Transport

An especially high accident rate on Lithuanian roads made the authorities to go deeper into the causes and problems of car accidents on the roads and to unite forces of all institutions, which can contribute to reducing the accident rate. Owing to joint efforts the situation has changed for the better within the recent years.

In 2004, as many as 751 persons were killed in car accidents, whereas in 2009 this figure stood at 370. The number of people who were killed on the roads has decreased by as much as 50 per cent. This is the best indicator among the countries of the European Union. During that time in our neighbouring Latvia 42 per cent, in Estonia 41 per cent and in Poland 16 per cent fewer people were killed.

Lithuania, which was in the last place among the European Union countries according to the number of people killed in traffic accidents to a million population, in 2009 outstripped Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Greek and Latvia.

The number of killed pedestrians has also decreased considerably: in 2005 as many as 256 pedestrians were killed, in 2009 this figure stood at 121 (it decreased by as much as 53 per cent).

The majority of the best safe traffic specialists unanimously agree that safe traffic is the system, which consists of three links: the road, the man, the vehicle. The most important link in this system is the man; hence, the road and the vehicle must be adapted and adjusted to the convenience, safety and possibilities of man as much as possible.

The results of sociological investigations also confirm he fact that the high accident rate decreased due to the whole of various measures taken: the laws that were made stricter, as well as the educational activities, control exercised by the police, and engineering measures on the road contributed to that.


Variety and use of engineering measures
The Lithuanian Road Administration constantly implements various engineering measures, which improve traffic safety in those places of the state roads where the accident rate is especially high and carries out their constant monitoring and the analysis of their efficiency. Roundabouts or islands, which increase safety of the pedestrians and reduce the accident rate, as well as improve the aesthetic image, appear in dangerous places. Pedestrian and cycle paths are built, which do not only directly improve safety and the social environment of the inhabitants but which also contribute to healthiness of society, and development of tourism.

When improving traffic safety dangerous sections are illuminated. Seeking to reduce the costs, alternative energy sources such as solar and wind energy are made use of. In those places where due to complicated procedures of designing and taking land for public purposes, work can take as many as 3-5 years, measures that give an immediate effect are installed: warning and prohibiting road signs, metal protective railings, replaceable road pavement signing (especially at crossings of the traffic organisation scheme).

Between 2005 and 2010, as many as 300 speed bumps, also known as a sleeping policeman, (especially in settlements), raised pedestrian crossings and raised crossroads were built. It has been established that when installing the raised speed reducing measures on average at every 200-300 metres in the settlements, the average speed in these sections decreases from 60-70 km/h to 30-45 km/h. This helps reduce the number of traffic accidents during which the pedestrian are injured. It is of paramount significance in the settlements where the concentration of pedestrians, especially that of children, is high.

Safe traffic specialists have established that having built roundabouts the number of traffic accidents decreased by as much as 98 per cent in these sections. It has been proved that having equipped a new one-kilometre long section of lighting, the number of accidents especially those that involve cyclists and pedestrians have decreased on average by as many as 2,5 times, and the number of killed people – by almost three times. Having laid pedestrian and cycle tracks, the number of accidents has decreased by as many as 5, and that of the killed people by 8 times. After the protective railings have been installed, the number of accidents has decreased by 3 and 4 times, respectively. The number of accidents also decreases with putting up new road signs.

After a network of 151 stationary speedometers has been installed on the roads of state significance, the number of traffic accident, which are caused by the drivers who exceed the speed has decreased. Experience showed that speedometers are an especially efficient solution in those places where engineering measures are impossible to be applied.

New advantages of the educational activity
The Lithuanian Road Administration carries out the safe traffic educational activity aimed at changing the behaviour of traffic participants, developing culture and responsibility for themselves and others on the road.
The safe traffic project “Take care of one another on the road” started in Kaunas district in 2009, and is taking place all over Lithuania. Executives of this project are the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Lithuanian Catholic dioceses, the Road Administration and the Police Department. On various occasions priests talk to the people about a responsible behaviour on the roads, when visiting their parishioners they present them with different publications, reflective gear (clothing, bands, stickers), vests with light reflecting bands, other practical means improving safety of traffic participants on the roads. Priest do not only give different means as gifts but also encourage people to use them.
The Lithuanian Road Administration, seeking to achieve that people themselves should take better care of their own safety and that of their family members, in co-operation with the association “Lithuanian Rural Communities Union” announced the competition “Traffic Safety in Communities”. It should be underlined that communities from the places that are at some distance from the large cities take part in the competition.
Having compared the figures of the accident rate in Lithuania with those of the European Union states, we can sigh with relief that in the sphere of traffic safety we are no longer the last. However, even this improving situation does not allow