SARAJEVO – More than one in three passenger car drivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina were not wearing a seat belt, according to WESTBELT research. Among adult passengers in the back seat, the findings were even more concerning: only 24% wore a belt on urban roads, falling to 15.1% on motorways. These findings underline the need for the “A Moment for Life” campaign, launched today in Sarajevo with an appeal: wear a seat belt on every journey, in every seat.
The regional campaign, implemented jointly by the ministries of transport from the Western Balkans and the Transport Community, encourages drivers and passengers to make a few seconds of preparation an essential part of every trip. Its launch in Bosnia and Herzegovina brought together Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Forto, Minister of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton Admir Katica, Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community Tālis Linkaits, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina Adebayo Babajide and road safety stakeholders.
The WESTBELT study recorded seat belt use among passenger car drivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina at 64.8%. On urban roads, that figure was just 57.8%. The findings point to a particular need to reach people travelling in towns and cities and passengers who leave their belts unfastened in the back seat.
““Last year, 288 people lost their lives on the roads of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Behind every number is a person and a family. We need better driving training, safer roads, but also more responsibility from all of us when we get behind the wheel. Awareness matters, but it must be followed by action. In the coming days, we will present amendments to the relevant regulations aimed at improving drive training and licensing standards and addressing some of the weaknesses we have identified in the current system,” Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointed out.
Sarajevo Canton Minister of the Interior Admir Katica highlighted the results achieved and the measures used by the police to improve road safety. “From introducing the Road Safety Improvement Guidelines, which established a new working methodology, and procuring state-of-the-art equipment such as unmarked police vehicles, cameras, mobile speed radars and drug-testing devices, to stepping up police checks, amending legislation and legally defining reckless driving, we can say that many lives have been saved on the roads of Sarajevo Canton. Nevertheless, we are aware that there is still a long way to go. One of the challenges ahead is regulating the use of electric scooters, which are increasingly involved in road crashes with the most serious consequences,” Minister Katica said.
“‘A Moment for Life’ campaign reminds us that a few seconds can make all the difference: fastening a seatbelt in every seat, securing children correctly and wearing a properly fastened helmet. Yet our research found that only 24% of adult rear-seat passengers observed on urban roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina wore a seatbelt. Awareness must now be matched by education, consistent enforcement and decisions guided by reliable data. Road safety is a shared responsibility—and every journey should end with everyone arriving safely,” said Tālis Linkaits, Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility and a vital part of protecting lives and communities. Every road accident is a family’s loss, and too many families in BiH and across the region are affected. ‘A Moment for Life’ reminds us that road safety can start with a simple decision, such as fastening a seat belt or properly securing a child, and that these small actions can save lives. The EU is proud to support this campaign together with the Transport Community and remains committed to working with partners to make the roads of BiH safer for everyone,” pointed out Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“A Moment for Life” asks drivers to take responsibility for their own safety and to encourage everyone travelling with them to buckle up. It also calls on passengers to act without waiting for a reminder. A short journey, a familiar route or a place in the back seat should never be a reason to leave a belt unfastened.
Alongside seat belt use, the campaign promotes appropriate child restraint systems and protective helmets for motorcyclists and other two-wheeler users. Its video and outreach materials connect these everyday actions with what is at stake: protecting lives and preventing serious injuries.
The Sarajevo launch featured the premiere of the campaign video and the presentation of the WESTBELT study finding as well as planned communication activities across the Western Balkans. A street outreach action brought the messages directly to drivers and passers-by through flyers.
The campaign will continue through institutional channels, media and public engagement, with cooperation among relevant authorities helping to reach communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. WESTBELT findings will support more targeted awareness efforts and discussions on enforcement.
