night three times longer than white clothing and more than ten times greater than blue clothing.

Fluorescent materials increase visibility in daylight and dusk but lose their function in the dark. The most common colors are bright yellow, green and orange.

Police call for thoughtfulness

During the nine months of this year, police dealt with 808 pedestrian-related accidents, in which 42 died.

A driver who does not see a person on the road in time cannot react quickly enough and avoid it safely.

"Many accidents could have been avoided if drivers or pedestrians adhered to the known traffic rules. Only if we all respect each other and respect each other considerably will our movement on the road or sidewalk be safe," the police spokeswoman warned.

Police will teach pedestrians, in addition to giving away reflective strips, about regulations that will help them to increase their safety on the road next week. They will attend kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. According to Balogh, they will not miss seniors.

Visibility can be enhanced by the appropriate color of clothing and accessories made of fluorescent and reflective materials to increase your light contrast to the background. This will increase the distance the driver can see you.

The combination of different, far-visible materials allows you to see you well in the light and the dark. Reflective vests, interlocking and elastic reflective strips, and multi-colored reflective stickers are available.

Use reflective elements on the side of the body that faces the road, not the side. Place them close to your knees, belt level, or shoulder (cyclists also wearing helmets and bikes). Reflective stickers can be attached to shoe soles, bicycles, skates, helmets, scooters, school bags, crutches or strollers.

Provide children with clothing as well as school bags and accessories equipped with reflective and fluorescent safety features.

Older people should also be made visible. According to the police, they often prefer to wear bold dark colors. "Their reactions on the road are often weakened by older age," Balogh pointed out, adding that the combination of dark clothing, inattention, and alcohol is particularly dangerous.

Exercise caution when walking at the edge of the road and when crossing the road, especially in unlit areas or where there is no footpath

Drivers should also be vigilant and attentive, especially in areas with increased pedestrian movement. Especially around schools, shopping centers, cemeteries and the like.

There was a bus failure on the expressway near Nitra

One lane on the R1 expressway in front of Nitra was closed this morning for more than an hour. The reason was the failure of the bus, which was driving kindergartens from Plekanec.

A passing driver alerted the weaned bus. "He called us at the Traffic Monitoring Center on the toll-free line 0800 333 333," said Robert Kišš, a spokesman for Granvia Operation.

The caretaker sent a patrol to the site, creating a safe zone around the bus. "After the details, we called the police and the towing service."

Police provided a replacement bus that transported the nurseries to the Selenec administration and maintenance center. Originally, they were aimed at a theater performance in Nitra, but they would not be able to catch it anymore.

The substitute program was taken care of by travelers, firefighters, and police. They were reminded of technology and vehicles. "We took them to the camera surveillance room and gave them reflective tapes with the PR1BINA road logo in memory," Robert Kišš said.

Eventually, the children settled in a conference room and let them play a fairy tale. "They spent about three hours with us and then, with a substitute bus, they happily made their way from the unplanned destination of their trip back to the kindergarten in Pukanec."

The mechanic from the maintenance center helped repair the broken bus, which came back a little later.

The section of the road where the vehicle broke down this morning is not within the scope of the cameras that monitor R1. The driver who reported the event on the toll-free line helped the schoolchildren.

"We are glad that we could have kept the children safe and we did not leave them on the road," said Kišš.

Police warn: Wear reflective elements

It is darker in the morning and fogs are more common. Early evening is getting darker. The roads are wet, slippery and soon fallen leaves will appear on them.

"Pedestrians should also be more careful. Dark clothing may be stylish, but certainly not safe," said Presidium spokeswoman Denisa Balogh.

Frequent rain, fog, later dawn, and early sunset can be a source of accidents.

"All road users should think about it and take extra care after the summer cool. Drivers should take their foot off the gas and, especially on a wet road, maintain greater spacing between vehicles. The braking distance is prolonged. Drivers should check the lighting, the fog lights help, but if there is no reason to use them, they should be turned off, dazzling."

Beware of people traveling

Trees growing along the road often attract collectors. Especially when traveling between villages, children run around, there are comfortable bicycles and various darts.

"Drivers should be cautious on such sections. Collectors use reflective clothing and think that when they collide with a car, they are the more vulnerable and the consequences can be fatal."

Last ride on a motorcycle

The last nice days are used by motorcyclists to ride the country. However, the fallen leaves and the wet road can forever end their carefree ride.

"Like pedestrians or cyclists, they are among the most vulnerable on the road. Although they are legally obliged to be illuminated and have reflective elements on them, few of the cyclists do this. They often drive on the wrong side of the road, side by side, and alcohol is also common."

According to the police, using reflective tapes is better than in the past. Contributed to this amendment to the law, which made pedestrians obliged to have reflective materials in reduced visibility.

"Many pedestrians still don't think about their safety and risk their lives. Especially older people prefer to wear dark colors. They don't realize that the driver often sees them when it's too late."

Since the beginning of the year, the police have registered 9434 traffic accidents resulting in the loss of 173 persons, including 97 drivers and passengers, 23 motorcyclists, 41 pedestrians and 12 cyclists.

Are you going on holiday? We advise what to check

If you are going on a long trip by car, you should not just think about whether you have packed everything essential. Also, check the car before long journeys. But not only the condition of the mixture in the wipers or the oil level.

"One of the primary things should have been checking the condition of the tires, for example. First of all, check the correct density for a fully-loaded vehicle. If your car does not have a spare wheel, make sure you also have a repair kit,"

Adds ten hints to follow in the last minute car check.

1. Check all car liquids

Before traveling, check not only the windscreen washer mixture but also the oil and coolant level.

You never know when you get into a car column, or you'll have to wipe dirt off the glass now and then.

However, if you do not go completely out of civilization, you can also buy a mixture and other liquids at petrol stations at stops.

2.Wiper wipers

Once you have checked that you have enough washer mixture, do not bypass the wiper performance test.

Think of attaching them to you at the wrong time, hundreds of miles from home, on the road at high speed, one of them did not fly away.

Check also how they wipe. They should not bounce on the window in the rain instead of wiping the water or otherwise create smudges. To prevent yourself from seeing anything through the windscreen.

3.Brakes and the shock absorbers

If the car has not undergone its spring cleaning and thorough service check, check the condition of its brakes (brake pads, pads) and the shock absorbers. Especially if you go on a long ride in the style of "safari", where the brakes and shock absorbers get to work.

However, most new vehicles have to wear signals and should alert you to problems.

Thus, on less demanding routes, the car should still have sufficient thickness to travel from, despite the brake pad wear indication.

4. Reserve them

When checking the car at the last minute, do not miss the correct tire density. This should be set to a fully-loaded car.

The condition of the spare wheel must also be checked. If your car doesn't have one, you shouldn't miss a "repair kit".

5.Light lights

Before traveling, check not only the lighting function but also the replacement bulbs. Nothing is pleasant when lighting fails in an unfamiliar environment.

6. Does air conditioning work?

Haven't used air conditioning yet? On a long journey by car and baking, the sun can meet.

You should test its functionality before traveling and have it repaired by a workshop if necessary. In order not to happen, you will only be a beauty during your long holiday trip.

7. First aid kit, the vest is?

First aid kit, reflective vests with reflective tapes, but also a warning triangle. These are safety accessories that the driver should always have at hand.

Before traveling, check not only their condition and location. In the case of reflective jackets, check in advance whether the number of passengers or special color is required in the countries on the route.

For example, when traveling through Austria to Italy or Croatia, the driver also fines if he has no reflective vest with him.

8. Pass and numbers do you have?

When you check the validity of your passports before you travel, also check your current assistance services and Slovak offices in the countries where you will be traveling.

The assistance service should be available 24/7 in any country. Of course, it depends on the agreed conditions with the insurance company or the car dealer.

And be sure to include the accident report form in case you crash.

9. Insurance is equipped?

When checking documents, do not overlook the validity of the green card, which confirms international liability insurance.

Especially when entering countries outside the EU, they may not even let you into the country without it.

10.The destination you know?

Before you make a long trip, find out possible destinations where you could spend the night if necessary, or places you could visit during a regular break.

Drivers, especially night travelers with children, should not go on a long journey without a few hours of sleep.

During the journey, regular breaks may help, preferably at 2-hour intervals.

Another alternative to diversify your holiday is to divide the long journey into one or more stops with overnight accommodation in an interesting area you are walking through.