Belarus could not avoid "Tin Can Day"

October 29, Minsk /BELTA/. The adverse weather that hit Belarus last weekend significantly complicated the road situation and led to numerous traffic accidents. This was reported to BELTA correspondent by Anna Banadyk, senior inspector for special assignments of the Main Traffic Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus. Despite the traffic police warnings, the traditional "Tin Can Day" could not be avoided, Anna Banadyk noted. On Friday and over the weekend, 1315 traffic accidents with property damage occurred in Belarus, 19 people died, and another 89 were injured. The main causes of the accidents were predictable: loss of control, summer tires, poor visibility on the road. On October 28, a truck with Polish license plates overturned on the Vitebsk-Liozno highway near the village of Dryukovo, Vitebsk region. The driver managed to get out of the cabin on his own, but the tractor and semi-trailer had to be lifted by the Ministry of Emergency Situations workers. In the evening of the same day, on Independence Avenue in Minsk, a 23-year-old girl died as a result of a double hit-and-run. She was crossing the roadway at an unregulated pedestrian crossing. "These are isolated cases from a long string of traffic accidents that occurred last weekend," Anna Banadyk noted. Since the evening of October 26, the State Automobile Inspectorate has introduced the special "Weather" plan in all regions, which is still in effect. It provides for increased traffic police control over the roads; for example, on October 27, all personnel of the "Strela" special unit were on duty. Inspectors help drivers who have gotten into trouble due to bad weather, assist stranded vehicles, and report traffic accidents. In addition, constant monitoring of the roadway is carried out. The traffic police communicate with road service dispatchers and provide them with information about the need to grit a particular section of the road. At the same time, if road workers do not take any measures, an administrative protocol is drawn up against them. "On Saturday alone, 10 such protocols were drawn up," added Anna Banadyk. In such difficult weather conditions, there were drivers who risked driving while intoxicated. Over 3 days, inspectors detained more than 400 drivers under the influence. Also, almost 3,000 people were caught speeding. In total, over 16,500 traffic violations were detected in Belarus on Friday and over the weekend, including over 3,100 violations by pedestrians, such as the absence of mandatory retroreflective elements in the dark. "In the coming days, the weather may still present unpleasant surprises for motorists," Anna Banadyk warned. The traffic police once again warns drivers who have not yet managed to "re-shoe" their cars that it is time to do so. Winter tires help reduce braking distance and significantly improve vehicle handling in icy and snowy conditions. In addition, the car must be prepared for winter accordingly. It is necessary to check the overall condition of the heating system – the ability to clearly see the roadway and the traffic situation depends on its proper functioning, otherwise the windows will fog up or freeze. It is mandatory to check the serviceability of external lighting devices – headlights and parking lights. If necessary, the headlights should be adjusted. It will not be superfluous to replace the windshield wipers, and the windshield washer fluid must be filled with a special non-freezing liquid. The State Automobile Inspectorate strongly recommends that drivers who have not prepared their cars for winter refrain from traveling in bad weather. "Any little thing on a winter road can cause an accident," the traffic police warn. If a driver needs assistance from the traffic police on the road, they can always call 102 – the nearest traffic police patrol will immediately proceed to the scene.-0-