A new smart traffic system, COPS@zebra LITE, has been installed to increase pedestrian safety at one of the busiest traffic areas in Žužemberk. In this area, which contains local traffic, children going to and from school and visitors to the area, the system warns drivers in real time that they are approaching the pedestrian crossing, and encourages them to reduce their speed as they do so. The investment, which arose as a collaboration between Zavarovalnica Triglav, the Municipality of Žužemberk and the Tenzor company, represents a major step towards greater road safety for local residents and visitors.
A new smart traffic system, COPS@zebra LITE, has begun operating in the village of Reber in the Municipality of Žužemberk with the aim of improving pedestrian safety at one of the area’s most hazardous spots. The system has been installed close to the bus stop on the local road between Reber and Volčja Jama. This is a place where children cross the road everyday on their way to and from school, and where local and tourist traffic keeps increasing every year.
The decision was taken to install the system at this spot because of the dangers presented by traffic in the immediate vicinity of the bus stop, which is situated beyond a blind corner. Add speeding drivers to this and the need to take additional steps to protect pedestrians became obvious. Village residents and the police had been drawing attention to the problem for a number of years.
For a safer tomorrow for children
The COPS@zebra LITE system uses active lighting signals to warn drivers that they are approaching a pedestrian crossing, and encourages them to take greater care and adjust their speed in good time. It also collects traffic data that can help in the planning of further measures to improve road safety.
“At Zavarovalnica Triglav, we focus heavily on the safety of the most vulnerable road users, especially children. Reber is a prime example of an area where modern technology can make crucial road safety interventions. We are delighted to have been able to join forces with Žužemberk local council and the Tenzor company to come up with a solution that will improve the safety of children as they take the school bus, and generally calm the traffic in the area,” said Zavarovalnica Triglav’s southern regional director David Toporš.
Significant boost for Reber
For more than a decade, Slovenia’s biggest insurer has been co-financing the installation of smart traffic systems in collaboration with municipalities and Slovenian tech companies as part of its Together For Road Safety campaign. These systems can prevent the main causes of road accidents on local roads: poor visibility and unclear lines of sight, speeding and insufficient distance from the vehicle in front. Analyses show that installing such systems at high-risk locations can reduce the number of accidents by up to 80%. These systems are connected to a network that continuously records and analyses driver behaviour.
According to police figures, ten road accidents occurred on this section between 2020 and 2025. Three of them resulted in injuries, with speeding the most common cause of the accidents (in six of the ten cases). The police therefore suggested that the council take further steps to slow traffic in the area and improve pedestrian safety.
“In our municipality, the safety of children and other pedestrians is treated with the utmost importance. The new system is an important acquisition for Reber, where we have been making efforts to improve road safety for some time. These improvements can only come about if we all work together. We believe that providing drivers with additional warnings will lead to more responsible driving and greater everyday safety for our residents,” explained Jože Papež, mayor of Žužemberk.
Preventing accidents at the most critical points
COPS smart systems are the product of Slovenian knowledge and know-how, and are designed to prevent accidents at the most critical points. These include intersections with poor lines of sight, unsecured level crossings, and crossings for pedestrians and cyclists. More than 130 COPS systems are already in operation at various critical road safety points around the country.
“The COPS@zebra LITE system has been designed with the aim of warning drivers in real time of the importance of paying extra attention as they pass through critical points. By providing active warnings, the system helps to reduce speeds and raise the alertness of drivers in the vicinity of pedestrian crossings. We are delighted that this solution will now ensure greater road safety in Žužemberk,” said Miha Senčar, Tenzor’s managing director.
DRAJV map offers further assistance
The DRAJV map, a free digital traffic map of Slovenia, has been around for five years, helping local councils identify dangerous sections of road. It gathers together in a single place data about the most dangerous sections, and the most common challenges faced when driving in Slovenia.
– there has been a fall of 80% in the number of road accidents at points at which COPS systems have been installed
– the three systems for warning drivers to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front show that the number of drivers who do not observe a safe distance has fallen by more than half
– according to the available data, 30 km/h zones are where drivers find it hardest to adjust their speed
