Such highway patrols exist in countries like Italy or the Netherlands. According to the Slovenian Motorway Company (DARS), more police presence is needed on Slovenia’s highways: "Highway traffic is increasing, and we see more and more traffic jams and accidents. There are visiting drivers from other countries on our motorways, especially during high season, and they are not familiar with our roads."

A total of 56 people have died on Slovenia’s roads so far this year – compared to 32 in the same period last year. DARS’s goal is to achieve "Vison Zero", a road traffic safety plan that aims to reduce the number of deaths on Slovenia’s highways to zero.

Police says project not yet viable
Milenko Kovačevič recently defended his Master’s thesis on highway police units. He reiterated the need for an increased police presence on Slovenia’s motorways and called for the creation of special highway police units.

However, the Slovenian police said that they do not have enough money or sufficiently qualified staff to create such special highway police units. "We’d have to create a new unit – or several units – in order to cover the whole national highway network. We’d need more facilities, equipment and staff, but we simply don’t have them," the Slovenian Police told MMC.

Tina Hacler; translated by D. V.