Already this year 60 people died on the roads of South Bohemia. Over the past year there were 63. The Regional Coordinator Be sip Vaclav Smith warns that the autumn fog and black ice comes a period when accidents on the road will increase.
Until decrease the number of accidents, will not subside even deaths on the roads, emphasizes regional coordinator be sip Vaclav Cover.
According to Cover it was due to improved cars. Now, however, we have reached the bottom, no matter how good the technology is already helping.
South Bohemian died on the roads already 60 people, while for the whole of last year it was 63rd.
Moreover, we are now waiting two months of hard, in terms of traffic accidents, as it unfortunately is related to the number of fatalities. Autumn weather brings a lot of accidents with pedestrians who are not sufficiently visible. That is now the subject of our campaign. This week we start with the police traffic safety event focusing on the visibility of pedestrians.
Pedestrian thus fall riskiest?
Yes, based on statistics from previous years, most of pedestrians dying between 16 and 18 hours just in this season. Due to the time shift suddenly gets dark at five o’clock instead of six drivers and pedestrians are poorly adapted to it, and then there is very often fatal accidents. And even at pedestrian crossings. We used to offer safety vest to solve this problem, but it didn’t seems help.
What will campaign?
We will endeavor in cooperation with the police to communicate directly with drivers on the roads. Because the reflective elements is insignificant when the car is off. If the vehicle is lit poorly or not at all, it does not reflect light reflex. We have made several commercials, which we will try to get to the screen in offices and other public places in the South Region. I have also arranged several meetings at schools and homes for the elderly.
How long?
We want to be long. Our goal is to significantly reduce the number of pedestrians killed. Over the last year throughout the Czech Republic were killed in traffic accidents about 65 pedestrians. We know from neighboring countries that adjusting the law, in which it stated that the reflective elements on clothing are required, reducing the number of deaths very aggressively.
In recent years the number of tragic accidents declined. But in the last two years there is again an increase. Does it think this statistical skew, or a trend?
The problem is that the steadily increasing number of road accidents. Every year it’s a nearly ten percent. The fact that we dropped the consequences of accidents; it is my only increasing the quality of vehicles. Cars are better in terms of active and passive safety features. Obviously, we have already reached a certain bottom, where it is not only the technical features of vehicles to reduce the number of tragic accidents. And with that, as the number of crashes will rise and the number of deaths.
So it is necessary to reduce the number of accidents?
If we want to reduce the number of deaths, we must first seek to decrease traffic accidents. The other things that can affect the consequences smashes such as better infrastructure, that they are secondary issues.
What would you think should happen? Tighten the imposition of fines?
Fines are matters of repression, we prevent sty, so we focus more on prevention. The problem is that this is precisely the long-term financially underpowered compared to the rest of Europe. But I feel that now dawning for better times, as Transport Minister is in favor of us. It should not say that, without preventive repression would not make sense. Certain increase in penalties would also help us. But mainly it is necessary to educate the whole nation. We have a big problem with arrogance drivers. But beware, as well as cyclists. Even the education they need. Necessary municipal police should patrol to cyclists moving routes, which are designed and among pedestrians.
The amount of fines is one thing. However, when an aggressive driver sees the road almost overtake cop, so it is probably not solve, right?
According to our statistics, the performance of traffic police in the South Region increased from year to year, although staffing tends to decrease. In this regard, I stand behind the police because they are trying to do the maximum.
It should not, therefore, be more?
You say it absolutely right. But there is another thing. For me, each policeman should intervene in the transport sector. I experience when I go over and see Budejovice offense like thunder around the police will pass and nothing happens. Had the matter on the spot immediately addressed, they should aggressive drivers to police certainly greater respect.