Roads in Croatia
The quality and roads signs of Croatian roads and highways has been updated and modernized greatly in recent years. The highway network is new, modern and is well maintained, with petrol stations and parking area’s, good and safe tunnels.
The highways are not free however, at the entrance you take a ticket and when leaving the highway you pay your toll fare at a booth you can pay cash with kuna’s or euro’s, but change is given in kuna’s, or by credit card. There is a prepaid system, but that is most practical when you use the highways year round. Only the highways around the capital Zagreb are free of toll. Keep in mind that due to these toll booths in summer times long traffic jams are the result especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Toll fare is also charges form some bridges and tunnels. Daily traffic jams are rare in Croatia, only after an incident or near tourist towns along the coast, entrance to ferry’s and during special events in the summer season.
Another factor that may play a role when travelling by car is the Bora (Croatian: Bura) along the coast. This is a very strong northern wind that blows along the high Velebit mountain ranges along the coast, it may cause roads to be closed for cars with trailers and trucks and speed limits for other traffic, if the wind is very severe roads may be closed for all traffic. Area’s that are most affected are the towns of Senj, Stara Novalja, Karlobag and the southern portal of the Sveti Rok Tunnel (on the highway A1 between the towns of Gospic and Zadar), sometimes causing the highway to be closed, the winds can reach speeds of up to 220 km an hour!
Some traffic rules
Some traffic rules in Croatia may be different from your country of origin.
– You must drive with lights on during the day
– You are not allowed to use the telephone hands-free when driving
– Every passenger must wear seat belts
– It is forbidden to pass a still standing School bus
– Drivers younger than 24 years of age are not allowed to drink alcohol and drive
– Alcohol limit is 0,05 promille for drivers older than 24 years of age
– When involved in an accident:
* all persons must wear a reflective vest and wait at a safe place
* It is best to call the police who will make a rapport of the situation
When travelling with children in the car in Croatia the following applies:
Children below 12 years of age are not allowed to sit in the front seat
Children shorter than 130 cm must sit in a children seat or on an elevation
Traffic assistance and current information
photo ©EMRE d.o.o.
There is a lot of information at the Croatian Traffic Club HAK (Hrvatski Auto Klub), and it provides traffic and travel information, as well as road assistance you can download their FREE app ‘Croatia Traffic Info’ available in Croatian, English, German and Italian.
Speed limits
– 50 km/h – within urban areas
– 90 km/h – outside urban area
– 110 km/h – on major roads accessible only for motor vehicles
– 130 km/h – on motorways
– 80 km/h – for motor vehicles with a caravan trailer
– 80 km/h – for buses and buses with a light trailer