Enhancing Road Traffic Safety Policies in Local Government: Strategic Framework at MIT University Skopje

1. CREATION OF AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICIES OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MIT University Skopje Ass. Prof. Oliver Andonov, PhD Ass. Prof. Katerina Veljanovska, PhD

2. RESEARCH FRAMEWORK • Strategic action within the local government in order to increase the road traffic safety • Effective creation of the public policy for the road traffic safety at a local level through the active involvement of all stakeholders and citizens • The experience of the Republic Council on Road Traffic Safety (RCRTS) and proclaimed strategic policies within the “National Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia for the improvement of the Road Traffic Safety (2009-2014)”

3. The basic hypothesis The allocation of responsibilities from central to local levels, especially the increasing of responsibilities of the local authorities, provides effective strategic action within the implemented local policies for improving the road traffic safety Meaning,

4. The more we see active involvement of the local government in the implementation of the public policies for improving the road traffic safety in the country, the better and more efficiently can detect the needs of the vulnerable groups and the processes that cause locally disorder of the road traffic safety, and they can act in accordance with them

5. Theoretical approach

6. Cycle of public policy-making

7. The road traffic safety is not just an individual problem, but also represents a global threat to the development of a society 2) It takes a conscious expression of the nation for the real consequences of ignoring the potential risks and threats. 3) The role and responsibility of every citizen through their contribution during the implementation of the policy– becoming an active player and partner 4) Realization of the inter-institutional cooperation in the R. of Macedonia, through the Government Coordination Body for promotion of the road traffic safety - as chief coordinator of all the activities is the Republic Council of the Road Traffic Safety, as a parliamentary body

8. Acting at the level of local self-government • Educational Forum; •   Participatory Advisory Panel; • Cooperation for participatory problem solving; • Participatory approach to solving traffic problems; • Coordinated traffic-urban regulation of the settlements;

9. THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC POLICY IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY (The experience of the Republic of Macedonia) • Promotion of all the activities related to the road traffic safety; • Improving the traffic education of all road users; • Establishing cooperation and coordination between government, local authorities, institutions, legal persons and other stakeholders; • Media informing - objective informing of the public about the current measures for prevention and road traffic safety

10. Contribution of the Republic Council of the Road Traffic Safety (RCRTS) “National Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia for the improvement of the Road Traffic Safety (2009-2014)”

11. The lack of awareness among the citizens about the risks and threats affected of the “violation” of the traffic rules and regulations • Low level of acceptance of the law by all of the participants in the road traffic; • Need for improvement of the law legislation in relation to the specific obligations of the local government; • Unsafe behavior of the road users; • Serious consequences of accidents caused by: Exceeding the speed limit; driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, etc.

12. Initiation of local action Sharing actions in order to: • Promotion of legal regulations (professional and scientific meetings as well as seminars and workshops in the local community or between the municipalities in the regions of the R. of Macedonia) • Increasing the level of culture, awareness and perception of the road traffic safety ("Children lights", "Traffic- technical culture of the youth", "The safety of pedestrians and cyclists in traffic", "To protect the children in the traffic")

13. PUBLIC POLICY AS A TOOL FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT • Financial assets and resources for the road traffic safety; • Setting standards for the design, construction and maintenance of the local roads, streets and traffic regulation in the urban and rural areas; • Potential solutions for prevention of the traffic victims, with particular reference to the vulnerable road users; • Conducting educational campaigns to promote the traffic safety in the local communities; • Referencing he use of legislation, including guidelines for the safe use of the roads .

14. Conclusions and recommendations • Strategic framework for the road traffic safety directed to the local politics; • Local authorities and local people to decide about the priorities for road traffic safety in their areas; • Interconnection of the local agendas at the regional level in relation to the road traffic safety; • Promoting the road traffic safety - dissemination of information or advices for the use of the roads; • Case studies and analysis about the most common aspects of endangering the road traffic safety;

15. Conclusions and recommendations • Taking measures and regulations for controlling and protection of the road traffic safety • Effective coordination of all internal partners and stakeholders - at the beginning and throughout the stages of the project planning, development and implementation. • In line with the European policy on road safety, the directives and recommendations, until the 2020 it is required to adopt local strategies and also it is required their adaptation with the Second “National Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia for the improvement of the Road Traffic Safety (2015-2020)”

16. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION MIT University Skopje Ass. Prof. Oliver Andonov, PhD Ass. Prof. Katerina Veljanovska, PhD