More than half of all the road accidents that took place nationwide since the year’s beginning have occured in Chisinau. National Patrol chief Marin Maxian told IPN this is due to the bigger number of vehicles and overall traffic participants in the capital city.
In the first two months of the year, 308 road accidents were recorded nationwide, by slightly over 8% fewer than in the same period last year, as 34 people died and 361 others were injured. Of the total number, 161 accidents and 8 deaths were registered in Chisinau.
More than 90% of accidents are to blame on drivers, with speeding and failure to adapt to road and weather conditions being the leading causes. Other causes include not yielding the right of way in intersections or pedestrian crossings and driving under the influence.
In Chisinau, jaywalking is alarmingly on the rise. In two months, four people died and 30 others were injured in 33 such accidents. Also notably, Botanica is the city district that sees a rise in all types of accidents.
In the first two months of the year, 39 minors were involved in Chisinau’s traffic accidents, with three killed and three others seriously injured. Marin Maxian said that in recent years, educational activities are being carried out in schools to minimize the number of child deaths from traffic accidents. In his opinion, the information and awareness-raising aspect of the young generation is extremely important, as they, besides being pedestrians, are also potentially future drivers.