15 January, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. Road accidents in the Vitebsk region decreased by 15.4% in 2012, reported BELTA's correspondent Alexander Samul, acting head of the traffic police department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Directorate. Over the past year, 559 road traffic accidents occurred in the region, which is 102 cases (15.4%) less than in 2011. 150 people died and 559 were injured in the accidents, which is 3.2% and 15.6% less, respectively, than in the previous year. Also, 39 children were injured in accidents. Six minors were fatally injured, which is one case more than in 2011. A total of 43 road traffic accidents involving children occurred in the Vitebsk region, which is 36.8% less than the previous year's level and is the lowest indicator among all regions of the country. Speaking about the causes of injuries to child passengers, Alexander Samul once again emphasized well-known truths: the guarantee of safety in this case is the presence of a child seat in the car and the responsibility of drivers. Among the districts, the largest number of accidents in the past period was registered in Vitebsk (49), Orsha (36), Dokshytsy (32), and Polotsk (26). The fewest road traffic accidents occurred in Shumilino, Liozno, and Rossony districts. At the same time, the past year was marked by the absence of fatalities in road traffic accidents in the latter region. The high number of drivers detained, deprived of their driving licenses, or who have not yet obtained these documents continues to cause concern among traffic police inspectors. The largest number of such drivers was identified in the past year in Vitebsk, Vitebsk, Lepel, Chashniki, Tolochin, Senno, Polotsk, and Orsha districts. Another problematic category is private taxi drivers, who often violate traffic rules, noted Alexander Samul, adding that in the past year alone, about 20 taxi drivers were identified in the region working while intoxicated. -0-

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