Penza, 24 January 2013. PenzaNews. The number of accidents due to poor road condition increased by 11% in the Penza region in 2012. This was announced by the deputy head of supervision of the regional traffic police department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Viktor Simutin at the extraordinary inter-department meeting of the committee on road safety on Thursday, January 24.

“In 2011 due to improper condition of road surface we registered 397 accidents, and in 2012 — 442,” he said.

Victor Simutin added that a significant increase in the number of accidents was registered during the period of heavy snowfall and ground surface icing, because road services did not pay proper attention to the road condition.

“Today, because of snow, lying along the roadside, the driveway is extremely narrowed in many districts of Penza. Pedestrian crossings in some areas are blocked,” he commented.

According to the deputy head of supervision of the regional traffic police department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Penza region, in some parts of the city sidewalks and public transport stations are also not cleared.

“Pedestrians are forced to walk on the driveway, which increases the risk of accidents,” he concluded.