Last year, the number of accidents caused by drunken taxi drivers increased by almost 15% in Russia, the press center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation reported.
According to the ministry, in 2020, there were 3574 accidents involving taxis in the country. At the same time, taxi drivers with signs of intoxication were guilty of 89.5% of road accidents in which they participated.
“The number of accidents with the participation of taxi drivers who drive a vehicle with signs of intoxication has increased by 14.8% (124). The death toll in these accidents increased by 137.5% (19), ”writes TASS on Thursday, April 15.
The growth of car accidents with taxis was recorded in every fourth region. Most of all, the indicator increased in the Penza region (+ 400%). It is followed by Samara (+ 300%) and Moscow (+ 161.1%) regions.
It is noted that restrictive measures related to the prevention of the spread of coronavirus had a significant impact on taxi accidents.
So, in April-May 2020, when there was a period of strict restrictions, there was a decrease in the number of accidents involving taxis, but at the same time there was an increase in the number of fatalities.
A similar situation occurred between September and December, when the second wave of the pandemic began in the country.
Earlier, on April 3, the head of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Chernikov, said that an increase in deaths in road accidents with taxi cars was observed in Russia. According to him, the number of fatalities in traffic accidents with a taxi increased by 20% over the year.