DETERMINATION OF SAFETY CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR ROUTING STATE ROADS THROUGH SETTLEMENTS

Abstract

State roads represent the backbone of transport connectivity and economic development of the Republic of Serbia; however, routing them through populated areas requires particularly careful planning and management. Such practice leads to an increased safety risk for all road users, deterioration of residents’ quality of life, and conflicts between the needs of the local community and the requirements for efficient transit traffic flow. Although the existing laws and by-laws define the differences between driving conditions on roads outside settlements and within settlements, as well as the application of appropriate traffic signage, the lack of clearly defined criteria and procedures results in inconsistent solutions and complicates the role of local self-government units in the process of planning and managing road infrastructure. This paper examines the safety criteria that must be met in order for a state road to be routed through a settlement. Particular attention is devoted to the analysis of the existing regulatory framework, which formally enables the implementation of the prescribed measures, but whose practical application remains insufficiently effective and often inconsistent.The paper proposes the establishment of a clear and transparent decision-making procedure regarding the alignment of state roads through settlements. Such a procedure would include defined safety requirements, measurable criteria, and the active involvement of local self-government units in the planning and decision-making process, with the aim of improving road safety and promoting sustainable urban development. The objective of the document is to ensure consistent application of regulations, enhance the safety of all road users, reduce the negative impacts of transit traffic on populated areas, and enable the alignment of road infrastructure development with the principles of sustainable and safe urban planning.