International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

Misfortunes bring people together. Wars, the Covid pandemic, pollution of the environment in which we live. According to a report from “Lancet”, nine million people die from pollution every year. The number of deaths from air pollution and chemical pollution has increased by 60% over the past two decades. Climate change took its toll in 2022 as well (floods, fires, earthquakes, drought and heat, melting glaciers). Uncontrolled urbanization and population growth are also causes. The number of people killed and injured in traffic accidents has also increased. It doesn’t have to be driven faster than life.
The war in Ukraine has been going on for a long time. The Russian auto industry will develop without Western partners (“Lada” model). Several of the largest German car manufacturers have decided to padlock their plants in Russia.
During September 2022, a rally was held in Serbia through four cities, Aranđelovac, Topola, Mladenovac and Belgrade. About 50 timeless vehicles visited these cities. There is also a small museum in Arandjelovac where the oldest car is a “Dodge” from 1924, a “Willys” from 1927, a “Chevrolet” from 1928, a “Pontiac” from 1929 and a “Mercedes” from 1934. Passing the Law on Old-timers will contribute to the preservation and increase of this cultural treasure, and it will make registration and acquisition easier for the owners.
In the new 2023. year, representatives of the Independent Trade Union of the “Fiat Chrysler Cars” factory (FCA) in Kragujevac announced on January 9th that they expect preparations for the start of electric vehicle production to continue with greater intensity in the new year. At the same time, the well-known “Tesla” company was fined about 2.2 million dollars, because it did not inform its customers of electric vehicles about the shorter driving range of their electric vehicles at low temperatures. The American electric vehicle maker’s coldweather driving range drops up to 50.5% compared to how they are advertised online (no mention of range loss in sub-zero temperatures).

We live in a time of the Covid pandemic, when losses are being noticed in the car industry. Experts state that stabilization of the market is not expected before 2023. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed that for the first time in 2021, hybrid electric cars were equalized with “diesels” on the European Union market. Last year, 1.901.239 new hybrid electric vehicles were registered on the common market. In April 2021, our capital Belgrade was awarded for the best Urban Mobility Plan. Our city has increased the safety of traffic participants, given priority to pedestrians and cyclists, reduced emissions and improved energy efficiency, while expanding pedestrian zones. The National Association of Autonomous and Electric Vehicles has launched a project aimed at increasing environmentally friendly traffic in Serbia. Eco 2 line of electric buses works in Belgrade from January 2022. And in Serbia, parts for Audi, Porsche and BMW will be produced in the “Motherson” factory, which was opened at the end of November 2021.

In this paper the important events in the auto industry all over the world, situation with automobile industry in Serbia, the concern for safety of drivers and other participants in traffic, with special stress on the protection of children in traffic, as well as the obligation of environmental protection are presented. Unfortunately, mortality in traffic is becoming epidemic. The interactive map showing the basic parameters of traffic safety in all countries in the world has been started. Every year on the roads throughout the world even 1.240.000 persons are killed. On the roads in Serbia the most frequent causes of traffic accident with serious consequences are: speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and not fastening seat belts. Children in traffic are killed mostly as passengers. Reasearch shows that Serbia is positioned very low comparing to European Union countries when it comes to the safe transport of children in vehicles and the use of seat belts. Agency for Traffic Safety in the Republic of Serbia in December 2013 celebrated 4 years from foundation and on that occasion the importance and necessity of connecting and coordination in work of all subjects competent for the field of safety was emphasized.