Croatian Automobile Club launches school-season road safety campaigns

As the new school year begins, the Croatian Automobile Club (HAK) and local authorities have launched safety initiatives to protect young pedestrians. In Čakovec, the Međimurje Police Administration, in collaboration with the Čakovec Automobile Club and local government, is conducting the “Respect Our Signs 2026” and “Safe to School with HAK” campaigns.

The program targets first-grade students through lectures and practical exercises on traffic polygons. These sessions teach children how to navigate pedestrian crossings, use traffic lights, and behave safely around signals. To support this, reflective backpacks are being distributed to students in the region.

HAK has issued a broader warning to drivers, noting that children are among the most vulnerable road users due to limited fields of vision and unpredictable behavior. The club urges motorists to reduce speed near schools and pedestrian crossings and to avoid distractions like mobile phones. Additionally, HAK highlighted concerns regarding child passenger safety, noting that nearly half of parents do not use appropriate car seats, which significantly increases injury risks during collisions.