The number of traffic accidents has grown by more than a third in the past year
The number of traffic accidents in Ukraine has grown by more than a third in the last year and the number of deaths on the country’s roadways is up by nearly a quarter in year-on-year terms, according to the DAI State automotive inspection department – Ukraine’s traffic police.
Experts point to growing personal incomes, which have resulted in more cars on the country’s roadways, flaws in traffic regulations and Ukrainians’ post-Soviet mentality as reasons for the rising number of smash-ups.
DAI head Alexei Kalinskiy said that accidents are up by 34.8 percent during the first eight months of this year to more than 163,000 compared to 120,000 recorded during the same period in 2006. Accidents that saw victims sustain injuries were up 21.7 percent year-on-year, while fatalities grew by 22.9 percent from 4,425 deaths in 2006 to 5,596 in 2007.
Foreigners have been involved in 2,700 car accidents since the year began, resulting in 900 injuries and 135 deaths.
According to a July report issued by Kyiv city prosecutors, there are about 200 collisions in the capital every day.
Kalinskiy said the number of DAI traffic police has been bolstered by 4,600 additional staff to deal with the growing number of accidents.
Finding the cause
Minister of Internal Affairs Vasyl Tsushko said that the DAI no longer hide statistics, which explains the rise in reported traffic accidents. The traffic police forms part of the ministry, which Tsushko, a Socialist leader came to head in December of last year.
Kalinskiy pointed to an imperfect legislative base as a factor contributing to the larger accident toll.
He said that traffic fines ranging from Hr 14-34 ($3.5-$7) are simply too small to increase discipline on the roads. Kalinskiy said that two draft laws were submitted to parliament since 2006, but legislators failed to consider them before the president dismissed parliament.
In addition, the fines could previously be taken by DAI inspectors on the spot, but by the new rules, to take a fine from a driver, a protocol needs to be filled out at a police station, which in reality happens rarely and causes more recklessness on the roads.
Kalinskiy said that he was involved in developing one of the legislative bills, which would introduce a point system in Ukraine. According to the proposal, drivers would lose two points for driving without a seatbelt, eight for driving without a license and 10 if caught driving while intoxicated.
If a driver accumulates 30 or more points over the course of a year, he or she would have to answer before the courts and face a minimum fine of Hr 510 (around $100). Repeat offenders would see their licenses revoked.
The DAI also pointed to the growing number of vehicles on the country’s roadways and insufficient driver training. According to DAI statistics, drivers with less than five years experience behind the wheel are involved in the greatest number of accidents.
The director of a Kyiv driving school, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Post that drivers typically start to bend and break the rules after three years of driving experience, because they begin to feel more confident.
Another problem is that many schools reduce the number of lessons to make it cheaper and more attractive for clients, while the necessary minimum is 15 classes.
This year saw a spike in prices for driving schools. Last year, driving courses cost from Hr 700 to Hr 1,000 ($140-200), while the price has risen to between Hr 1,000 to Hr 2,000 ($200-400). Depending on the school and the car, a lesson behind the wheel costs from Hr 50 to 100 ($10-20).
The director said that there is also a generational problem. Youth today are more aware that any legal document, such as a diploma and license, can be purchased easily with enough money.
A Post inquiry determined that drivers’ licenses can be purchased in Kyiv without any training for $100 to $300, depending on how quickly a buyer wants the permit.
Dark side of economic success
The chief economist at the Kyiv-based International Center of Trend Research (ICTR), Eugenia Akhtyrko, agreed that imperfect traffic regulations contribute to the growing number of accidents.
“The lack of a strong legislative base in this field results in a significant level of corruption and makes it almost impossible to punish a person for a traffic violation,” she said, adding that economic factors also contribute to the situation, although not to the same extent.
Akhtyrko said that rising personal incomes have resulted in increased purchasing power and consumer activity. More people can afford a car today compared with several years ago. ICTR statistics showed that the average wage of Hr 1,225 ($243) in the first six months of 2007 was up by 12.3 percent year-on-year. Three years ago, the average wage stood at Hr 590 ($117).
According to ICTR data, the State Statistics Committee reported that automotive sales stood at Hr 19.2 billion (more than $3.8 billion) in 2006, up by nearly 15 percent over the previous year.
Kyiv-based Auto Consulting reported that 371,000 cars were sold in 2006 for 4.6 billion euros, which indicates a 40 percent growth over the previous year and earns Ukraine ninth place in Europe in terms of new car sales.
Auto-Consulting director Oleh Omelnitskiy said that 25 percent growth is expected in 2007, with 250,000 new cars already sold this year. He said that between 490,000 and 500,000 cars will be sold by the end of the year. In 2005 that figure stood at 265,000 automobiles.
Omelnitskiy noted that the country’s emerging middle class is moving away from “Soviet” brand cars such as the Lada ($7,000 to $10,000) to moderately priced imports, such as Chevrolet, Daewoo and Toyota, ranging in price from $12,000 to $38,000.
Growing demand for more expensive cars can also be explained by an increase in consumer crediting for automobile purchases.
“The rise in car purchases in Ukraine can also be explained by the increase of auto crediting, which in turn often takes place due to the high and extreme increase in prices for real estate. Many of those who planned to purchase an apartment on credit several years ago now realize they can’t afford one and switch over to cars,” explained ICTR economist Olexander Zholud.
He said that Hr 21.4 billion (nearly $4.3 billion) in credits for automobile purchases were extended last year, more than double the Hr 10 billion ($2 billion) banks offered in 2005.
