Sanctions and old cars fuel Russia's deadly roads crisis
5:47 PM EDT, April 24, 2024
The Russian service Kommersant suggests that these tragic figures can be traced back to sanctions. Freight traffic has shifted from the west to the east, where the road infrastructure is vastly inferior. Additionally, with more Russians opting for domestic vacations, there's been a surge in personal vehicle use. Compounding the issue is the increase in cars imported from Japan, which are designed for left-hand traffic and feature right-side steering wheels.
In the first quarter of 2024, there was a slight improvement—a 2.2 percent decrease in fatalities. However, Peter Szkumatow, a safety expert, cautions that such decreases are marginal and may be short-lived. Historically, Russia has seen a spike in accidents from summer through winter.