The Ombudsman has launched an inquiry on his own initiative following a serious accident on Grigore Vieru Boulevard in the capital, in which two pedestrians were struck at a crossing. One later died in hospital. The Ombudsman noted that a similar accident, which left two pedestrians injured, occurred on the same boulevard in July. Ceslav Panico said he would examine the safety of pedestrian infrastructure and the measures taken by the authorities to prevent such incidents, IPN reports.

As part of an inquiry launched on its own initiative, the Ombudsman will examine the visibility and lighting of pedestrian crossings, road markings and signs, traffic signals, road layout, and any obstacles that could endanger pedestrians.

Accident prevention measures will also be examined, including speed and traffic flow management, enforcement of traffic regulations, and action taken by the responsible authorities. The Ombudsman will assess whether risks were evaluated and measures taken to prevent similar incidents following the accident in July.

Another aspect under consideration concerns mechanisms for identifying and addressing high-risk areas for pedestrians, as well as the allocation of responsibilities and cooperation among the institutions responsible for road infrastructure, traffic management, and road safety.

“From a human rights perspective, road safety is not merely a matter of compliance with traffic rules, but a responsibility of the state to effectively protect the rights to life, health and physical integrity,” the institution’s statement reads.

The ombudsman’s response comes after two pedestrians were hit by a car on Tuesday evening while legally crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing on Grigore Vieru Boulevard. A woman aged around 30 died in hospital, while a 21-year-old man was admitted in critical condition. The driver, who fled the scene, was later detained. Police established that he did not have a driving licence, and tests confirmed that he had taken several illegal drugs.