The over 2,000 accidents that occurred on Moldova’s roads during the first ten months of this year resulted in more than 200 deaths and 2,500 persons hurt. Compared with the corresponding period last year, the number of traffic accidents rose slightly, but the number of deaths and injured persons decreased slightly. The data were presented by the National Patrolling Inspectorate and the National Public Health Agency in connection with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, IPN reports.

The largest number of road accidents occur because the drivers do not adjust the speed in conditions of low visibility, do not give way to pedestrians and other vehicles. Among other causes of accidents are: careless changing of lanes or direction, incorrect turning, jaywalking, speeding and non-observance of the distance between vehicles. According to the police, the number of road accidents that involved inebriated drivers in 2017 diminished by 32.82% on 2016.

A global analysis of road traffic accidents shows the injuries suffered in such accidents are the main cause of death among people aged between 15 and 29. The countries with low and medium incomes account for 90% of the deaths on international roads, even if they possess only 54% of the vehicles globally. Almost half of those who died were pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. If measures are not taken, road crashes could become the seventh leading cause of death until 2030.

Driving under the influence significantly increases the risk of accidents. The World Health Organization recommends regulating the concentration of  ≤ 0.05 g/dl for the general population and ≤ 0.02 g/dl for young and beginner drivers. But only 34 countries with 29% of the global population have drunk driving laws.

Nearly 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year worldwide.

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year, this year on November 18.