
This year, on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Moldovan authorities and civil society chose to pay tribute to life in a Road Safety March and to plant oaks to fight air pollution.
Following the World Remembrance Day 2019 theme – Safer vehicles - , the National Patrol Inspectorate, Automobile Club of Moldova and the World Health Organization in Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection organized a Road Safety March on one of the most dangerous roads in Moldova with the help of representatives from all emergency services, driving schools, car clubs and transportation companies (taxi, maxi-taxi) to encourage communities and authorities to fight road crashes and fatalities.
A column of emergency services and volunteers’ cars displaying “Life is not a car part” posters drove from the heart of Chisinau to a village high school placed right on the dangerous route to join a group of students in their “slow down” flash mob. The children urged the passing drivers not to exceed the speed limit and respect the Road Regulations.
“We want to feel safe on our village streets. Our school is situated right
on this street where road accidents happen all the time mostly because of
speeding. We hope that passing drivers will be more careful in the future”,
said Mihai a sixth-grader from “Alexandru Donici” lyceum in Peresecina
village.
Also, the Moldovan police doubled its efforts to prevent road traffic
crashes by multiplying the patrolling on the dangerous routes and stopping
drivers for regular safety checkups. Thus, a “White Weekend” based on
“White Nights” action – a special operation on drink driving - was
conducted.
“Speeding, crossing in unpermitted areas and drink driving are 3 of the
major causes of traffic crashes in Moldova” mentioned the patrol police
chief Victor Manole.
In addition to its usual duties, the Moldovan police also planted oak trees in all 32 Rayons (50 towns and suburbs) of the country to remember those who died in car crashes and to provide fresh air to survivors, also raising awareness of local authorities and communities on the air quality.
According to the official data, a number of 2100 road accidents took place in Moldova in 2019, 217 people lost their lives, and another 2480 suffered different injuries.