Traffic data from Croatian highways this June indicates a significant increase in vehicle traffic, which surprised not only experts but also caused serious congestion. According to the Croatian daily newspaper Jutarnji List, 586,917 more vehicles used the highways in June than in the same month last year, and a total of 44,480,545 vehicles were registered in the first six months of the year, which is 4.3 million more compared to the same period the previous year. Several factors are behind the traffic increase: Croatia's accession to the Schengen area, the introduction of the euro, the Middle East war, heatwaves and wildfires in Greece have all contributed to making the country an attractive driving destination for tourists, especially the Germans, who are planning shorter coastal trips this year. However, the increasing vehicle traffic has resulted in significant congestion, further exacerbated by drivers' driving styles.
So-called "phantom stops" are common, such as when a truck begins overtaking in heavy traffic, or when drivers traveling at excessive speeds suddenly brake. Experts suggest that speed limits should be introduced to alleviate traffic disruptions, ideally at 80-100 kilometers per hour. Additionally, Croatia has been considering the modification of the tollbooth system for years. The new electronic toll collection system, which would exclude cash payments and make the use of electronic onboard units mandatory, would be available no earlier than 2026. This would allow free-flow toll payments without the need to stop. The company managing Croatian highways (HAC) is also introducing a summer tariff, which will increase highway tolls by ten percent between July 1st and September 30th. However, this tariff does not apply to heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks. HAC justifies the introduction of seasonal pricing by stating that about 40 percent of the total annual traffic occurs in the summer months, during which maintenance, safety, supervision, and traffic management costs also increase significantly.
