TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DECLINED BUT MORTALITY ROSE

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ In 2012, the traffic police received 46 thousand calls about road accidents nationwide, and this number is less by 20 percent against 2011 but is heavier by number of deaths and injuries, the Traffic Police Department (TPD) reported Wednesday. According to the report, 541 people died in traffic accidents nationwide, 369 of them registered in the city. Eighty percent of the accidents took place on roads of Tov, Khentii, Bayankhongor, Darkhan, Selenge, Dornogobi and Dundgobi aimags, a financial damage of eight billion togrog was caused by the accidents, so far, six billion has been reimbursed. The TPD is taking comprehensive measures to reduce accidents and their aftermath, for example, a control and inspection will be intensified at places with most accidents, an opinion poll will become open, works are being done to put control over traffic in local roads, and public events will be organized. The key factor of road accident is a violation of the traffic rules, said Colonel Ch.Jargalsaikhan, a head of the TPD. A number of drink-driving has increased, becoming another main factor of accidents in the city. "It is urgent for lawmakers as well as for people to express their opinions and proposals on finding out the most proper solutions for reducing drink-driving," he said. Information on any accidents and violations will be accepted not only by the road cameras, but also by social media such as Facebook, Twitter and a special call number. B.Khuder