Skopje, 20 January 2026 (MIA) - Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said late Tuesday that the goal of Safe City project is to save lives, not to penalize drivers. It focuses on improving public safety awareness, reduce traffic violations, and prevent injuries and fatalities. Only four types of violations will be tracked: speeding, running red lights, improper stopping or parking, and unregistered vehicles.

He noted that traffic violations continue to be the weakest link. “We started at 100,000, and although the numbers have fallen sharply, they are still too high to be fully processed,” Toshkovski told Sitel TV. He added that the figures are now in the thousands, a significant reduction from the initial 100,000.

Previously, citizens had fewer options, but now, after receiving a notification on their phone or by email, they can pay 50% of the fine within eight days. In cases involving a driving ban, paying within eight or sixteen days reduces the ban to half of the legal minimum. He noted that these measures are designed to motivate citizens.

Toshkovski thanked the Macedonian citizens, especially those driving vehicles in the Skopje Police Department area, because, as he said, they proved that during the month-and-a-half test period since the launch of the Safe City project, no fines were issued.

According to Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski, the number of fatalities caused by traffic violations in the Skopje Police Department area has been reduced from 11 in December and January of the previous year to two in December 2025 and January 2026, as of January 20. Injuries from traffic violations over this approximately 50-day period have declined by 35 percent compared to the same months in the prior year.

He said that the data indicate that Macedonian citizens are capable of recognizing projects that save human lives and will respond appropriately when they observe that institutions are acting in an impartial, dedicated, and professional manner.

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