Smart traffic lights and driverless vehicles. The head of the Brest Region traffic police spoke about new technologies on the roads.

Sergei Pavlenya, Head of the State Traffic Inspectorate Department of the Brest Regional Executive Committee. Belarus celebrates not only Independence Day on July 3rd. It also marks the founding anniversary of the State Traffic Inspectorate. This year, the service turns 89. Sergei Pavlenya, Head of the State Traffic Inspectorate Department of the Brest Regional Executive Committee, spoke with a BELTA correspondent about the main principles of the State Traffic Inspectorate's work and how modern technology helps make roads safer.

- Sergei Vasilyevich, how do you think the State Traffic Inspectorate has changed in recent years? Please describe the profile of the average traffic police officer in the Brest Region.

- We have become more mobile, responsive, and effective in ensuring road safety. The use of CCTV cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles allows us to more effectively identify violations and analyze the traffic situation.

The average Brest Region traffic police officer is, first and foremost, a dedicated, responsible, and disciplined professional. This person possesses not only knowledge of traffic rules and regulations, but also high moral character, the ability to communicate effectively, find compromises, and make informed decisions in difficult situations. This employee is constantly improving their knowledge and skills, keeping abreast of changes in legislation and technology.

Unfortunately, in the Brest Region in 2024 , the number of road accidents increased by 11%, and the number of injured people in accidents increased by almost 15%. Have we managed to reverse this negative trend this year?

Thanks to the measures taken this year, we have managed to reduce the number of road accidents and injuries. In the Brest region, there were 185 road accidents in the past six months (down 11% compared to the same period in 2024), resulting in 41 fatalities and 167 injuries (a 21% decrease). Unfortunately, the death toll increased by 12 (a 41.4% increase).

According to statistics, the most common causes of accidents in our region are speeding, overtaking violations, driving into oncoming traffic, failing to yield to vulnerable road users, and traffic violations by motorists. To reduce the number of accidents, we use mobile and stationary photo-recording cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles. We identify violators using the national public safety monitoring system. We conduct large-scale informational and educational work with various road users and are also improving traffic management.

- HeadacheFor residents, the roar of motorcycles at night is a nuisance. Are bans on their movement at night on certain sections of road justified?

- Experience shows that the introduction of such bans produces positive results. The number of complaints from residents decreases, and the situation in these areas becomes calmer. Currently, such bans are in effect in Baranovichi from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM on Lenin Street (from Brestskaya Street to Gagarin Street) and Sovetsky Avenue (from Proletarskaya Street to Zhukova Street). In Pinsk, motorcycle traffic is prohibited from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM on Dneprovskaya Flotilla and V.Z. Korzh Streets.

We are constantly analyzing the situation and considering the possibility of introducing similar bans in other places where necessary. We take into account the opinions of local residents, and a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of such measures is carried out. Our goal is to find a balance between the interests of motorcyclists and residents, ensuring a comfortable and safe environment for everyone.

The State Traffic Inspectorate is constantly innovating. What helps traffic police officers ensure road safety?

The modern State Traffic Inspectorate makes extensive use of advanced technology to effectively perform its duties. This technology helps identify violations, record evidence, respond quickly to incidents, and improve overall road safety. The traffic police employ speed monitoring devices, dashcams, breathalyzers, drones, and forced-stop systems. This technical equipment is constantly being improved. The introduction of new technologies helps traffic police officers, among other things, reduce the number of accidents and save lives.

Specifically, the State Traffic Inspectorate has four official motorcycles in its fleet. More are planned for purchase and transfer to traffic police units in the Brest Region. Since the beginning of this year, drones have recorded over 100 traffic violations in the region.

The development of the intelligent transport system continues. For example, in June, Brest introduced another traffic light system with vehicle and pedestrian detection on Oktyabrskaya Revolyutsii Street. The traffic management system uses various sensors to detect the presence of vehicles and pedestrians. It helps dynamically adjust the traffic light, optimize intersection capacity, and improve safety for all road users.

All these measures serve not only to identify violators but also to assess the situation as a whole and assist people if necessary. Please tell us about such cases.

In April, while processing a traffic accident in Brest, a passing driver approached a traffic police officer asking for help: a female passenger was experiencing asthma attacks. Immediately assessing the situation, the officer quickly escorted the vehicle to the nearest medical facility. In June, a car stalled on busy Moskovskaya Street in Brest. A traffic jam could have formed , posing a threat to other road users. Traffic police battalion officers, noticing the car with its hazard lights on, pushed it into a parking lot. In winter, officers do not pass by cars that have stalled and cannot be restarted, but provide necessary assistance. In one case, a man approached officers asking to escort his car to the maternity hospital. By turning on flashing lights and emergency lights, the officers were able to reduce the time it took to reach the maternity hospital to just a few minutes, where medical personnel were already waiting for the expectant mother. A couple of days later, officers greeted the new parents from the maternity hospital and presented them with commemorative gifts from the traffic police.

Such situations are not uncommon. Traffic police officers are always committed to helping citizens who find themselves in difficult situations.

Alevtina CHERNOVOLOVA,
BELTA.