Rustam Minnikhanov: Today cars are doing harm to people and we have to impose some restrictions

On December 11 at a joint session of Tatarstan Cabinet of Ministers and Ministry of the Interior on realization of Tatarstan President’s order “On additional road safety measures in RT” Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that one of main tasks is to safe people’s lives. The session was held by Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov and broadcasted online on official Government website www.prav.tatarstan.ru.

Ensuring road safety is an urgent issue for all regions and the whole country today, Tatarstan President said. He added that Tatarstan did not reach the forecast figures meant by additional road safety measures, many people of working age and children still die in road accidents.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that speed rate is the first factor that must be taken under consideration, and it influences accident frequency rate.

The second important issue is culture of driving. The most frequent violation is driving on the wrong side that often happens because of low level of drivers’ skills.

The third problem is bowling over pedestrians. According to Rustam Minnikhanov, a tough stance must be taken in this regard.

Tatarstan President spoke positively about the lecture of a leading world expert in the sphere of urban planning, Board Chairman of Institute for Transportation and Development Policy Enrique Peñalosa.

“Today cars are doing harm to people and we have to impose some restrictions. It is becoming harder to control the situation. In general, integrated joint work should be carried out by State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, road services, educational institutions, city and regional administrations,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.