Traffic safety expert: Now it's clear why they 'held the tape'

A traffic safety expert has confirmed that the footage released last week by media clearly shows improper use of red/white lights during the accident involving President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar. The incident occurred on July 31 in the Kastelec tunnel, near the border with Croatia. According to the expert, the footage reveals how the official car carrying the president and her friends, Viktorija Krivolucko and Urška Repovž, collided with a government vehicle leading the convoy. The expert, who spoke to the outlet Info360, stated that it is now clear why the authorities had allegedly hidden the footage. He explained that the video clearly shows the misuse of red/white lights, which are meant to signal a convoy being escorted. The expert noted that the vehicle using these lights was traveling significantly faster than other vehicles in the tunnel, likely exceeding the speed limit of 100 km/h. He estimated that the convoy led by President Pirc Musar was traveling at around 150 km/h. According to the expert, the driver of the vehicle using red/white lights did not have enough time or space to safely move to the right lane. The vehicles on the right lane were stopping in accordance with Article 101 of the Road Traffic Act, creating a situation where the driver could not react in time. The expert emphasized that the red/white lights should have been used to warn drivers ahead of the convoy, allowing them to stop safely on the shoulder or even outside the road. He further explained that the final vehicle in the convoy should have signaled the end of the convoy using green/white lights, enabling drivers to resume their journey. The expert pointed out that the current use of red/white lights does not meet the legal requirements for such situations. The police concluded their investigation into the circumstances and procedures surrounding the accident last week. They found several violations and deviations from the rules. The expert’s comments align with the findings of the police, reinforcing the need for stricter adherence to traffic regulations. Under the Road Traffic Act, when a driver sees red/white flashing lights, they must immediately stop their vehicle on the roadside. Red/white lights indicate a vehicle escorting a convoy. Key provisions include immediate stopping, moving pedestrians away from the road, granting priority to the escorted convoy, and prohibiting entry into or overtaking the convoy. Drivers can only resume driving after the last vehicle in the convoy has passed. It is important to distinguish between a white light alone and the combination of red and white lights. A white light indicates a vehicle with priority, such as emergency services. Drivers must yield and move aside. Red/white lights, however, signal the escort of a protected convoy, requiring complete stopping on the roadside. The accident in the Kastelec tunnel sparked national attention. President Pirc Musar sustained serious injuries, including a broken femur, while her companion was more severely hurt. Both were transported to a remote hospital. In the days following the crash, information about the incident and the passengers in the president's car slowly emerged. It wasn’t until a month later that the public saw the footage from the surveillance camera in the tunnel.