Moldova ranks second in Europe by number of fatalities on roads

The National Council for Traffic Security examined the plan of action for remedying the road traffic situation until 2014, Info-Prim Neo reports. Gheorghe Botnariuc, the head of the Traffic Police Department, said Moldova ranks second in Europe, after Russia, by the number of fatalities in road accidents compared with its population. A sum of 10 billion euros will be allocated worldwide for improving the traffic situation, mainly in the countries with serious problems in the field, Botnariuc said. The members of the Council suggested not allowing one person to obtain the right to drive all the categories of vehicles during a year. Earlier, the person was to have at least three years' experience in driving a vehicle of a certain category before applying for a license allowing driving a vehicle of another category. Prime Minister Vlad Filat asked the competent ministries and services to lay emphasis on the effective testing of the units of transport and the training of drivers. He demanded punishing the officials who accept or favor the testing of the vehicles whose working life expired and of those who issue drivers' licenses illegally. The Council's members approved the nominal composition of the permanent secretariat and of the specialty commissions of the Council that will coordinate the interministerial activities and will implement the Council's decisions.