On September 18-21, the traffic police will hold the republican preventive campaign "Fasten Your Children!"

During the preventive action, traffic police officers focus on the rules for transporting children in private vehicles, as well as by carriers and organizers transporting groups of children.

This year, 14 road accidents involving child passengers occurred in the Vitebsk region, in which 17 minors sustained injuries of varying severity.

For instance, on August 9 this year, a road accident occurred in the regional center at the intersection of Bogatyreva and Actors Eremenko streets involving a route taxi, which was moving straight along Bogatyreva Street from 33rd Army Street towards Korotkevicha Street, and a Volkswagen Caddy car, which was moving from Actors Eremenko Street towards 33rd Army Street. As a result of the collision, the minibus overturned. All participants in the accident, including two minors, received necessary medical assistance.

On August 21, in the Polotsk district, a 23-year-old Ford Orion driver lost control and drove into a ditch, where the car overturned. Three children were in the car – girls aged 12 and 15, and a seven-year-old boy. All of them sustained injuries and were hospitalized.

The State Automobile Inspectorate reminds that, according to paragraph 178 of the Traffic Regulations of the Republic of Belarus, the transportation of children in a passenger car equipped with seat belts must be carried out using: 1. child restraint systems appropriate for the child's weight and height – for children under 5 years of age; 2. child restraint systems appropriate for the child's weight and height, other devices (boosters, special seat cushions, additional seats) that allow the child to be safely fastened with seat belts provided by the vehicle's design – for children aged 5 to 12 years. It is permitted to transport children under 12 years of age without using the specified devices if the child's height exceeds 150 centimeters, as well as in a taxi car.

Violation of passenger transportation rules entails administrative liability in the form of a warning or a fine of up to 4 basic units.

Protect our future! Transport children in compliance with traffic regulations!

Alexander Orekhov, Head of the State Automobile Inspectorate of the District Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Department