Skopje, 1 February 2026 (MIA) - The system of street cameras dubbed "Safe City", which records traffic misdemeanors, is fully operational as of Sunday in Skopje, Tetovo, and Kumanovo, as well as on Corridors VIII and X. According to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), only four types of violations will be tracked in the first phase, including speeding, running red lights, improper stopping or parking, and unregistered vehicles.

In an interview with the national broadcaster on Saturday, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski pointed out that the Safe City system is not about penalizing citizens financially, but rather about saving lives. He also noted that a new Rulebook has been adopted on speed camera tolerance thresholds, i.e. a tolerance of 6 km/h is allowed for speed of up to 50 km/h, which means that in a 30 km/h zone, for example, fines are issued at 37 km/h or higher, whereas a tolerance of 9 km/h is allowed for 50 km/h – 100 km/h speed, and a tolerance of 12 km/h is allowed for speed over 100 km/h. 

"These speed camera tolerance thresholds are defined within the framework of a regulation under the Ministry of Energy. We believe that they are absolutely acceptable in order to implement this system to save lives, while reassuring citizens that our goal is not punishment, but rather fewer injuries, fewer traffic accidents, fewer fatalities," Toshkovski said. 

In this context, the Minister announced yet another project that will be implemented in the coming days with the support of Makedonski Telekom.

"For all violations within the tolerance thresholds, i.e. from 30-36 km/h in a 30 km/h zone, or from 50-59 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, the Ministry of Interior will send an informative text message to every citizen who has exceeded the speed limit, drawing the attention of citizens to the fact that even though they were driving within the legal tolerance allowed, and there will be no fine, i.e. no violation, they still exceed the legally established speed limit, so that in case any citizen who drives a vehicle commits a traffic violation at 55 km/h in a 50 km/h zone and in doing so, injures a pedestrian with severe injuries, they will be held criminally liable," said Interior Minister Toshkovski.

The Ministry of Interior underlines that Safe City is one of the most significant investments in traffic safety in recent decades, adding that the system is targeting those who break the rules, rather than cautious drivers.

According to the Ministry, the system of street cameras does not distinguish between vehicles and drivers - the same rules apply to everyone, regardless of who is behind the wheel.

Photo: MIA archive