Kosovo: ICITAP Assistance Leads to Drop in Traffic Fatalities

On January 4, ICITAP met with the Kosovo Police (KP) Director of Traffic to review traffic statistics from 2018 in comparison to 2017 stats. Overall, there was a reduction in total traffic accidents with fewer people killed and injured in 2018 as compared to the previous year. In fact, traffic accidents decreased in all categories during 2018. Traffic Safety was declared a national priority in 2018 with a call to action by the Minister of Internal Affairs. ICITAP advisors participated along with representatives from the KP Traffic Division, Traffic Engineers, the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Infrastructure, the Association of Driving Schools, and the Association of Motor Vehicle Studies and Kosovo Universities in a number of round table discussions and working groups for the purpose of identifying, proposing and implementing effective strategies to reduce traffic accidents. In 2018, public education was a key component in the accident reduction strategy utilizing all forms of public and social media to get the message out. Police officers also presented traffic safety programs to students in schools throughout Kosovo.