Drivers and pedestrians have not switched to winter mode. The Gomel Regional Executive Committee Department of Internal Affairs reports an increase in road accidents

19 December, Gomel. On the roads of Gomel Region, 25 people died in road accidents in November and incomplete December. Such data was announced at a briefing at the Department of Internal Affairs of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee, a BELTA correspondent reports.

"In November alone, 15 people died in road accidents in Gomel Region. And in incomplete December, we already have 10 people killed in road accidents," said First Deputy Chief of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee - Chief of Public Safety Police Anatoly Vasilyev, referring to the sad statistics.

He noted that traffic police officers are on duty at the most dangerous intersections and other points where the probability of accidents is high. "But the problem is that both pedestrians and drivers have not switched to the winter mode of crossing the roadway and driving," Anatoly Vasilyev noted.

As specified by the Deputy HEAD of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee, Ruslan Kolesnikov, in 10 months of this year, from January to October, 40 people died in accidents on the roads of the region. "And in a month and a half (November - first half of December. - BELTA note) 25 died. This is a very large number," he emphasized.

According to the Deputy Head of the State Traffic Inspectorate, the main causes of fatal accidents are collisions with pedestrians and head-on collisions. "These two reasons gave a large increase in the number of people killed in accidents," he stated.

As a sad example, Ruslan Kolesnikov cited the accident that occurred on December 18, in which two pedestrians died. "On the highway at night, while intoxicated, they were not moving along the edge of the roadway, but along the right lane of the roadway. They were not marked with reflective elements, they were walking in the direction of traffic. That is, violating all the traffic rules that can be violated. Unfortunately, the driver was unable to notice the pedestrians in time and hit them," said the deputy head of the State Traffic Inspectorate.

He noted that since November, the State Traffic Inspectorate officers have switched to an enhanced mode of service.

"In addition, special attention is paid to inspecting the street and road network for the serviceability of outdoor lighting. Where pedestrian crossings need to be illuminated, orders are issued to the balance holders," added Ruslan Kolesnikov.

"We want to reach out to every driver and pedestrian, so that everyone thinks about how to protect themselves first and foremost. And if everyone thinks and looks to the left, then to the right before putting their foot on a crosswalk, and only then walks without staring at their mobile phone, that will already do a lot," Anatoly Vasiliev is convinced.

On the Eve of the New Year HolidaysLaw enforcement officials also reminded people of another important rule: it is strictly forbidden to drive while intoxicated.