The paper discusses the definitions of natural disasters and recommends the implementation of definitions and classifications of natural disasters in accordance with those decreed at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and Munich Re insurance Company (Munich RE) for administrative use in the Republic of Serbia. For the Republic of Serbia, the issue of natural disasters is presented both through government documents (e.g. the Law on Emergencies and the National Strategy of the Protection and Rescue in Emergencies) and the survey of the frequency and typology of disasters. Significant discrepancies exist between older and more contemporary classifications of disasters in Serbia. They are especially emphasized in comparison to the CRED and Munich RE classifications and databases. This causes problems in the monitoring, recording and assessment of the effects of natural disasters. It is proposed that definitions be adapted and implemented into legislative and other documents.

The Danube river waterway, i.e. the Pan-European Corridor VII, is considered as one of the most significant transport corridors in Europe. It runs through ten countries, including Serbia (the Serbian part of the river is 588 km long), which is why it is one of Serbia’s priorities to develop inland water transport. The system of waterways provides a viable alternative to roads and rail systems. Moreover, it is crucial for regional development. The Danube River offers excellent opportunities for freight, passenger and tourist inland water transportation. However, the navigability potential of the Danube River still remains largely underrealized in Serbia: despite the high quality of waterways, inland water transport accounts for only 4.7 % of the total transport. This paper deals with the advantages of inland navigation and the major characteristics of the Danube waterway in Serbia. In Serbia, the Danube is mainly used for freight and passenger transportation and for the development of nautical tourism. There are a number of important projects that are currently being implemented in Serbia, such as the construction of new port facilities and marinas. The paper also discusses the negative factors impeding regional development in the sphere of waterways and water transport in Serbia, primarily the lack of funding for maintenance and improvement of the river’s navigability.

In post-socialist European countries, smaller cities were most vulnerable to economic restructuring during the transition years, as a result of which they suffered political and economic changes. These changes significantly influenced the hierarchy of these settlements in the settlement system. The phenomenon of urban hierarchy and changes in the hierarchy of settlements are rare research topics in Serbia. In this research, Kolubara District (in Western Serbia) is used as a case study because it has a good traffic position, as well as good potential for industrial development, but despite this, its inhabitants migrate to larger cities. This paper tests Schmook?s method for the centrality of settlements. A survey was used to examine the attitude of the local population in regard to the centrality and hierarchy of settlements. A closed type questionnaire was used. The results show that the local population has a positive attitude toward the functional development of the cities in the Kolubara District.

Due to the high volume of traffic on European highways and the increased percentage of traffic accidents and fatalities, traffic safety is imperative in the planning and design of highways. While highway safety design construction standards have been extensively researched, insufficient attention has been given to the influence of the surrounding landscape on traffic safety and to drivers’ awareness about the danger of the same. Thus, the aim of the research was to assess drivers’ perceptions of various factors impacting highway traffic safety (climatic impacts from the surrounding landscape, landscape vegetation that follows the roadway, and animals) beyond specific engineering features (roadway surface, traffic signs, highway junction points). A survey of 138 drivers was conducted to assess driver awareness of traffic safety on the research section of a highway in Serbia. This highway is part of the Serbian highway that is a key connection within the European road network, forming an integral part of several major routes. The survey revealed that drivers, regardless of gender or experience, primarily associate traffic safety with well-built roads and good visibility during driving. While the impacts of climatic elements from the surrounding landscape were acknowledged, drivers do not strongly attribute any danger to traffic safety from these factors due to their lack of visibility. This is reflected in the notable number of traffic accidents, impacted by these factors, on the studied highway (e.g., 12% of the total number of accidents during 2022). Vegetation and animals did not play a significant role in the respondents’ answers, which should not be the case; however, their absence in the highway landscape and along the roadway led to a lack of observed quality by drivers. This underscores the need for the scientific community and policymakers to delve deeper into these issues with a broader perspective, and to elevate highway safety standards accordingly.