A preventive campaign by the traffic police (GAI) to ensure the safe transportation of children, titled "Little Passenger – Big Responsibility!", is underway in Belarus from August 18-24, the GAI Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed BELTA.
During the event, inspectors will remind adults about the rules for safely transporting children and the penalties for violations. Drivers will be informed about the use of seat belts and child restraint systems, as well as the causes and consequences of injuries to young passengers. GAI officers will monitor how drivers comply with child transportation rules and speed limits. Furthermore, before the start of the academic year, the State Automobile Inspectorate will assess the condition of school buses and the safety of their routes, and check if previously identified deficiencies in the road network near educational institutions have been rectified.
"Every year in August, the number of traffic accidents involving underage passengers increases, which is due to the mass transportation of children from holiday and health resorts. Failure to observe basic safety measures (non-use of child restraint systems, seat belts, transportation of children under 12 on motorcycles and mopeds) leads to the death and injury of minors," stated the GAI Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Over the past seven months of the current year, 9 child passengers have died and 76 have been injured on the country's roads in traffic accidents. Of these, 40% of minors were transported in violation of the rules.