Association of Families of Road Traffic Victims, Croatia

1. Association of Familiesof Road Traffic Victims, Croatia Improving services for victims and their families Global Meeting of NGO Advocating for Road safety WHO, Brussels, 7.-8. May 2009. Teodora Beletić

2. Founding Assembly of Association, Pula, 26.10.2007.

3. Regional Model of Association Associations for Dalmacija and for Slavonija and Baranja

4. Our aims are: • Protecting a basic human right – the right for life • Better legislation and court system • Improving road culture and politics in Croatia • Prevention and education for responsible behaviour in traffic • Giving support to families of road victims

5. Support those that suffered • Free phone 0800-444-449 Free legal advices, psychological help and communication with memebers • Web page – www.stradaliuprometu.hr

6. Psycho-social workshops • Members meet profesional psychoterapists and psychiatrists ones a month

7. Searching for help • Colaboration with: • Psihology sociaty of Croatia • University of Rijeka – scientifical work “Psyhological consecvence of road traffic accidents” projects for systematicly help for victims and families

8. Lack of traffic safety • Traffic accidents = family tragedy = social (economical, health, psychological, demografic) problem

9. Consumer culture • It is necessary to recognise traffic safety as an important social (inter)national problem. • Consumer culture and car industry send wrong messages and values. • Traffic accidents are not happening by chance, they are caused by careless breaking of the existing traffic law.

10. Public and media • Campaign for traffic responsible behaviour “Don’t wait until it happens to You” • Press conference with Mayor of Pula

11. Work of our Association “Do not wait that it happens to You”

12. Signing the Petiton for sharpening of punishment to driverswho are doing particular heavy traffic offence • Pula, 6.10.2007.

13. We handed Petition to the President of Croatian parliament, 23.4.2008. • 22.500 signatures • Suggestions for modification of Road safety Law

14. Driving Licence is not Licence for Kill • “Open Letter” to the High Court, Ministry of Justice and Croatian State Attourney. • We requested and explanation as to why those that break the law so obviously, those who cause someone’s death or permanent disability, are punished so midly.

15. Appeals to the Governament • Association has been invited by the Ministry of the Internal affairs and the Ministry of Justice. • We have suggested changes in Croatian traffic and criminal law. • We have contributed to the work of Traffic committee of the Croatian Parliament, and have become member of the Committee which works on National Plan to prevent child injuries.

16. Our “New approach to Road Safety in Croatia” • Inspired by the project “Vision zero” from Scandinavia • Presented to Croatian Parliament, President, Prime minister, relevant ministers and to the public • Influence to:state institution, local government, other NGO, prevention and education, public opinion

17. Aim of Association is that Goverment found a Centre for traffic safety in Croatia • Centre would: - systematically and continually coordinate the work of all relevant institutions, experts, NGOs … for realising “Vision 0” (zero traffic deaths and serious injuries), - sistematically help for traffic victims and their families. -set up State register of road traffic victims

18. Key problems in Croatia • The sentencing is still too lenient. • Justly punishing is often not employed. • Trials takes forever … - which increase the trauma of the families of victims.

19. Legal Help • Useful advices to the road traffic victimes and their fammilies, on our web site. • We give support to the members during the court cases. • We help to have adequate information and responding to difficult or the controversial cases.

20. Increasing public awareness • We encourage journalists to follow the trials and inform the public about the problems of our members. • Informing the media in suspected court cases.

21. Humanitarian rock concerts • To help disabled and injured members of the Association • Motorcycle club Twin Horn

22. Victims Rememberance Day 18.11.2007. • Shoes as a symbol to those that can not ever wear them again

23. Day of our Association • We published “In memoriam” to all those that died in all traffic accidents, in collaboration with Croatian Auto-Club (HAK)

24. Victims Rememberance Day 2008. Meting of Association for Slavonija and Baranja Osijek, 14.11.

25. Rememberance Day in Zagreb Lightening 619 candles for 619 victims of road traffic in Croatia in 2007. Mirogoj, 16.11.

26. Rememmberance Day in Pula Cityzens and members of Istrian goverment, Goverment of Pula, Istrian Police lightened the candles.

27. Candels for victims in Istria Photo exhibition “Black side of the road”

28. “We had right for life, too” In memoriam Educative materials

29. Light of hope with FEVR World campaign: invitation to cityzens to light the candels on their windows

30. Tree for life, Pula 17.11. Planting trees in memory and tribute to road traffic victims in Pula Cemetery

31. Tree for life Students of Eko High School Pula Herkulanea, City Pula Foundation for civil society of Istria

32. We are all responsable “Saving one life will save a whole world” Thank You! Dedicated to Jasmina Čelica and all road traffic victims