In Ukraine, a record number of traffic accidents with injuries and deaths was recorded. The main factors of this growth are the spread of cases of drug intoxication among drivers and insufficient severity of punishments. About this reported Oleksiy Biloshitsky, First Deputy Chief of the Patrol Police Department.
According to him, 25,781 road accidents with victims were registered during the year, in which 3,202 people died, and another 32,023 were injured. These indicators are the highest since 2019. In the conditions of loss of control over part of the territories due to the war, some regions exceeded previous anti-records.
A key problem is driving while intoxicated, especially under the influence of drugs. As Biloshitsky notes, the number of such cases is growing extremely quickly due to the influence of both the general situation in the country and personal factors. The police, for its part, have strengthened control over this type of violations.
Another reason for the deterioration of the situation is the lack of effective punishments. In most cases, drunk drivers, even if they were under the influence of drugs, are awarded a fine of 17,000 hryvnias and a one-year suspension of their driving license.
In the case of accidents with injuries or deaths, the situation is even more alarming: in 82% of cases, the perpetrators receive probation, which allows them to avoid imprisonment. As an additional measure, courts can prohibit travel abroad or impose night house arrest.
