DĖL VALSTYBINĖS SAUGAUS EISMO AUTOMOBILIŲ KELIAIS

(1)of the Law on the Safety of Road Traffic of the Republic of Lithuania (Official Gazette, No. 92-2883) with a view to implementing Point 229 of the Implementation Measures of the Programme of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania for 2001-2004, approved by Resolution No. 1196 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, taken on 4 October, 2001 (Official Gazette, 2001, No. 86-3015), the Government of the Republic of Lithuania r e s o l v e s:

1. to approve: 1.
2. the State Programme on the Safety of Road Traffic for 2002-2004 (attached); 1.
3. the Plan of the Implementation Measures of the State Programme on the Safety of Road Traffic for 2002-2004 (attached);
4. To authorise the Commission on the Safety of Traffic to co-ordinate the implementation of the State Programme on the Safety of Road Traffic for 2002-2004 and the Plan of its Implementation Measures. Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas Minister of Transport Zigmantas Balčytis Approved by Resolution No. 1077 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on 8 July 2002m. state programme on the safety of road traffic for 2002–2004 I. GENERAL PROVISIONS The fast development and the growing intensity of traffic makes it more and more difficult to ensure safety on the roads and thoroughfares in Lithuania. As it is difficult to imagine civilisation without transport, it is the duty of public authorities to ensure the safety of traffic by more effective means. The State Programme on the Safety of Road Traffic for 2002-2004 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme’) has been developed in accordance with the provisions of Article 4.3 of the Law on the Safety of Road Traffic (Official Gazette, No. 92-2883) and Resolution No. 1196 On the Approval of the Implementation Measures of the Programme of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania for 2001-2004 of 4 October 2001 (Official Gazette, 2001 No. 86-3015) to ensure the continuity of Lithuania’s preparation for membership in the European Union in the area of safe traffic. The Programme gives a brief description of the situation in the safety of traffic in the country, the main causes of accidents and the factors influencing the safety of traffic. On the basis of the analysis presented, the Programme provides for priority actions to be taken with a view to implementing its objectives in the improvement of the safety of road traffic. II. SITUATION IN THE SAFETY OF TRAFFIC AND THE CAUSES OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS From 1992 to 2002, 7547 persons died and 58185 persons were injured in road accidents. Six thousand road accidents causing death or injury to people are registered each year. The number of accidents that cause damage to vehicles or objects of transport infrastructure or the environment is even greater. Compared to 1998, however, the number of deaths and injuries has diminished in recent years. In 1998, there were 174 road accidents, 207 injuries and 22.4 deaths per 100 thousand population, whereas the respective numbers in 2001 were the following: 161.7 road accidents, 192.4 injuries, 19.1 deaths. Although we can notice both absolute and relative reduction in the main indicators of road accidents, the incidence of road accidents in Lithuania remains rather high compared to that in other countries. The risk to be involved in a road accident in Lithuania is 5 or 6 times greater than in the Nordic countries. Many more people suffer serious consequences of a road accident than the official statistics reflect. The number of persons who become disabled as a result of a car crash is three times greater than the number of deaths caused by car crashes. The consequences of a road accident (causing death or injury) for the victims are much more severe than the damage done to physical objects, for it involves a loss of a great number of years of active life and ruined lives. The likelihood of getting into a road accident, traffic jams and constant traffic disturbances cause the annoyance of ordinary motorists and drivers of public transport vehicles, which increases their psychological tension and, consequently, the likelihood of a road accident. The annual losses to the national economy caused by road accidents run into 1.3 billion litas, i. e. 3 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, while in the more developed European countries the annual losses caused by road accidents account for 1 or 2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. While integrating the national road transport in the European transport system, the safety of road traffic becomes a priority which is a constituent part of Lithuania’s preparedness for EU membership. In respect of the safety of traffic, Lithuania is a country of relatively high risk, therefore it is necessary to take all kinds of measures to ensure safe traffic on the roads the entirety of which would make it possible to achieve the established objectives through complex or special programmes. The analysis of the statistics of road accidents in Lithuania in the last few years reveals a great number of factors that lead to car crashes and determine their types, the ratio of deaths to injuries, etc. Nearly all accidents occur due to several factors, which depend directly on the elements of the safety of traffic. The country does not have a rational system of traffic safety or a related general information system, which could ensure the consistency and interaction of its constituent parts. Different institutions perform different individual elements of the same functions. This makes it difficult to implement one or another function or to develop a policy of traffic safety as part of Lithuania’s Pre-accession Programme to meet the requirements of the acquis. The contribution of the local authorities to the improvement of traffic safety is not quite adequate, for they do not allocate enough funds for the solution of problems related to traffic safety. Traffic commissions in a number of cities, towns and districts (if they exist there) function only formally or their practical activities, if any, produce an insignificant impact on the improvement of the situation. Lithuania introduced the system of conformity assessment for vehicles, which has a lot of potential in the improvement of traffic safety, as late as
5. But the funds and administrative competencies for its implementation are insufficient, therefore the market is flooded with unsafe vehicles. The transport infrastructure in Lithuanian cities is not appropriate to the increased traffic flows, for in planning and laying out the streets and traffic facilities the designers had in mind only the then levels of traffic. The expectation was that the level of 180 private cars per 1000 population would be achieved in 2005, whereas now, in 2002, there are 290 private cars per 1000 population. The transport infrastructure in Lithuanian cities is not adequate to such traffic volume while the speed limit of 60 km/h in cities and built-up areas contributes to the risk of collisions and creates favourable conditions for accidents. That is why half of all accidents occur in cities and built-up areas. Another cause of car crashes is the roads in the countryside. Although the network of highways is well developed, there is a great number of dangerous sections (“black spots”), gravel roads, safety devices are not sufficient on all roads. The analysis of recent statistics of accidents in Lithuania shows that every other accident involves pedestrians or cyclists. In roughly 60 per cent of cases, the road accident is attributed to drivers, one quarter of accidents is caused by the pedestrians. About 80 per cent of road accidents are attributed to human error (the error of a user of the road), therefore, it is very important to involve the general public in the road safety process. Every member of the population is a road user and road safety depends a great deal on the actions and behaviour of each road user. Meanwhile, the culture of road users in Lithuania is not adequate. The motorists and the pedestrians do not show respect for each other, and violations of traffic rules are quite frequent. The inadequate cultural standards of road users, lack of discipline, non-participation of the public in the solution of road safety problems are all important causes contributing to the increase of accidents in the country. Another key factor in road accidents is the influence of alcohol and drugs; the consequences of such accidents are most often very grave. On the average, intoxicated motorists cause 100 fatal accidents and 1000 personal injury accidents a year. On the other hand, traffic control is not quite efficient. Not a single country in the world can ensure road safety by tightening traffic control rules alone: road safety depends a great deal on the application of the state-of-the-art safety devices. But traffic control institutions are not adequately equipped with such devices, which leads to the inadequate control on the roads and frequent violations of traffic rules – breaches of the work and rest regime, speeding and other violations which threaten not only the pedestrians but other –disciplined – motorists as well. Investigations show that visibility is one of the most important factors responsible for accidents. Vehicles are sometimes difficult to see if their headlights are not on and then they particularly dangerous to the pedestrians. Daylight lights help to see the vehicle even when visually it blends with the environment. Very few pedestrians use reflectors, a great number of cyclists ride without protective helmets. These relatively inexpensive devices would help the pedestrians and the cyclists to avoid getting into accidents. Inadequate education and knowledge of traffic rules is another factor. The main principles of road safety should be instilled in childhood, and that must be a life-long process. A great number of people are not psychologically ready for the changing traffic conditions and the increasing volume of traffic. The psychological readiness is very important in the training of the main users of traffic – the motorists – and the development of their skills. Meanwhile, there are a lot of gaps in the training of drivers the elimination of which would improve their skills and education and make roads much safer in various driving regimes and critical situations. Other factors contributing to the high incidence of accidents are insufficient co-operation with the research institutions of Lithuania and other countries or with international organisations active in the area of road safety. III. ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTING TO ROAD SAFETY Road safety is influenced by a great number of factors. They must be treated as one entire whole where 4 elements should be emphasised as the most important ones – the road user, the vehicle, the road and the environment. The elements of the system can be influenced through legal, administrative, engineering, educational measures and research. All these elements are equally important to road safety and directly dependent on the level of the national economy, the funds allocated, the cultural and living standards of the population. As the factors of road safety are rather complicated and varied, the problems related to road safety should be dealt with by public authorities at all levels – the Seimas and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the local authorities, business entities, all the road users – in close co-operation with each other. The executive branch of power should play the most important role in this process beginning with the development and improvement of the legal framework, accumulation of the necessary resources for the implementation of the planned measures to the application of certain measures of enforcement to the public. The Law on the Safety of Road Traffic of the Republic of Lithuania provides that the implementation of the road safety policy of the Government shall be regulated by the standing Commission on the Safety of Traffic by co-ordinating the activities of central public administration and local authorities, NGOs, legal and natural persons. The system of road safety institutions comprises the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, local authorities, other central public authorities, non-governmental organisations and research institutions. The main tasks of the Commissions on the Safety of Traffic and the institutions mentioned above are the expert identification of the causes of road accidents and the provision of progressive effective means for the reduction of accidents. The choice of safe traffic measures is closely related to the development and implementation of state programmes. The latest programme for road safety was developed for 1996-2000, therefore time has come for a new and better state programme for road safety including the provision of measures of its implementation. IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME Safe road traffic is an important factor in the national economy and social well-being. It requires deliberate and consistent public policy a certain part of which should be implemented through the State Programme on the Safety of Road Traffic for 2002-
6. The main objective of the Programme is the reduction of casualties and injuries in road accidents. On the basis of the experience of other countries and taking into consideration the high rate of road accidents in Lithuania and the available financial resources, it would be realistic to expect the reduction of casualties by 4 per cent in 2002, by 5 per cent in 2003 and 6 per cent in
7. In addition, the implementation of the measures provided for in the Programme should have a positive impact on the protection of the health and property of road users, on the improvement of traffic conditions as well as the reduction of the adverse effects of vehicle traffic on the environment. The achievement of the objectives of the Programme is going to be rather complicated process. Taking into consideration the existing situation in road safety, we can say that the Programme will require the efforts not only of the institutions directly responsible for its implementation, but also the efforts of all the road users. V. PRIORITIES IN ROAD SAFETY ACTIVITIES Taking into consideration the main causes and factors determining the high rates of road accidents in Lithuania and the main objectives of the Programme for the period until 2005, the following priorities have been proposed in the efforts to ensure road safety: improvement of the legal framework for road safety; improvement of the general system of the public regulation of road safety; training and education of road users; explanation and promotion of the importance of road safety to the public; expansion of public transport; improvement of traffic control; improvement of traffic conditions on the roads; control of the roadworthiness of vehicles and the increased use of safety measures; improvement of emergency and rescue services; improvement of the training and professional development of drivers and road safety specialists; research and co-operation with international organisations in the area of road safety. After the establishment of the priorities in the area of road safety, the implementation of the Programme will be related to specific measure the timely application of which will help ensure the effectiveness of the Programme. VI. CO-ORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME The State Programme on the Safety of Road Traffic for 2002-2004 shall be implemented in accordance with the plan of its implementation providing for specific measures to improve road safety, timetable for their implementation, responsible institutions and financing. The plan of measures provides for the education of road users (including pre-school and school children), changes in the regulation of traffic in places of high rates of accidents, road maintenance, legal regulation, educational activities, research, training and professional development of experts, - all in accordance with the Law on Road Safety of the Republic of Lithuania. The implementation of the State Programme on the Safety of Road Traffic for 2002-2004 and its plan of implementation measures will co-ordinated by the Commission on the Safety of Traffic. –––––––––––––––– APPROVED by Resolution No. 1077 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on 8 July 2002 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF THE STATE PROGRAMME ON THE SAFETY OF ROAD TRAFFIC FOR 2002–2004 No. Measure Time of implementation Responsible institution Allocated funds (in thous. litas) Source of financing 2002 2003 2004 I. IMPROVEMENT OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN THE AREA OF ROAD SAFETY
8. To draw up the draft Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the approval of Road Traffic Rules 3rd quarter of 2002 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior – – – –
9. To establish the licensing requirements for carriers to carry goods along interior routes 4th quarter of 2002 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior, State Road Traffic Inspection Authority under the Ministry of Transport – – – –
10. To implement the Programme “Yellow Bus” and to draw up legal acts on the organisation of the bussing of school children 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior – – – –
11. Develop the methodology for the identification of sections of road with high accident rates 2nd quarter of 2003 Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport – – – –
12. To establish technical requirements for road vehicles used to train driving skills 3rd quarter of 2003 State Road Traffic Inspection Authority under the Ministry of Transport – – – –
13. Establish requirements for digital tachographers 4th quarter of 2003 State Road Traffic Inspection Authority under the Ministry of Transport – – – – II. IMPROVEMENT OF THE GENERAL STATE SYSTEM FOR THE REGULATION OF ROAD SAFETY
14. To draw up proposals concerning the improvement of the structure of the Lithuanian system of road safety management and control 4th quarter of 2004 Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport – – – –
15. To create a centralised database of road accidents and of violations of Road Traffic Rules 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior 250 100 100 Ministry of the Interior*
16. To ensure more efficient activities of the local Commissions for the Safety of Road Traffic 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior – – – –
17. To encourage the foundation of centres for health and psychological examination of motorists to monitor and examine motorists detained driving a vehicle while intoxicated from alcohol or drugs or other substances 2003–2004 Ministry of health – – – – III. TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF ROAD USERS
18. To introduce a course in Road Traffic Rules and training of safe traffic skills in the curricula of general education schools 2003–2004 Ministry of Education and Science – – – –
19. To improve the school programmes in the training of safe traffic skills and publish the necessary textbooks 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science – – - –
20. To organise public lectures on the culture of traffic, administration of first aid, impact of alcohol and drugs on health, effect of stressful situations on the road user 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Interior – – – –
21. To encourage the establishment of schools or centres of safe traffic 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of the Interior – – – –
22. To organise meetings and competitions of school children designed to demonstrate the importance of safe traffic, to teach life-saving methods and health protection 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport – – – –
23. To organise a competition, ‘Take Care of Young Lives on the Road’, for school children of various age groups 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of the Interior, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 70 80 85 Ministry of Education and Science**, Ministry of the Interior*, Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
24. To encourage school children to participate in the international competition ‘Safety of Cyclists on the Road’ 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of the Interior, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 5 5 5 Ministry of Education and Science**, Ministry of the Interior* IV. FORMATION AND PROMOTION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY OF TRAFFIC
25. To organise campaigns of road safety (distribution of reflectors, campaigns against intoxicated road users and violators of Road Traffic Rules, including both the pedestrians and the motorists) and measures to enhance the safety of children on the roads 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Health 375 390 409 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads***
26. To stimulate and support the young traffic patrollers, to organise their competitions, surveys, meetings and camps 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education and Science 90 140 190 Ministry of the Interior*, Ministry of Education and Science**
27. To participate in creating radio and television shows related to road safety, administration of first aid, harmful effects of alcohol and drugs on human health 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Health 30 31 33 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
28. To inform road users on traffic conditions and accidents on the roads and thoroughfares 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport – – – –
29. To organise the production of posters, billboards, pamphlets and commercials promoting road safety and condemning intoxicated road users 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 70 73 76 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
30. Every year to publish a year book on the situation of road safety in Lithuania 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 8 10 10 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads *** V. DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT
31. To provide methodological support to local authorities on the improvement of public transport by designating special lanes for it 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport – – – –
32. To draw up a programme for the renewal of public transport 4th quarter of 2002 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of the Interior – – – –
33. To provide methodological support to local authorities with a view to limiting traffic in the major cities of Lithuania by giving priority to pedestrians, the disabled, cyclists and public transport 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport – – – – VI. IMPROVEMENT OF THE ORGANISATION AND CONTROL OF TRAFFICF
34. To supply the police with patrol cars, computers, state-of-the-art technical devices of traffic control, monitoring and other equipment 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior 4925 4925 4925 Ministry of the Interior*
35. To provide methodological support to local authorities on the installation of video cameras and stationary speed measurement devices at dangerous junctions 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior – – – –
36. To establish specialised units of traffic police in Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys and Marijampolė for traffic control in the arterial roads of Lithuania 2002 Ministry of the Interior 1495 – – Ministry of the Interior*
37. To improve the ways and methods of traffic organisation and control by concentrating on the prevention of the most dangerous breaches of Road Traffic rules 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport – – – –
38. To provide methodological support to local authorities on the improvement of existing traffic control measures and the implementation of new ones 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport – – – –
39. To carry out monthly random checking of motorists on the road paying special attention to the identification of intoxicated drivers 2002–2004 Ministry of the Interior – – – –
40. To analyse the appropriateness and feasibility of building stationary road vehicle control posts on the arterial roads of the country and, if necessary, to draw up their layout 1st quarter of 2004 Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport – – – – VII. IMPROVEMENT OF ROAD TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
41. To reduce accident risk on the dangerous sections of arterial roads – to draw up technical projects for the elimination of dangerous sections 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 3474 3635 3795 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
42. To expand the network of tracks for cyclists within the system of the public roads of the country 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 950 1000 1044 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
43. To ensure a constant renewal of the horizontal markings on the carriageway of public roads 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 8000 15000 16000 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
44. To ensure maintenance of roads 2002–2004 metai Ministry of Transport, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 187000 195000 205000 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
45. To improve the lighting of public roads 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 700 731 763 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads *** VIII. SUPERVISION OF THE ROADWORTHINESS OF VEHICLES AND THE INCREASED USE OF SAFETY DEVICES
46. To improve and tighten the inspection of the roadworthiness of vehicles in accordance with the requirements of the European Union 2002–2004 State Road Traffic Inspection Authority under the Ministry of Transport – – – –
47. To analyse the experience of the member states of the European Union and to draw up proposals concerning the procedures of accreditation of enterprises engaged in repairs of vehicles and their technical servicing 3rd quarter of 2004 Ministry of the Economy – – – –
48. To encourage the wearing of clothes with retro-reflecting elements (particular for children) 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior – – – –
49. To install engineering or other speed limiting devices in public places (particularly places of children gathering) and also in places of increased danger to the safety of pedestrians or cyclists 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport 26 30 30 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
50. To introduce gradually speed limiting devices in heavy vehicles 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport – – – – IX. IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH AND RESCUE SERVICES
51. To improve the system of the provision of health services, rescue of victims of road accidents and the liquidation of the results of road accidents 2002–2004 Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Interior – – – –
52. To purchase special fire rescue cars, crane trucks with special rescue equipment and sets of special mechanised rescue equipment 2003–2004 Ministry of the Interior – 1000 1100 Department of Fire Protection and Rescue****, Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
53. To improve curricula in training instructors of road vehicle drivers in the administration of first aid 2002–2004 Ministry of Health – – – – X. IMPROVEMENT OF TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF VEHICLE DRIVERS AND SAFE TRAFFIC SPECIALISTS
54. To improve the testing system applied to examining managers of carriage of passengers or goods 2003–2004 Ministry of Transport, State Road Traffic Inspection Authority under the Ministry of Transport – – – –
55. To organise the professional development of specialists in safe traffic 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Transport, State Road Traffic Inspection Authority under the Ministry of Transport 1 3 4 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
56. To organise the professional development of safe traffic instructors and club leaders 2002–2004 Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Transport – – – –
57. To tighten the requirements for business entities engaged in training vehicle drivers 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, State Road Traffic Inspection Authority under the Ministry of Transport – – – –
58. To encourage the establishment of schools for the improvement of driving skills in critical and extreme situations 2003–2004 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior – – – – XI. RESEARCH AND CO-OPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE AREA OF ROAD SAFETY
59. In the annual plans of research to include research subjects in the area of traffic safety 2003–2004 Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Science – – – –
60. To participate in the work of the working group of the Convention of Road Signs and Signals, the Council of Traffic Safety of the Nordic and Baltic Countries and the Conference of European Ministers of Transport 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 4 4 4 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads ***
61. Co-operate with public authorities of other states in the area of road safety 2002–2004 Ministry of Transport, Road Authority of Lithuania under the Ministry of Transport 5 5 5 Programme for the Maintenance and Development of Roads *** * Funds from the general appropriations for the Ministry of the Interior. **Funds from the general appropriations for the Ministry of Education and Science. *** Funds from the Programme on the Maintenance and Development of Roads. ****Funds from the general appropriations for the Department of Fire Protection and Rescue under the Ministry of the Interior. ___________________