The new social initiative focuses attention on injuries that occur at road intersections. It is launched within the federal program Road Safety, part of the national project Safe High-Quality Roads, and is supported by the Main Department of Road Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, along with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. The aim is to enhance how all road users behave at intersections by improving literacy in traffic safety practices.
Participants in the campaign include key representatives such as the traffic controller pictured with others: Igor Korolyov, General Director of the Directorate of the Road Safety Program; Major General Vladimir Kuzin, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the Road Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Yuliya Kostyryachenko, Deputy Director of the Ministry of State Policy in the Protection of Children’s Rights; and Vadim Melnikov, head of the non-profit Movement Without Danger. This group underscores a cross-agency effort to elevate safety culture at intersections.
Statistics and Context
In 2021, 40,199 accidents occurred at intersections on Russian roads, accounting for 30.2 percent of all fatal or injurious traffic collisions during that period. Of these, 2,258 people died and 52,803 were injured. While the year-over-year numbers show a decline in intersection crashes by 8.3 percent, fatalities by 5.3 percent, and injuries by 9.5 percent, the level of risk remains unacceptably high. These figures highlight the critical need for behavioral change among road users.
Urban intersections are the most dangerous, with 35,520 incidents within cities (88.4 percent), a drop of 8.7 percent from the previous year, while outside city limits 4,679 incidents occurred (11.6 percent), down 5.4 percent. Regulated intersections saw 14,808 incidents, down 8.1 percent, resulting in 457 fatalities (down 13.3 percent) and 19,781 injuries (down 9.8 percent). Unregulated intersections accounted for 25,391 crashes, down 8.4 percent, with 1,801 deaths (down 3.0 percent) and 33,022 injuries (down 9.3 percent). Drivers are responsible for the majority of crashes, exceeding ninety percent at both regulated and unregulated sites. This data emphasizes the persistent danger at intersections and the need for consistent safety practices across all road users.
The campaign clearly states that this video is dedicated to promoting the new social initiative and its goals. Motorists are often cited for offenses committed when passing through intersections, including failing to yield to pedestrians, ignoring zebra crossings, disregarding traffic signals, selecting unsafe following distances, and maintaining speeds inappropriate for conditions.
Pedestrians also contribute to risk at intersections. The most common violations include crossing outside designated crosswalks within visibility zones, ignoring regulatory signals, stepping onto the roadway in unspecified or unsafe locations, lingering on the roadway without crossing, and, in some cases, moving on the roadway with devices such as skateboards or roller skates.
The campaign’s primary objective is to shift behavior models and cultivate a sense of responsibility and awareness of risk among all road users at intersections. Achieving this requires strict adherence to right-of-way rules and proper intersection etiquette, thereby reducing the likelihood of crashes and injuries.
To amplify impact, a priority-setting initiative titled Set Your Priorities will roll out across 15 regions in Russia using online and offline formats. The focus areas reflect where intersection crashes have been most prevalent according to the statistics. Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Road Safety, Police Major Vladimir Kuzin, argues that following these priorities signals a higher level of road-user culture, responsibility, courtesy, and organization. He adds that a coordinated effort can lead to a safer traffic environment nationwide, with fewer accidents on Russian roads.
The campaign targets all user groups, including motorists, prospective drivers, pedestrians, parents, and children. Educational activities will span driving schools, gas stations, public transit stops, parks, transportation companies, shopping centers, educational institutions, and children’s health camps. Seminars, trainings, and consultations will be offered at venues with high footfall and where interactions with road users are most frequent. This approach aims to translate awareness into practical, everyday actions that reduce risk on the streets and in the plazas where people gather.
Remarkably, this effort aligns with broader public safety objectives by encouraging a culture of responsibility and safe practices on the road. The campaign emphasizes that safety is a shared duty that starts with each individual and grows through consistent, informed choices at every intersection.
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