When and where will the traffic operation take place?

The 'Moped, Motorcycle, and Personal Mobility Vehicle Driver Check' operation will be conducted on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 3 PM to 8 PM across the entire Istria region.

How many accidents involving motorcycles and mopeds have been recorded in Istria this year?

In the first seven months of 2026, there were 127 traffic accidents involving moped and motorcycle riders, resulting in four fatalities.

What are the rules for riding electric scooters?

Electric scooters may only be ridden by individuals over the age of 14, who must wear a protective helmet. They are allowed to ride on bicycle paths, and where these are unavailable, on sidewalks or in traffic-calmed zones.

Why are motorcyclists particularly vulnerable in traffic?

Besides their own risky behavior, motorcyclists often suffer due to mistakes made by other drivers who fail to yield the right of way. Their smaller silhouette makes them harder to spot, and combined with high speeds, the consequences are almost always severe.

Croatia

Police Launch Major Operation Across Istria on Saturday

A.F. · Prije 2h | 3 min

The 'Moped, Motorcycle, and Personal Mobility Vehicle Driver Check' operation will run from 3 PM to 8 PM, focusing on protecting the most vulnerable road users.

Summary

On Saturday, August 8, from 3 PM to 8 PM, a major police operation targeting moped, motorcycle, and electric scooter riders will take place across Istria.
In the first seven months of 2026, there were 127 accidents involving mopeds and motorcycles in Istria (four fatalities) and 54 accidents involving electric scooters.
Police urge riders to wear protective gear, respect speed limits, and exercise caution in curves, where a rider's head can extend up to a meter into oncoming traffic.

The Istria Police Department will conduct a major preventive and repressive operation on Saturday, August 8, 2026, targeting drivers of mopeds, motorcycles, and electric scooters. The operation, named "Moped, Motorcycle, and Personal Mobility Vehicle Driver Check", will run from 3 PM to 8 PM across the entire Istria region, with the primary goal of reducing casualties among the most vulnerable groups of road users.

The operation is prompted by alarming statistics on traffic accidents in the first seven months of 2026. According to data from the Istria Police Department, there were 127 accidents involving moped and motorcycle riders on Istrian roads. These accidents resulted in four fatalities, 16 serious injuries, and 101 minor injuries.

Electric Scooters: A Growing Concern

The rising number of accidents involving electric scooter riders is particularly worrying. In 2026, there were 54 traffic accidents involving these vehicles. Six riders sustained serious injuries, while 34 riders suffered minor injuries.

Police remind the public that only individuals over the age of 14 are permitted to ride electric scooters, and they must wear a protective helmet. Riders are allowed to use bicycle paths or lanes exclusively; where these are unavailable, they may ride on sidewalks or in traffic-calmed zones. Only one person is allowed per scooter.

Motorcyclists Often Victims of Others' Mistakes

Although it is commonly believed that motorcyclists' risky behavior contributes to their accidents, police warn that these crashes are frequently caused by other drivers who fail to yield the right of way. Combined with excessive speed, this often leads to severe outcomes. "It is rare for motorcyclists to walk away from accidents without injury, with outcomes unfortunately often fatal or resulting in serious injuries with permanent disability," the Istria Police Department stated.

While a protective helmet is the only legally required gear, it cannot provide complete protection, especially at high speeds. Therefore, police recommend wearing additional protective equipment such as jackets, pants, guards, boots, and gloves.

Key Tips for Safer Riding

To reduce casualties, police have issued a series of concrete recommendations for moped and motorcycle riders. These include wearing brighter clothing and helmets in vivid colors with reflective details, as motorcyclists' silhouettes are smaller and harder to spot on the road. They also urge riders to respect speed limits and adapt their riding to road conditions.

A particular warning concerns riding through left-hand curves, where riders should move away from the center line. When leaning into a curve, the rider's head can extend up to a meter into the oncoming traffic lane, posing an extreme risk. Riders are also advised to avoid patches of sand or oil on the asphalt, refrain from weaving between vehicles, and ride in single file during group rides.

The Istria Police Department calls on all road users to act responsibly, with a special appeal to parents and guardians to encourage young people to adopt positive behavior on the roads.