Mate Announces Concerted Approach to Road Safety

Ljubljana, 12 February

Presenting the key goals of the Interior Ministry and the police force for 2008, minister Dragutin Mate told the press on Tuesday that the ministry wished to see the death toll on Slovenian roads drop beneath the 2006 level, when traffic accidents claimed 262 lives.

Mate deems it very important that the police has begun to adapt its operations to new challenges in traffic. Thus the police force will continue this year to upgrade the national network of speed cameras.
"I hope that at least half of the casings, if not all of them, will be filled with stationary speed cameras, which would enable better control of the motorway network," the interior minister announced.
The police will meanwhile focus its activities on those causing accidents with the most tragic outcomes; drivers who are speeding and drivers who are operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol or other prohibited substances, Mate added.
A substantial increase in the road accident death toll figure was recorded in Slovenia in 2007, with the number of people killed in accidents rising to 292. 19 people have died in road accident so far this year.
The ministry moreover wants to see an increase in the share of criminal act successfully solved, saying that the figure was already up to 43.3% in 2007 compared to 40.9% in 2006.
According to Mate, the Slovenian police will also continue cooperating with police forces in neighbouring countries, especially those in the Western Balkans.
"This is a key priority when it comes to preventing illegal migration, organised crime and drugs and weapons smuggling on the so-called Balkan route," Mate explained.
He also announced several practical improvements for the citizens, including a credit card-sized driving license and multi-use ID card, which will enable "citizens to combine several documents in one".
According to Mate, the ministry also plans to further increase the effectiveness of inspections and strive to achieve greater efficiency in public tenders.

Mate Announces Concerted Approach to Road Safety

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