Lithuania's Summer of Fatal Crashes: Young Drivers and a Dangerous Problem Emerge

Young drivers' fatal accidents and speeding have highlighted a dangerous problem on Lithuanian roads this summer. While statistics may show a slight decrease in road deaths, police acknowledge that the perception of increased accidents stems from several major incidents occurring in a short period.

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They bunch up like that – it seems like we have accidents almost every day. As you mentioned, statistical data shows that the number of fatalities on the roads is slightly decreasing. However, if we aim for the vision of 'Zero,' that not a single person dies on Lithuanian roads, it is clear that we still have a lot to do.

Vytautas Grašys, head of the Public Order Bureau of the Lithuanian Police, stated that while the number of fatalities has decreased, the "zero vision" goal for road safety remains distant. He emphasized that the "human factor" is responsible for 95-97% of traffic accidents causing death or injury. Younger drivers often lack experience, and drivers in general can become too relaxed and irresponsible during summer.

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In general, 95–97% of traffic accidents where people die or are injured are caused by the human factor – improper human behavior and mistakes. Other reasons can be technical failures or other circumstances, but in the summer, people often feel too relaxed, lack responsibility, and younger drivers sometimes lack experience.

Grašys noted that the overall road safety situation is not improving systemically. The reduction in fatalities is more attributable to safer, modern vehicles equipped with active and passive safety systems than to fundamental changes in road safety practices. He pointed out that in Western European countries, progress in reducing fatalities and serious injuries has also slowed, with the human factor being a primary reason.

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Western European countries also face the problem that progress in reducing the number of fatalities and seriously injured has slowed down. One of the main reasons is the human factor, which, according to various assessments, causes about 94% of traffic accidents.

He advocated for a "safe system" approach, which acknowledges that human error is inevitable. This approach aims to design the entire traffic system to minimize the probability and consequences of mistakes, drawing parallels to aviation incident investigations that identify chains of causes rather than single culprits. Grašys stressed the need to examine all factors, not just speed or intoxication, which are not always the sole or main causes of accidents. He concluded that judging the situation solely by the number of fatalities is insufficient, as the total number of traffic incidents has slightly increased.

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It is not enough to assess the situation solely based on the number of fatalities. For example, the total number of traffic accidents is not decreasing – on the contrary, it has even increased slightly. Therefore, it can be assumed that the lower number of fatalities is due not to systemic changes, but to safer, more modern vehicles with active and passive safety systems.