OREANDA-NEWS. July 01, 2011. Heads of 11 building companies, members of the INCACOM concern, signed a new initiative “Roads Without Accidents in Moldova”. It was said during the signing ceremony that 1.2 million people die and 50 million people get injured in accidents every year in the world.

In Moldova, the number of accidents’ victims per man is 60 percent higher than on average in Europe and in terms of the number of cars – 10 times higher. During four months of 2011, 706 accidents happened in the country, with 92 people dead and 897 – injured. In 2009, accidents killed 500 people, in 2010 – 452 people.

The Minister of Transport Anatolii Salaru said both drivers and the state of roads are to blame for a big number of accidents. Car owners annually lose 3 billion leis because of the bad roads and the final damage of the country’s economy totals 7-8 billion leis. According to him, the government is taking all necessary measures to reconstruct roads, but not only the state’s efforts are needed to enhance traffic safety.

Speaking of the people’s responsibility, it was said that with Moldova needing 44,000 road signs, 2 years ago just 30,000 traffic signs were left because of the theft. 5,000 new signs were installed in 2010; since the beginning of 2011 – 7,000 more and 5,000 traffic signs more will be installed by the end of this year. At the same time, the signs are still being stolen. The “Roads without Accidents” initiative is a symbolic code composed of 100 points, inobservance of which is the main reason of the accidents: speeding, driver’s tiredness while driving, using mobile phone while driving, overload or a bad technical state of a vehicle and others.

The event’s attendees signed a code, undertaking to observe the road legislation and to take care of their drivers and vehicles. Transport of these companies, representing the building industry, annually drives over 15 million kilometers throughout Moldova. It was emphasized that this initiative is just one of the few steps aimed at improving the roads’ quality and tariff safety. According to the InfoMarket Agency’s data, the initiative was supported by the Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure, the Transporters and Road Workers Union, Inmacom concern and companies: Lafarge Ciment (Moldova), Cobari, Cariera din Cupcini, Beton Armat, Macon, Knauf-Gips, Calcar, Mineral, Fabrica materiale de constructie Soroca, FEC, Cariera Micauti. The event was carried out with support of the Tatra-BIS company.