Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The Main State Traffic Police Department is holding a month-long traffic safety campaign on Azerbaijani roads from April 1-30, the department said on Friday.

The campaign being conducted under the "Solidarity on the roads is guarantee for safety" slogan aims to step up measures to prevent fatal road accidents and provide for safe situation on the roads of the country.

Prior to the campaign, the department called on road users to fulfill traffic regulations more carefully. Moreover, it appeals to organizations, institutions and media to support the campaign by attracting the population's attention, including by asking drivers to switch on the low beam in the daytime in support of the campaign.

According to the department, during the Novruz Holiday some 100 road accidents occurred in the country, which led to 37 fatalities and 144 injuries. Most of the car crashes were related to speeding, driving on the opposite lane, improper maneuvering and crossroad rules violations.

Some 450 road accidents happened in the country in the first two months of 2013, which caused 160 deaths, including those of 12 children, and 485 injuries. Some 20,000 pedestrians were fined over traffic violations.

Most of these road accidents were caused by speeding, while 40 percent of the accidents involved running into pedestrians.

The traffic problem is one of the most acute in the capital Baku. Recently, a plan of measures on resolving the issue in 2013-2015 was discussed at the Transport Ministry.

More crosswalks, underground and overland pedestrian crossings have been constructed in Baku. However, pedestrians continue to violate road crossing rules. The culture of proper behavior on the road has to be engrained from childhood.

A number of projects to increase children's awareness of road traffic culture and road safety are implemented in Azerbaijan every year. The main goal of these efforts is to enhance measures to prevent children and teenagers from getting involved in car accidents.