This is Russia’s biggest death trap

Over the last decade, the equivalent of a medium-sized Russian city has vanished in the traffic. According to figures from the authorities, about 350,000 people have died on the roads since 2005.

In the same period, more than three million were injured in accidents.

Traffic safety was on the table in last week’s meeting in the Russian State Council. In that meeting, President Putin underlined that «a drastic reduction of the number of people killed must be reached» and that a «change in driving culture» must take place. 

Figures presented in the meeting say that as many as 1,233 people were killed alone in pedestrian crossings in 2015. 

Putin blamed the car drivers for the accidents, saying that they behave «aggressively and without respect for others», a transcript from the meeting reads.

Casualties on Russian roads has boomed following the increase in the number of cars. Only over the last 10 years, the car number has increased by more than 50 percent.

Also in the Russian north, the number of road deaths remains significant and far higher than in neighboring Scandinavia. According to statistical figures presented by Patchwork Barents, a total of 5,761 people died on the roads between 2003-2013 in the regions of Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Komi and Karelia.

ADVERTISEMENT