Serbia reports rise in alcohol and drug-related driving offenses

Traffic authorities in Serbia report a significant rise in driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. During July, police removed 2,169 drivers from the road for alcohol-related offenses or refusing tests, while 119 others were removed for operating vehicles under the influence of narcotics.

Ilija Smiljanić, chief inspector of the Police Unit for Traffic Safety, noted a 33% increase in these types of offenses compared to the previous year. Alcohol-related driving resulted in 119 accidents, with 56 cases involving blood alcohol concentrations exceeding 1.5 grams per kilogram. Additionally, 659 drivers were sanctioned between January and July for driving while under a license suspension.

Experts suggest that despite repeated legal amendments to increase penalties since 2012, the deterrent effect remains insufficient. Proposed solutions to curb the trend include the implementation of speed limiters and advanced devices to detect driver impairment.