Head of the Slovenian Traffic Police Ivan Kapun said that there were two fatalities caused by wrong-way driving in 2014. Both drivers responsible for the deaths were driving under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, wrong-way driving is often caused by mental or other health issues, and rarely by negligence.

AMZS (Slovenian Automobile Association) secretary general Robert Štaba said that driving under the influence remains a serious problem. Head of the Traffic Technical Institute Peter Lipar meanwhile noted that studies from the US show there is nothing that could be done about drunk or drugged wrong-way drivers. Instead, other road users had to be alerted to these dangers. Speed traps and induction loops were said to be the best solution.

Štaba also stressed that there are many elderly drivers on the road. Head of the Department for Prevention and Education in Road Safety at the Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency Vesna Marinko said that there is nothing wrong with that per se, since older drivers tend to be more experienced. However, functional impairments, e.g. declining mental and physical ability, are a problem. The agency recently designed a program to address this issue.

How to react to a wrong-way driver
Driving instructor Brane Legan gave instructions on how to react if a wrong-way driver is headed your way. It is important for road users to recognize that something is going on, which is why they need to be focussed. Listening to traffic reports on the radio is also recommended. As soon as they notice a wrong-way driver, they should slow down and pull over to the right lane or to the shoulder of the motorway.

Wrong-way drivers face fines of 1200 euros and 18 penalty points. Head of the Transport Association at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce Robert Sever said that road incidents are also bad for the economy. Every minute idling in a traffic jam costs a truck driver 1.73 euros.

G. C.; translated by D. V.