Minibuses and taxis from Chisinau involved in about 650 road accidents last year

Chisinau traffic agents report a great number of serious road accidents caused by minibus and taxi drivers. These transport categories account for more than half of the total accidents recorded last year, Info-Prim Neo reports. Road police statistics show that out of the total number of accidents - 1,195, minibuses were involved in 165, and taxis in 476. Six people died and 270 suffered various injuries. Minibus and taxi drivers are often violating traffic rules, traffic agents say. Some of them are speeding, others are making dangerous moves. Minibus drivers stop in interdicted places to take or to get off passengers. Policemen stopped minibus and taxi drivers driving drunk, even drivers that used narcotics. A great number of drivers had driving licenses that did not permit them to transport passengers. The citizens of the capital, especially drivers, say that in spite of all warnings, of the measures taken and of the intensified and diversified controls taxi drivers are one of the most dangerous categories of traffic participants as regards the violation of traffic rules. Authorities must not only register such severe law violations, but also take radical measures, such as taking back driving licences, closing the company, and other. Both the Traffic Police and the city administration together with the managers of the companies providing public transport services are expected to take measures in this respect, the cited sources say.