October 24, 2024

Russian Roads Become More Treacherous


Russian Roads Become More Treacherous
Elimination of the consequences of a road accident. АннаВо, Wikimedia Commons.

In 2023, for the first time in a decade, the number of accidents in Russia increased by 6 percent compared to the previous year. For the first time in 12 years, the number of road accident victims also rose: fatalities increased by 2.7 percent, and injuries by 5.7 percent. Over the year, 14,700 people died in traffic incidents in Russia, according to research by Esli Byt Tochnym ("If One is Being Accurate") project.

One reason for the rise is the redistribution of traffic flows from the west to southeastern Russia. This reflects increased trade with Turkey, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and China, leading to an increase in accidents caused by trucks.

Most truck accidents occur in the North Caucasus and Siberian regions, where Russian exports to China, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan transit. Additionally, the Southern Federal District links Russia to occupied territories of Ukraine, many of which have been developed over the past two years of Russia's War in Ukraine.

At the same time, the number of accidents involving passenger cars has also risen. Experts attribute this to sanctions and the exit of Western automakers from Russia. "The main factors driving the rise in accidents are the deteriorating quality of cars amid an aging vehicle fleet, a slow renewal rate, or the replacement of vehicles with those that do not meet safety standards," said Anton Shaparin, vice president of the National Automobile Union.

Shaparin suggested that Russian-made AvtoVAZ vehicles, which have taken a significant share of the updated fleet in the past two years, may be part of the problem. In 2023, 31 percent of cars purchased by Russians were Ladas made by AvtoVAZ, compared to just 21 percent in 2019.

“As for AvtoVAZ, these are, frankly speaking, unsafe cars that lack airbags, electronic systems, or driver assistance features,” Shaparin said.

Another contributing factor is the poor quality of road infrastructure. In 2022, only half of Russia’s regional and inter-municipal roads met regulatory requirements.

You Might Also Like

A Singer Diversifies
  • October 20, 2024

A Singer Diversifies

The notoriously pr-Kremlin rock star Shaman has filed trademarks for alcoholic beverages, household goods, and sex toys.
Putin Still Popular
  • October 13, 2024

Putin Still Popular

Breaking News: A state-funded study finds Putin's public support is still high.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955