Zak Topuzi's strong denunciation: Roads in Albania without markings and signage, a danger to life

2026-07-25 10:11:00, Aktualitet CNA

Zak Topuzi's strong denunciation: Roads in Albania without markings and

The head of the Association of Tour Operators, Zak Topuzi, has raised concerns about the state of road infrastructure in Albania, stating that many main axes are without horizontal markings and signage, right at the peak of the tourist season.

Topuzi denounces that over the last two months he has traveled almost all the main roads in the country and has found a lack of basic signage standards, a situation that, according to him, significantly increases the risk of accidents.

He stressed that Albania hosts a number of tourists several times larger than its population each year, while most visitors enter the country by vehicle through land borders. According to Topuz, compared to neighboring countries such as Montenegro, Greece and Croatia, the difference in road maintenance and signage is noticeable.

According to him, the lack of markings not only creates uncertainty for drivers, especially at night or in difficult weather conditions, but also hinders the functioning of modern driving assistance systems, such as automatic lane keeping.

Topuzi also criticized the way speed limit signs are set up, arguing that frequent changes and lack of clear technical criteria create confusion for drivers.

"Conclusion: Over the last two months, I have traveled almost all of Albania's road axes. Almost all of the roads, at the height of the tourist season, are unmarked and without the minimum horizontal signage!"

A country that hosts an influx of tourists 6 times its population, with about 66.3% of them entering through land borders in their own vehicles, is not just an aesthetic deficiency, it is a danger to life. It is enough to cross the border with Montenegro, Greece or Croatia to see the big difference: well-maintained roads, clear signage and demarcation.

The consequences are known. Increased risk of accidents (especially at night or in rain) and failure of modern safety systems of new vehicles equipped with Lane Assist (Lane Keeping Assistance System).

The chaos with vertical signage is even more absurd. Speed ??limit signs are every 200–300 meters, with drastic changes and without any technical criteria? They are often placed as artificial "solutions" because engineering standards have not been applied at the entrances and exits of secondary roads.

"The installation of smart cameras and drone monitoring of road axes are positive steps towards modernization. But the state must first fulfill its standard obligations before seeking to penalize and fine drivers through technology," denounces Zak Topuzi./ CNA