From February 16 to 26, the State Automobile Inspectorate is conducting additional preventive measures

From February 16 to 26, the State Automobile Inspectorate is conducting additional preventive measures, as well as raids against passenger carriers in regular and irregular minibus services.

Please note that during this period, traffic police officers will daily monitor compliance with traffic rules and other legislative acts in the field of road traffic by minibus drivers, including mixed control of specific transportation. Transport inspection officers will also join these activities.

– The main violations among drivers of route vehicles are: carrying passengers in excess of the established number of seats, dropping off (picking up) passengers outside designated stops, exceeding the established speed, non-compliance with road signs and markings, and non-compliance with the established route.

There have been road accidents involving route vehicles where people were injured. On February 7, a 31-year-old driver of a scheduled route taxi "Bykhov-Mogilev" was driving on the M-4 "Minsk-Mogilev" highway. Near the village of Vasilevshchina, the man did not take into account adverse weather conditions, chose an unsafe speed, lost control due to inattention, and collided with a metal barrier. As a result of the accident, 8 people received multiple injuries of varying severity.

Two of the injured were taken to Borisov Central District Hospital.

According to preliminary information, the minibus driver was distracted by his mobile phone while driving. Passengers made comments to him and even filmed it on a mobile phone camera a few seconds before the accident.

The 31-year-old man had previously been brought to administrative responsibility at least 10 times by the State Automobile Inspectorate, including for violations related to passenger transportation. And in October last year, while driving a minibus, he was the culprit of a road accident.

The State Automobile Inspectorate strongly recommends that drivers strictly observe traffic rules, choose a safe speed, and board and alight from route vehicles only at designated stops. In turn, passengers should under no circumstances demand that the driver stop the route vehicle in an unauthorized place.