Road accidents decline in Russia, but still numerous

MOSCOW, March 11 (Itar-Tass) -- Road accidents are declining in Russia
due to new heavy fines, but remain numerous so far with speeding
violations on the rise.
Vladimir Shevchenko from the safety department of the Russian traffic
police told Tass on Thursday accidents caused by driving in oncoming
traffic lane, drunk driving, and incorrect road intersection crossing
declined in the first two months of the year.
"After the introduction of stricter fines for driving in oncoming lane
the number of such violations and resulting accidents has considerably
dropped," he said and specified the registered 1.8 thousand accidents were
13 percent below the figure in the same period last year.
"It is necessary to continue the positive trend," Shevchenko said.
Drunk driving also declined 7.2 percent and related accidents
comprised 679 in two months.
"The decline of such accidents is due to large-scale preventive work
by the traffic police," he stressed.
Earlier Russia imposed monetary fines for such traffic violations, now
motorists are stripped of their licenses for a year for the first
violation.
However Shevchenko admitted Russian drivers often intentionally
violate the rules. "Unfortunately, drivers are to blame for over 80
percent of road accidents in Russia. They rudely and often intentionally
violate traffic rules," he said and specified motorists were to blame for
17.5 thousand accidents in January-February, a 2.6 percent fall from the
same period last year.
Shevchenko said road intersection crossing violations also fell 1.8
percent to 2.6 thousand accidents.
Speeding was on the rise and occupied the leading place in all
accidents, according to Shevchenko who gave no related figures.