The road traffic safety situation in the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is very bad. The number of traffic deaths per 100,000 persons was in these countries about three times as high as in the Nordic countries in 1991. Even the accident trend from the middle of 1980's has been very bad. Due to rapid motorisation there are a lot of unexperienced drivers on the roads. The cars used in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been mostly of Soviet origin. Western made new and second hand cars have become more popular during the few lastyears. Drunken driving and a very aggressive way of driving have become a real problem. One reason for this is that the traffic police are understaffed and badly equipped. understaffed and badly equipped. Even the traffic legislation has been unsatisfactory, but is in progress. The road network in the three Baltic republics is relatively dense, but it has not been maintained sufficiently. Traffic safety organisations are under development in these Baltic republics. The teaching of traffic safety at schools is unsatisfactory. So far it has also been too easy to get a driver licence. Technology transfer and co-operation between Western Europe and Baltic countries can help in the progress of all kinds of traffic safety work.
Samenvatting