School safety initiatives in Slovenia and Croatia

Authorities in Slovenia and Croatia have initiated various safety measures and campaigns to protect students as the new academic year approaches.

In Slovenia, the Traffic Safety Agency launched the ‘Varno v šolo’ (Safe to School) campaign to increase driver awareness of vulnerable young pedestrians. This follows statistics showing that 290 children under 14 were involved in traffic accidents by mid-August, resulting in one death and 21 serious injuries. To support this, the agency is distributing reflective markers and deploying volunteers to monitor school routes. In the Municipality of Velenje, transport routes are being adjusted due to infrastructure repairs and landslides, including the use of smaller 40-seat buses.

In Croatia, safety efforts have expanded to include educational programs for students. In Čakovec, the Međimurje Police Administration, the Čakovec Automobile Club, and local government are conducting the ‘Respect Our Signs 2026’ and ‘Safe to School with HAK’ campaigns. These initiatives target first-grade students through lectures and practical exercises on traffic polygons to teach safe navigation of crossings and signals. Reflective backpacks are also being distributed in the region.

Complementing these efforts, the Osijek-Baranja County Police Administration and the Croatian Vehicle Center have been conducting ‘Days of Technical Correctness of Buses for School Children’s Transport’ to ensure vehicle safety. Meanwhile, the Croatian Automobile Club (HAK) has issued warnings to motorists regarding limited driver visibility and unpredictable child behavior, urging reduced speeds near schools. HAK also noted a safety concern regarding child passenger protection, stating that nearly half of parents do not use appropriate car seats.