Motorists transiting the Bajakovo-Batrovci crossing between Croatia and Serbia encountered significant congestion on Saturday, with queues extending as far as seven kilometers and delays reaching approximately eight hours. The extreme conditions were compounded by temperatures exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit, creating difficult circumstances for travelers attempting to cross the border during peak summer travel season.
Bidirectional traffic flow was affected, as both those departing Croatia for Serbia and those entering Croatia from Serbia experienced substantial delays. Many travelers reported physical exhaustion after extended periods in stationary vehicles, with some describing the experience as particularly grueling. One traveler from Turkey indicated he and his family had endured a two-hour wait while experiencing fatigue and thirst.
The congestion coincided with the peak summer travel period, when tourist flows from across Europe and neighboring regions converge at the crossing. Border crossings between EU member Croatia and non-EU member Serbia typically experience heaviest traffic during holiday weekends, with traffic patterns intensifying particularly around this time of year.
The implementation of the European Union’s Entry-Exit System, a biometric screening mechanism designed to replace traditional passport stamping, was also occurring during this period. While the system has been in operation in some capacity since April, and has previously been temporarily suspended in certain jurisdictions to expedite processing, it remained unclear whether the new biometric procedures contributed to the extended wait times observed on Saturday.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI