Up to 6 people lose their lives on the roads of Kazakhstan daily, official reports say. This alarming trend is primarily attributed to poor road quality, lack of driver culture and discipline, and narrow roads with potholes that have caused thousands of fatalities. The road to Zerenda, a well-known resort area, is particularly risky and challenging to navigate, particularly during the summer months.
Marat Kozhaev, the First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, revealed that considerable efforts have been made to improve road safety and equip modern highways. The number of road fatalities has been halved since 15 years ago, but much work still needs to be done. To this end, the government aims to build more 4-lane roads since only 2% of the roads have this feature. The Ministry of Transport is presently undertaking additional measures.
Talgat Lastayev, the Acting Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, reported that 3,000 kilometers of roads of national importance have been reconstructed to prevent car collisions. These roads have been transferred to the first technical category, with separated lanes and barriers installed. Car owners who falsify vehicle inspections face fines, and companies that allow such practices are subject to increased penalties.
Law enforcement officers have stopped more than 5.5mn traffic violations since the beginning of the year. Drunk drivers have been arrested, with around 15,000 cases recorded, while 9,000 people have lost their driving rights.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has identified that the lowering of requirements for driving schools has exacerbated the situation. Measures are being taken, such as online broadcasting of the exam process and a unified information system for all driving school students. The installation of more video cameras on the roads, focusing on private carriers, is also being considered.
Alikhan Smailov, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, has announced that the Ministry of Transport and the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken" are taking additional measures to regulate the activities of private taxis, particularly on long-distance routes. Private carriers are often responsible for neglecting road rules and causing accidents. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Emergency Situations is working on developing medical rescue points, including mobile teams.
Earlier, Daryo reported that Kazakhstan's law enforcement authorities are increasingly concerned about the frequent traffic accidents involving minors. Aktoty Boranova, the Chief Inspector responsible for particular tasks in the Administrative Police Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has highlighted the alarming rates in certain areas despite an overall decrease in accidents this year.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)