Czech police boost road‑safety checks for summer holiday travel

The Ministry of Transport and the Czech Police announced intensified traffic‑safety actions for the start of the summer holiday period. Police patrols will focus on the country’s main traffic corridors and popular tourist spots, with temporary information boards displaying reminders such as “Observe speed limits”, “Keep distance” and “Don’t use a phone while driving”. First Deputy Police President Tomáš Lerch warned that inattentiveness accounts for about one‑fifth of crashes, and that motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians are especially vulnerable.

Road‑work schedules are being adjusted to minimise disruption. Major repairs on highways D1, D5, D2 and key junctions will be shifted from the busiest weekend days to weekdays, and temporary lane reductions will be limited to short periods. The Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD) will also keep its central tow‑dispatch service active to clear broken‑down vehicles quickly.

Local authorities are adding complementary measures. The town of Český Krumlov hired a private security firm for night patrols, while the Vysočina police organized a free “Cyclist Safety Afternoon” in Jihlava, offering helmet checks and advice on visibility. A police campaign ahead of the holidays also reminded residents to secure homes, lock doors, avoid posting travel plans on social media and keep valuables out of sight in cars.

Overall, the coordinated effort aims to reduce the historically high summer‑holiday accident toll – an average of 87 fatalities per year in recent years – by improving driver attention, enforcing traffic rules and keeping road infrastructure functional during the peak travel weeks.