The Municipality of Grosuplje, in conjunction with the companies Sipronika and Zavarovalnica Triglav, have installed a MHP50 “Your Speed” speed indicator sign in Šmarje-Sap as part of its efforts to improve road safety for the general public, especially children, who are the most vulnerable group. From now on, traffic will be much safer in the Šmarje-Sap area, which has already seen two traffic accidents resulting in physical injury in the past few years. This will increase the safety of the pupils attending the nearby Šmarje-Sap part of the Louis Adamič Grosuplje Primary School. The sign forms part of the all-Slovenian “Calming traffic together” project, which is co-funded by the largest insurance company in Slovenia and has been established for the purpose of reducing traffic speeds near schools, nurseries and school routes in 19 Slovene municipalities.
According to figures from the Slovenian police, vehicle speed is the most important factor in determining the seriousness of traffic accidents involving pedestrians. Calming traffic in residential areas, where pedestrians are most exposed, is therefore one of the key elements of preventive action and an effective measure for reducing traffic accidents and their consequences. At Sipronika’s proposal in cooperation with Zavarovalnica Triglav and Slovene municipalities, including the municipality of Grosuplje, the “Calming traffic together” project was set up in order to reduce the speed of traffic in areas near schools and nurseries, where pedestrians, especially the youngest, are most at risk.
Calmer traffic in Šmarje-Sap
A new “Your Speed” indicator sign has been installed in the Municipality of Grosuplje, more precisely in the Šmarje-Sap settlement, close to the Šmarje-Sap part of the Louis Adamič Grosuplje Primary School, which is attended by approximately 360 children. The school is located at the centre of Šmarje-Sap, just next to the relatively busy Ljubljanska Cesta main road. Most of the children come to school by themselves, meaning that drivers must be particularly careful along that section. The Pika Šmarje-Sap unit of the Kekec Grosuplje Educational Institution is at the same location and caters for children aged from 3 to 6 years, so drivers must pay even more attention. “Any measure which enhances traffic safety is welcome. And the speed indicator that has been installed close to the school and nursery in Šmarje-Sap certainly qualifies. Drivers must pay extra attention to the youngest road users around schools, especially at the beginning of the school year when some of the children are making their way to and from school for the first time,” argued Dr Peter Verlič, mayor of Grosuplje.
Accidents recorded on the Šmarje-Sap – Cikava section in the past
In the last two years, police have dealt with five traffic accidents on the Šmarje-Sap – Cikava section. Two pedestrians suffered physical injuries and other accidents resulted in material damage. Since the school road traverses the settlement, the municipal traffic warden service is also carefully monitoring the situation on the road. It has recorded several violations, most of which relate to speeding and a failure to stop at a red light. The municipality therefore selected the Šmarje-Sap settlement to participate in the Sipronika and Zavarovalnica Triglav tender to co-finance the installation of the “Your Speed” indicator sign.
A friendly preventive measure
“Your Speed” MHP50 smart speed indicator signs are classified as friendly preventive measures for improving traffic safety. “The speed indicators currently being installed along school routes within the framework of this project thank drivers for their good driving or alert them that their behaviour behind the wheel is unsuitable. At the same time, the system stores and processes traffic data, which will then be displayed on a special website. The aim is to ensure that up-to-date figures on driving habits are made available at all times. We want to show how the systematic introduction of speed indicators can have a positive effect on reducing speeds in traffic calming areas,” explained Sipronika’s director, Marjan Kržišnik. The municipality will be able to use the data collected by the sign for the purpose of planning various traffic regulation measures in the wider area around the sign. There will also be a computer screen permanently installed in the school hall which displays statistical data on the speed and number of vehicles on the road passing the school.
Cutting the number of accidents
Zavarovalnica Triglav has been involved in a variety of activities designed to improve road safety for several years. In doing so, it upheld its basic values, the foremost being safety and social responsibility, and supported the installation of the speed indicator sign in Šmarje-Sap. “We are very much aware that children are the most vulnerable group of road users and that they quickly forget about the rules if they become distracted. We want school roads to be as safe as possible. Speed indicator signs can help in this respect, which is why we have decided to help get them installed at critical locations,” explained Aleš Klement, director of the Ljubljana Regional Unit of Zavarovalnica Triglav.
Between June and September, municipalities around the country will be joining forces with Sipronika and Zavarovalnica Triglav to install equipment at 19 dangerous road sections or junctions, thereby (further) increasing the safety of all road users.
