The influence of the road on the occurrence of road accidents in the work zone on state roads in the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2018 to 2022

At the beginning of the development of road safety, it was considered that man, vehicle and environment are the only factors that affect road safety. Very quickly there was a development and the realization that it is necessary to emphasize the road as a special factor. Today, the basic factors of road safety are man, vehicle, road and environment. According to world experience, the road itself or in combination with other factors is the cause of approximately one third of all road accidents. By marking the work zone on the road, there is a change in the normal mode of traffic flow, in order to protect the participants in the traffic as well as the construction site itself and the contractors. Some of the ways to increase the level of safety in the work zone are related to the creation of narrowing when moving, reducing the speed of movement, installing light traffic signals, etc. In addition to all the applied traffic and technical measures, road accidents still occur in the work zone. The focus of this study lies in analysing road accidents occurring within construction zones on state roads in the Republic of Serbia between 2018 and 2022. Additionally, it aims to illustrate the influence of road-related factors on the incidence of these accidents. The primary objective is to present the findings derived from this analysis and propose measures aimed at enhancing safety levels within road work zones. Furthermore, the paper seeks to suggest avenues for future research in this domain.