THE CAMPAIGN "DRIVE FRESH - TAKE A BREAK EVERY TWO HOURS" LAUNCHED

The campaign "Drive fresh" aimed at domestic drivers, as well as drivers passing through Serbia in transit, with the aim of reducing the number of traffic accidents caused by driver fatigue during the summer, started on July 7, 2025, with a joint media conference in Belgrade.

The campaign has been implemented for nine years, from July to mid-September, and will include the joint activities of partners - the Ministry of Interior, Traffic Police Administration, the Traffic Safety Agency (ABS), PE "Roads of Serbia", the Automobile Association of Serbia (AMSS), the Tourist Organization of Serbia and the company "EKO Serbia".

The slogan of the campaign "Drive fresh - take a break every two hours" clearly speaks of the goal of the campaign - increasing traffic safety, reducing the number of accidents and casualties during the summer, when the number of accidents and casualties in traffic has significantly increased due to fatigue.

Acting director of the Agency for Traffic Safety Branko Stamatović pointed out that last year in Serbia, during the summer, we had 175 fatalities in traffic accidents and that almost two people lost their lives every day, which means that the summer months represents risky months for driving. "According to statistics, Stamatović said, we have 207 fatalities in the first six months of last year, and another 307 in the second half of the year."

According to Stamatović, a special brochure has been prepared, also available in electronic form, with information on how the driver can recognize the symptoms of fatigue, how to react in order to safely continue and complete the trip. He appealed to drivers not to use mobile phones while driving, avoid driving at night and fasten their seat belts.

The head of the Department for Public Relations of PE "Putevi Srbije" Ljerka Ibrović emphasized that it is important to appeal to citizens to be careful and make sure to take a break every two hours. "On the highways in Serbia, we have more than 85 parking lots and more than 65 gas stations with rest areas and restaurants, where drivers can rest, take a break, refresh themselves and then continue their journey", Ibrović pointed out.

PE "Roads of Serbia", as part of its activities in the campaign, will place inscriptions and campaign slogan – "Drive fresh, take a break every two hours" on all VMS portals (portals with changeable traffic signals), in accordance with traffic dynamics on the road network of Serbia, taking into account the state of the roads, traffic accidents, road works and everything that a driver may encounter while driving, stated Ljerka Ibrović.

She emphasized that the campaign is being implemented together with partners and that it is the inter-institutional cooperation and synergy of all participants that speaks of the importance of traffic safety and such actions.

The Director of the Commercial Affairs Sector of AMSS Nebojša Mandić stated that AMSS has been participating in a series of joint activities for years, that they are at the service of drivers 24 hours a day, that good travel preparation is of key importance. Mandic appealed to drivers to increase their responsibility behind the wheel.

The Assistant Director of the Tourist Organization of Serbia,Vesna Zlatić, stated that under the slogan "Experience Serbia", TOS promotes and presents Serbia as a tourist destination, noting that in this process it is important to think about where tourists can rest, with recommendations and suggestions on how to break the trip for a short time and at the same time experience the beauty of Serbia.

With the note that every life is precious, that every mistake in traffic can cause fatal consequences, the message of all participants in the media conference of the "Drive rested" campaign is that everyone, as partners, will continue to make efforts together and contribute to the increase of traffic culture and safety of all traffic participants through such actions.

You can view the statements of the participants in the press conference at the link


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