Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said 83 people were killed in car crashes in July 2003 as against 47 this July, while 70 were killed last August as against 47 this month.
He said the new traffic safety law was not directed against people who like a drink or two, bar and restaurant owners or wine manufacturers, but against those who drink and drive.
Commenting on some opposition politicians' doubts as to the government's determination to continue building the Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik highway, Sanader said the government was absolutely determined to finish the highway as well as the Komarna-Peseljac bridge.
Also today, the government adopted a plan for bringing order into land books in the 2004-2008 period, during which time all land offices will be fully computerised, Justice Minister Vesna Skare-Ozbolt said.
The government adopted a decision on the establishment of a coordinating body for the supervision and control of territorial waters and the ecological and fisheries protection zone, which is the first stage before the introduction of a coast guard, said Sea Minister Bozidar Kalmeta.
The government sent into parliament for urgent consideration amendments to the law on the organisation and scope of activity of central state administration bodies.
Also today, the government called local elections for Metkovic and Barilovic for October 3.
At the closed-door part of today's session, the government appointed Vesna Orlandini chief state treasurer, and Renato Cobal new national coordinator for the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe and coordinator of Croatia's cooperation with the Southeast European Cooperation Initiative.