OREANDA-NEWS. Transcript: Dmitry Medvedev: Good afternoon, everyone. We have met at this interesting and useful place, which also looks quite modern. Logically, we will talk about road safety with experts and Interior Ministry officials.

Why have I proposed this meeting? We have met more than once and discussed a variety of road safety issues in different formats and with different people. I believe that all of these meetings helped. Even though our achievements are not that numerous, we still manage to find compromise solutions and coordinate proposals on improving legislation. This time I have proposed a meeting because we will soon need to discuss a special federal targeted programme on road safety to 2020, which is why I suggest that we discuss our goals within this programme and also any other acute road safety issues.

I will not be talking about what has been recently done in this sphere, about our achievements and drawbacks. I want to hear what you have to say, as this is the real purpose of talking with experts, with those who have a special interest in the subject matter at hand. Anyway, we have been improving legislation, which has pleased some and displeased others, as usual. Some think that we are moving in the right direction, while others say that we absolutely must not do this.

This is probably how things should be because different opinions will always be voiced. I repeat that legislation is being improved. Video cameras are being installed on motorways, and the relevant approaches towards approving basic documents in the State Duma are being formulated. This includes such a widely-publicised issue as stiffer sentences for driving under the influence of alcohol and a number of other issues.

I would like to mention some statistics. Naturally, our colleagues will probably elaborate on all this later. The number of road accidents had been decreasing by about 7% annually since 2006. Unfortunately, there has been a small increase in the number of road accidents in 2012, including the number of fatalities and injuries. These very sad statistics represent the lives and health of real people, including very young people and children who are killed and crippled in many cases. Quite recently, there was another terrible accident in the Vologda Region. Six people were killed and over 20 injured after a bus collided with another vehicle. Many children from a St Petersburg children’s home were involved in the accident. Unfortunately, this shows that we are still not up to the mark in this area. Let’s discuss the causes of road accidents, too. At any rate, we need new methods to influence the situation, and not just observance of traffic regulations. There are some other well-known causes. “Road wars” annually claim about 30,000 lives. These statistics are terrible.

Overall statistics are also negative because, unfortunately, several times more people are killed in Russia per every 100,000 of the population than in European countries. And yet Russia has fewer cars than Europe.

Road accidents are caused by numerous factors, including bad roads and poor traffic organisation. We are working in all these areas. But the situation here is not changing as quickly as we would like. Sentences must be unavoidable for anyone who violates traffic regulations. We must move from theory to practice in this respect. As regards fines, currently drivers pay only for 50% of traffic tickets. We believe that the procedure of paying fines should be simplified, and that drivers should be able to make online payments and from their mobile phones. Let’s discuss this issue, too.

And, of course, we should discuss education, ways of explaining what drivers should and should not do on the road. As a rule, this involves driving lessons and basic driving skills. You and I are meeting at a specialised agency called the State Inspection for Road Traffic Safety (GIBDD). Drivers are trained at GIBDD divisions. Obviously, the situation in other places is not as good as here. At any rate, the equipment, teaching aids and methods need to be upgraded. Furthermore, we need to establish tough oversight over driving schools and driving exams. In addition, we need to declassify traffic accident statistics involving various categories of drivers, including beginner drivers.

The Government Expert Council and the National Research University – Higher School of Economics have recently assessed the traffic safety situation. The relevant survey has been completed, and proposals submitted. On the whole, I suggest that we use this platform to discuss these issues, as it is well suited for this conversation. A number of speakers will take the floor, as planned. Naturally, I am sure that some people will make unscheduled statements, and that they will say a few words about the current situation. I won’t make any formal rules, because I don’t like doing this.  Everyone who wants to may take the floor. Perhaps we should start with the more detailed reports. After that, we will exchange opinions and single out other issues that we should discuss. Who will start? Mr Fyodorov, you know the ropes. Please, take the floor.

Vladimir Fyodorov (Member of the Federation Council and Member of the Government Commission on Road Traffic Safety): Thank you. Mr Medvedev, colleagues. Mr Medvedev, first of all, I would like to thank you personally and the Government for your constant focus on traffic safety issues. You have rightly noted that you’ve chaired various meetings, that you talk to people, and that you know the situation.