In Prijedor, a campaign titled "My Parking Spot" was launched last year (2024) led by the associations "DON" Prijedor, "Plavi balon", "Neven" and the Prijedor Paraplegic Association. The campaign aimed to improve the position of people with disabilities and advocate for the rights that belong to them.

People with disabilities in Prijedor have long faced issues with the lack of parking spaces and poor signage. Many irresponsible drivers occupy these designated spots, and the regulations governing parking are not harmonized across different levels of government. Prijedor also faces the problem of illegal parking permits created by individuals who are not authorized to issue them, which complicates the identification of actual users of parking spaces intended for people with disabilities.

The campaign launched by the associations with the support of the PRAGG project aimed to ensure proper marking of parking spaces for people with disabilities, align regulations, and raise public awareness about the importance of respecting these rules. But, how far has it come?

Achieved Progress

The campaign yielded visible results in its initial stages. Citizen engagement was exceptionally strong – more and more people reported irresponsible drivers, while companies like "Belamionix", "Tropic", "Bingo", "Šiki komerc" and "DM" have arranged and adapted parking spaces in accordance with regulations for people with disabilities.

When it comes to public institutions, more concrete actions are expected this year.

"Marking parking spaces for people with disabilities in front of public institutions was included in the plan last year. An order for painting was given to the local utility company, and the spring painting is expected to begin soon. We anticipate that this part will soon be completed as well", said Murisa Marić, director of the NGO "DON" Prijedor.

Where has it stalled?

The local government supported the initiative, and a meeting with Mayor Slobodan Javor resulted in promises to harmonize regulations, mark parking spaces, and increase their number at key locations. However, while the initial steps promised significant changes, it became clear that legal and formal issues are a more significant problem that is harder to resolve.

The Decision on Traffic Safety on the Roads of the City of Prijedor, adopted in 2006, and the Parking Regulations of the City of Prijedor, adopted in 2012, are not aligned with the provisions of the 2023 Traffic Safety Law and the 2018 Regulation on Marking Vehicles Driven by Persons with Limb Disabilities or Used to Transport Persons with Disabilities (100%) at the national level in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We have submitted the documentation to the Road Safety Agency of the Republic of Srpska because they are responsible for giving their opinion on the decision before it is adopted by the city assembly. So far, it appears that the Decision has never reached the Agency. We are now waiting for the Agency's suggestions so we can take the next concrete steps", added Murisa Marić.

Call for Accountability

The "My Parking Spot" campaign continues, with an appeal to the relevant authorities to continue addressing the discrepancies in regulations and to proceed with marking parking spaces for people with disabilities. It is of utmost importance that local authorities actively work on solving the issues faced by people with disabilities. Additionally, citizens are urged to report abuses of parking spaces designated for people with disabilities to the appropriate authorities. The local community must show readiness for change and foster a culture of reporting such incidents to ensure that sanctions have a deterrent effect and prevent the recurrence of such violations.