Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.59.1.4
The Impact of Traffic Congestion on the Quality of Life of the Population of Omiš
Toni Popović
orcid.org/0000-0003-1881-489X
; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Croatia
Abstract
The use of transport infrastructure above its capacity is defined as traffic congestion. The
phenomenon is manifested through slower driving, delays, and longer journey times. Its wider
social consequences can be explored through the quality of life indicators. In Omiš, traffic congestion
comes to the fore during the tourist season. At that period, the section of the Adriatic
Highway (D8) between Split and Omiš is one of the busiest state roads in terms of the daily
number of vehicles. Traffic jams are determined by its spatial position and features. This road
passes through the center of Omiš as an area of dense construction with a large number of
tourists who use it as a pedestrian zone. It has no suitable footpaths and crossings, additional
road branches for turning as well as public transport stops. The interaction of these factors,
along with the lack of parking spaces in the Omiš center, which leads to a long search for them,
creates daily kilometers-long deadlocks. The preliminary research aims to explore the impact
of traffic congestion on the quality of life of the population of Omiš. Indicators related to the
traffic, environment, availability of social contents and relations, amount of free time, and
safety are considered. A semi-structured interview method was used on a deliberate sample
of ten Omiš residents, half of whom study or work in Split (daily migrants), and the rest live
and work in Omiš or are retired. Interviews were conducted during 2019. The spatial and
social context of congestion was further explored utilizing the content analysis of articles on
the Slobodna Dalmacija web portal. The length, direction and causes of the recorded delays,
the experiences of the actors involved in the media report, and the proposed solutions and
prospects for their implementation are discussed.
Keywords
quality of life; traffic congestion; Omiš; traffic planning
Hrčak ID:
256734
URI
Publication date:
29.4.2021.
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