Dangerous Roads: Albania

Albania, in the heart of the Balkans, and it is one of the most dangerous countries on the continent when it comes to road safety. More than 35,000 people die every year on the roads, in a country with a population of only 2.8 million.

The danger comes from numerous risky behaviours. The Albanians are overfond of speed. In particular the road called European 762 is known as the “Road of Death,” notorious for the number of fatal accidents. This road is terribly dangerous with more than 150 accidents every day, and on average a fatal accident once a week. There are multiple risk factors. There are shops by the side of the road, but no overtaking lane, making it risky for cars to pass the stopped cars and for pedestrians who cross in the middle of the road, sometimes even with their animals. 

In Tirana, the country’s capital, there are more than 200 cars per 1000 people, which is nearly as much as a city like Paris. In such heavy traffic, pedestrians are particularly vulnerable, and they are the victims in nearly half of the accidents. In a recent accident, a reckless driver knocked over a couple who were going over a pedestrian crossing with their baby. Miraculously they were not killed, but the incident made the front page of the newspapers. To combat these dangerous drivers, the police are intensifying their efforts and adopting new techniques. They are implementing bright LEDs on traffic lights, employing drones to film even the slightest infraction, using speed cameras in unmarked cars, swiftly confiscating driving licenses for speeding, and even establishing specialized police units to monitor traffic violations on social media.

But even though everything seems to be geared towards the fight against this dangerous driving, there is still a big problem in Albania: corruption in the government and in the police. Many people try to bribe Albanian police during traffic checks.