Preventive measures

11/02/20190 views

In January of the current year, compared to the same period in 2018, there has been a significant decrease in the number of road traffic accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians, as well as fatalities among vulnerable road users, registered within the Vitebsk region.

In January of the current year, compared to the same period in 2018, there has been a significant decrease in the number of road traffic accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians, as well as fatalities among vulnerable road users, registered within the Vitebsk region. However, despite this positive trend, one road traffic accident involving a pedestrian fatality was registered in the Lepel district.

To prevent road traffic accidents caused by or involving pedestrians, and to prevent violations of the Traffic Regulations by such individuals, preventive measures aimed at preventing road traffic accidents involving and caused by pedestrians are being carried out in the Lepel district from February 11 to February 28, 2019.

Pedestrians' refusal to use retroreflective elements in the dark, disregard for basic safety rules, unexpected appearance on the road, and being on the carriageway while intoxicated lead to tragic consequences.

The requirements of the Traffic Regulations regarding the mandatory use of retroreflective elements in the dark when walking along the edge of the carriageway came into force in 2006. A reflector makes a pedestrian visible on a dark road in headlight beams from a distance of up to 400 meters. This gives the driver additional time to make the correct decision to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

Liability for violation of the Road Traffic Regulations by pedestrians, persons operating bicycles and horse-drawn vehicles is provided for by Article 18.23 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offences. In accordance with it, for violation of the traffic regulations by the specified persons, a fine of up to three basic units is provided, and when intoxicated – up to five basic units. It is noteworthy that in January 2019, 162 people were brought to administrative responsibility under Art. 18.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus by employees of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs, with 131 of them being for not marking themselves with a retroreflector element in the dark.

The State Automobile Inspectorate calls on pedestrians to resume the use of retroreflector elements and to mark themselves in the dark.