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Croatia Traffic Rules

Croatia traffic rules

Are you going to Croatia by car? Then there may be different traffic rules than in your home country. We outline the most important rules for you.

Traffic rules Croatia in general

Here we list some important general traffic rules, including a number of traffic rules that may deviate from you home country.

Drive safely

Driving under the influence

The maximum permitted alcohol content in the blood is 0.5 per mille.
An absolute ban on alcohol applies to drivers younger than 24 years of age.
Also for drivers of a motor vehicle with a maximum permitted mass of more than 3500 kg (such as a camper) an absolute ban on alcohol applies.
Traces of drugs in the blood are not allowed.

Mobile phone

It is prohibited for drivers of vehicles (including cyclists) to hold a mobile phone while driving.
Hands-free calling is allowed.

Safe walking

Pedestrians are obliged to walk outside the city area as far as possible on the left side of the road if a footpath is missing.
Anyone walking in the dark or in poor visibility along the road is required to wear a reflector or light or to wear a safety vest.

Basic traffic rules

You have to drive on the right and overtake on the left.

Priority

As a basic rule, at a crossroads drivers of right have priority, unless otherwise indicated by traffic signs.

Pass

On narrow mountain roads, going-up traffic takes precedence over going-down traffic.

Roundabout

Drivers who approach the roundabout must give priority to drivers who are already driving at the roundabout.

To catch up passengers

School buses that hold at a stop to get passengers in and out can not be overtaken.
During a catch-up action, drivers must continue to give direction.

Parking

A parking ban is indicated by lines along the side of the road.
Zagreb has three parking zones. The closer to the center, the higher the parking fee and the shorter the period that can be parked here.

City area: 50
Outside city area: 80
Motorways: 80
Motorways: 90

City area: 50
Outside city area: 80
Motorways: 80
Motorways: 80

City area: 50
Outside city area: 80 (90)
Motorways: 110 (100)
Motorways: 130 (120)

Drivers younger than 24 must keep to the lower speeds that are placed in brackets.
The minimum speed on the motorways is 60 km / h.
When driving on a wet road, drivers must adjust their speed.

Radar detection and speed camera on board

The taking and use of radar detection equipment is prohibited.
As far as is known, the use of equipment with signaling for fixed speed cameras or route checks (such as navigation equipment and telephones) is permitted.

Traffic rules car Croatia

Lighting

From the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March, low beam or daytime running light (including LED) is also mandatory during the day. Please note: In tunnels, in low light and in poor visibility, daytime running lights are not sufficient and low beam must be used.
Outside this period, motorists are only obliged to carry light during the day when visibility is poor.

Children

Children under the age of 2 must be transported with their backs forward in an approved and appropriate child seat. If the seat is placed in an area with an airbag, the airbag must be switched off.
Children from 2 to 5 years old must be transported in an approved and appropriate child seat in the rear seat of the car.
Children aged 5 to 12 must be transported in the back of the car in an approved and appropriate child seat or on an appropriate and approved booster seat.

Load

If the load on the rear of a vehicle exceeds the vehicle by more than 1 m to the rear, the end of the load must have a red cloth on it.
Cargo on a caravan or trailer that protrudes more than 1 m must be marked with a 50 x 50 cm reflective warning sign with 3 or 5 diagonal light red and white stripes.
In the evening, in the dark, and in the event of poor visibility during the day, loads that exceed the vehicle by more than 1 m must be equipped with lighting.

Bicycles

Only if a bicycle carrier with bicycles behind a car or trailer protrudes more than 1 m it should be marked as described above.

Winter tires Croatia

Winter tires

Obligatory in wintertime – On certain roads (or parts thereof) from November 15th to April 15th, driving on winter tires is mandatory, regardless of the weather conditions, unless properly fitting snow chains are present in the vehicle.
Also before and after this period it can be made mandatory to use winter tires (or snow chains) if the road is covered with snow or ice.

Tires with the designation M + S are considered as winter tires. We advise you to use tires that indicate both the M + S mark and a snowflake symbol.

Winter tires must be mounted on all wheels.
Winter tires must have a tread depth of at least 4 mm.
If during a check it is determined that the car is not equipped with winter tires (or snow chains) while it is mandatory, you may not be able to continue driving and you can get a fine.

Snow chains

Mandatory in car in winter period – On certain roads (or parts thereof) from 15 November to 15 April, the driving on well-fitting snow chains is mandatory, regardless of the weather conditions, unless winter tires are used.
Even before and after this period it can be made mandatory to use snow chains (or winter tires) if the road is covered with at least 5 cm of snow or with ice.
The snow chains must in any case be mounted on the tires of the driven wheels.
Tires (including summer tires) must have a tread depth of at least 4 mm.
If a check reveals that the car is not equipped with snow chains (or winter tires) while it is mandatory, you may not be able to continue driving and you may be fined.
In the Lika and Gorski Kotar areas, it is mandatory to have snow chains in the car, and to use in winter conditions, regardless of the type of tires being driven.

Studded tires

Prohibited – The use of studded tires is prohibited on all roads.

Particularities

Snow shovel -it is mandatory to have a small snow shovel in the car during the winter period, which runs from the beginning of November until the end of April.
Car snow and ice free – during the winter period, drivers are obliged to remove ice and snow from the windows and the rest of their cars before driving off in order not to jeopardize themselves and the road users approaching.

Traffic rules caravan and trailer Croatia

Dimensions, maximums

Width combination (excluding mirrors) 2.55 m
Height combination 4 m
Trailer length (incl. drawbar) 12 m (A)
Length combination 18.75 m (A)
A: Any bicycle carrier on the back is included in the length.

Equipment

In a car towing a caravan or trailer, two warning triangles must be present. In the event of breakdown or an accident, the two triangles must be placed at a sufficient distance next to each other, and at least 100 m behind the built-up area, behind the combination.

Lanes

A combination of a car with a caravan or trailer that is longer than 7 meters may only drive on the two rightmost lanes on motorways with three or more lanes in one direction.

Traffic rules motors Croatia

Helmet

Wearing a helmet is mandatory for driver and passenger.
The driver and passenger (s) of a trike or quad must wear a helmet unless the trike or quad is equipped with a closed body or safety cell.

Lighting

Using low beam during the day is mandatory.

Passengers

Children under the age of 12 may not be transported on a motorcycle.
It is forbidden to carry a passenger who has an alcohol level in the blood of more than 0.5 per mille or who is under the influence of drugs.

Traffic rules moped Croatia

There is no separate definition of a moped-light in Croatia; it falls under the mopeds.
A moped can not be faster than 45 km / h.

Helmet

Wearing a helmet is mandatory.

Lighting

Mopeds and mopeds must also have low beam during the day.

Passengers

It is not allowed to carry passengers who are younger than 12 years.
It is forbidden to carry passengers who are under the influence of drugs or medication or have a higher alcohol level in the blood than 0.5 per mille.

Traffic rules bicycle Croatia

Helmet

Cyclists up to 16 years old must wear a helmet.

Clothing

At night and when visibility is poor, cyclists must wear a retro-reflective safety vest.

Lighting and other requirements

Bikes must be equipped with fixed lamps. For the bicycle, the front light must have the color white or yellow and the color red on the back of the bicycle.
A red reflector must be fitted on the back of the bicycle.
The bicycle must also be equipped with well-functioning brakes and a bell.

Passengers

Children up to 8 years old can only be transported in a child seat by a cyclist aged 18 or older.
Children transported as passengers on a bicycle must wear a suitable bicycle helmet.
It is forbidden to carry passengers on bicycles that are under the influence of drugs or medicines or have a higher alcohol level in the blood than 0.5 per mille.

Cycling children

The minimum age for cycling on the road is 14 years.
Children aged 9-14 years can only cycle if they have a bicycle driving license or are accompanied by a person aged 16 or older.

Cycling and alocohol

The maximum permitted alcohol content in the blood is 0.5 per mille.

Mobile phone

Cyclists are prohibited from holding a mobile phone while driving.
Hands-free calling is allowed.

Electric bike

Wearing a bicycle helmet is mandatory for cyclists up to 16 years.

Electric bicycles should use the bike path wherever possible.

Speedpedelec

An electric bicycle with pedal assistance up to 45 km / h and a power of up to 4000 watts is considered a moped in Croatia.
Drivers must be at least 15 years old, have a moped driving license and wear an approved moped helmet (ECE 22.05 standard). As far as is known, it is not allowed to wear a special speedpedelec helmet (standard NTA 8776: 2016).
Speedpedelecs may not ride on the bike path.

Road signs Croatia

The traffic signs in Croatia hardly differ from those in other European countries.
Signposts are yellow with black letters, information signs are blue with white letters and signs along motorways are green with white letters.

Car and motorcycle

A ban is indicated with a round white sign with a red border and an inverted black U where a red line runs through.
A rounded white sign with a red border and a black arrow pointing to the left or right with a diagonal red line through it means: forbidden to turn left (or right).
The triangular sign with a red border that warns us about roadworks, also has a yellow instead of white background.
A blue round sign with a white number on it (for example 40) indicates the minimum speed. A recommended speed is indicated with a square blue sign with a white number.
A rounded white sign with a red border and two cars with a number between them indicates how many meters away drivers must keep to their predecessor.
A rounded white sign with a red border and a horn with a red diagonal line through it means that it is forbidden to horn.
A round blue sign with a band with a snow chain means that snow chains are mandatory.
A black dot surrounded by three black rings on a signpost means center.

Bike and pedestrian

In addition to the familiar round blue sign Bicycle Path, there are also similar signs that indicate a bicycle / footpath, with or without separate sections for cyclists and pedestrians.

Road indications Croatia

Croatian – English
Bolnica – Hospital
Carina – Customs
Cestarina – Tol
Izlaz – exit
Krivi smjer – Wrong direction
Odmorište – Parking lot / road station / fuel station
Pješačka zona – Pedestrian zone
Policija – Police

Here you will find more information about Croatia.