The border between Serbia and North Macedonia has turned into a nightmare for drivers and travelers! The system at the Preševo-Tabanovci border crossing completely collapsed yesterday due to a failure in the North Macedonian Ministry of Interior system, causing chaos and hours-long waits. Although the system was reportedly normalized this morning, traffic jams persist, with drivers waiting up to two hours to cross the border.
To make matters worse, alternative vehicle registration failed to solve the problem because the old control system was not restored in time, resulting in huge queues at the exit from Serbia and entry into North Macedonia. The average waiting time at the Preševo crossing is about 70 minutes for exit and 60 minutes for entry, with morning waits reaching up to two hours.
This situation is a real test of patience for everyone traveling for vacation or business, and an additional problem is that the congestion is directed towards Greece, further burdening traffic. The North Macedonian Auto-Moto Union warns that delays remain significant, and cameras at the crossing clearly show kilometer-long lines.
Is this just a technical glitch or a systemic disaster? How is it possible that in the 21st century a system failure causes total chaos at one of the busiest borders in the region? And while authorities boast that the system is normalized, drivers continue to suffer, lose time, and get frustrated in the queues.
For those planning to travel through Croatia, the advice is not to try to “make up” time by speeding on local roads, as this can be dangerous and costly. The summer season is in full swing, and border chaos only complicates travel further.
If you ever wondered what a real hellish border looks like, now you know! Got your own story from this crossing? Share it in the comments, maybe together we’ll find a solution or at least have a laugh at our misery!
