Zagreb's Largest Driving Test Center Must Relocate; Instructors Unhappy: 'It's Impractical'

Zagreb's driving instructors are voicing strong objections to the impending relocation of the city's primary driving test polygon from Borongaj to Žitnjak. This move, mandated by a recent decision from Mayor Tomislav Tomašević to repurpose the Borongaj site for a Park and Ride facility, is seen as a significant blow to the quality of driver training. Večernji List has been following this issue, and instructors like Miljenko Gočin from the Road Traffic Training Institute highlight the practical difficulties. The new Žitnjak location, while large, is considered inconveniently far from the city center. More critically, the proposed training routes near Žitnjaku include dangerous, high-traffic intersections, which Gočin argues are unsuitable for novice drivers who are still learning basic urban driving skills. The concern is that students will not gain adequate experience navigating the complexities of central Zagreb, potentially compromising road safety. This decision reflects a broader tension in urban planning, where essential infrastructure for specialized training must contend with evolving city needs, often leaving those directly affected feeling unheard and disadvantaged.

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This change means HAK will no longer be able to conduct exams there. For us, it means we won't be able to conduct driver training, as students must be familiar with the polygon where they take the test and the surrounding routes. It makes no sense to train candidates in Borongaj and have them test in Žitnjak. We will have to move to Žitnjak, which is not good at all.