The Republic of Moldova ranks ninth among the countries of Europe and the CIS by the number of deaths per capita as a result of road traffic crashes. Those who die after suffering injuries in accidents represent 7.7%. The figure is 4-5 times higher than the average in the developed countries, said expert of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” Veaceslav Ioniță. According to him, in the Republic of Moldova, the victim of an accident has a much smaller chance of survival than in a developed country, IPN reports.
Veaceslav Ioniță said there are also particular positive tendencies, but in general the situation remains worrisome. “The mortality in road accidents is a problem typical of poorly developed, poor countries. Inside a country, it is typical of poorly developed regions, while inside a region, it is typical of poor population. The people, if they are poorer, are several times more exposed to the risk of dying in a road accident than a person from a rich country or with a higher social status,” noted the expert.
However, things in Moldova can develop correctly as the lowest number of road traffic casualties the past at least 40 years was recorded in 2022 – 217, as opposed to 257 in 2021 and 450 in 2010. The level is yet very high at European level, stated Veaceslav Ioniță.
The municipality of Chisinau, where 40% of the vehicles are concentrated, accounts for 15.6% of all the deaths from road accidents recorded in Moldova. The number is low due to the reduced speed limit and to the higher living standards and better vehicles. “The death rate against the intensity of traffic and the number of cars is four times lower than in the country,” said the expert.
Veaceslav Ioniță also said that the road accidents in Moldova are many in number and have serious consequences. In 2022, we had by 200 fewer accidents than ten years ago, but the number is higher than the number of traffic-related deaths in the developed countries. “We must improve this indicator by respecting the speed limit, road traffic rules and by not driving while inebriated. It goes not to the authorities, but rather to the responsibility of the drivers, the people,” concluded the expert.