Lithuania 1 Inhabitants Vehicles/1 000 inhabitants Road fatalities in 2012 Fatalities /100 000 inhabitants in 2012 2.98 million 751 301 10.1 1. Road safety data collection Definitions Road fatality: person who was killed in a traffic crash or died because of an injury within 30 days after the crash (before 1995, the delay after the crash was 7 days). Serious and slight injury: There is no official definition as yet of slight and serious injuries. The concept of MAIS3+ is under discussion among Lithuanian stakeholders. Data collection The main crash data collector and manager in Lithuania is the traffic police. In addition, hospitals and insurance companies also have data on some crashes. There is no estimation of under-reporting; road safety experts lack information to identify crash causes. Information on road user behaviour is also limited, and information on injury type is not systematically recorded. According to the police, nearly 100% of injury crashes are collected and reported in the police data base. This data is available to road safety experts for research. 2. Most recent safety data Road crashes in 2012 In 2012, 3 173 fatal and injury crashes occurred in Lithuania, whereby 301 people were killed resulting in a 1.7% increase in comparison to 2011. Provisional data for 2013 In 2013 3 417 injury crashes were recorded, in which 258 road users were killed and 4 040 were injured. This correspond to a 14% decrease in fatalities, but a 7% and 9% increase in the number of road crashes and in the number of persons injured. 1. Data from the Transport and Road Research Institute have not yet been validated by IRTAD 1 Lithuania is an Observer country. Data have not yet been validated by IRTAD.
Lithuania 319 3. Trends in traffic and road safety (1990-2013) Traffic Since 1990 till 2013, the number of motor vehicles was multiplied by 2.7, with some variations between vehicle types: the number of passenger cars was multiplied by 3.4, the number of trucks multiplied by 1.7 and the number of motorcycles was divided by 2.6. Change in the number of fatalities and injury crashes (1990-2012) The number of road fatalities peaked in 1991. Since then it has decreased by more 70%, while the number of motor vehicles has gradually increased. Since 1991, road safety can be analysed for the following periods: 1991 1996: In 1991, a significant reduction in the number of fatalities was observed, immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union. This period was marked by dramatic changes in politics as well as economic austerity. Nevertheless there was a positive impact on road safety, mainly through the introduction of safer European vehicles into the market. 1997 2000 brought a relatively slight increase in the number of traffic fatalities, which reached a new peak in 1998. The number of casualties then dropped for two years as a result of an economic crisis in neighbouring Russia. In 2000 2007: the economic situation in Lithuania started to improve and brought a rapid increase in traffic volume, which was accompanied by a yearly increase in road traffic fatalities. 2006 2013: An important break-through was achieved in 2008, with a growing awareness among the citizens of road safety issues and the leading role of the European Union in setting a target to reduce by 50% the number of fatalities, between 2001 and 2010, that many EU countries achieved. In 2010 Lithuania reached the EU road safety target Rates Between 1990 and 2012, the death rate (in terms of deaths per 100 000 population) decreased by more than 60%. In 2012, the death rate was 10.1, much higher than the EU27 average of 5.5. Table 1. Road safety and traffic data 2012 % change from 1990 2000 2010 2011 2012 2011 2000 1990 Reported safety data Fatalities 1 001 641 300 296 301 1.7% -53.0% -69.9% Injury crashes 5 135 5 807 3 625 3 266 3 173-2.8% -45.4% -38.2% Deaths per 100,000 population 26.9 17.3 9.0 9.7 10.1 3.2% -42.2% -62.8% Deaths per 10,000 registered vehicles 15.0 5.1 1.4 1.4 1.3 0.4% -72.4% -90.7% Traffic data Registered vehicles 2 (thousands) 667 1 265 2 119 2 127 2 238 1.3% 70.4% 222.9% Registered vehicles per 1,000 population 636.4 696.8 751.0 2.8% 2. Registered vehicles excluding mopeds.
320 Lithuania Figure 1. Road safety and traffic data Road users Car occupants and pedestrians are the main victims of traffic crashes. Pedestrians in particular represent around one-third of casualties, a high share in comparison with other IRTAD countries. Table 2. Road fatalities by road user group 2012 % change from 2010 2011 2012 2011 2010 Bicyclists 24 26 32 23.1% 33.3% Mopeds 3 3 6 n.a. n.a. Motorcycles 14 13 15 15.4% 7.1% Passenger car occupants 136 134 125-6.7% -8.1% Pedestrians 106 111 105-5.4% -0.9% Others incl. unknown 0 9 18 Total 300 296 301 1.7% 0.3%
Lithuania 321 Age In 2012, the 15-24 age group represented 19% of all road deaths. Table 3. Road fatalities by age group 2012 % change from Age group 2010 2011 2012 2011 2010 0-5 1 3 2 n.a. n.a. 6-9 0 4 2 n.a. n.a. 10-14 4 6 8 n.a. n.a. 15-17 6 6 2 n.a. n.a. 18-20 22 21 28 33.3% 27.3% 21-24 26 27 27 0.0% 3.8% 25-64 173 161 181 12.4% 4.6% >65 63 65 49-24.6% -22.2% Total incl. unknown 300 296 301 1.7% 0.3% Figure 2. Road death rate by age and road user group Fatalities per 100 000 population 65+ 25-64 21-24 18-20 15-17 0-14 All road users Pedestrians Car occupants Motorcycles Mopeds Bicyclists 0 5 10 15 20
322 Lithuania Road Type In 2012, most road crashes occurred in built up areas. However, crashes were more severe on rural roads, where speeds are higher, cyclists and pedestrians infrastructure less developed and lighting present on a small part of the network only. In the past two years, the situation improved on rural roads, but not in urban roads or the motorway network. Figure 3. Road fatalities by road type 4. Economic costs of traffic crashes Traffic crashes represent a very significant cost for society, estimated in 2011 at around EUR 350 million, i.e. 1.1 % of GDP. Costs are estimated using a capital approach method. Table 4. Costs of road crashes, 2012 Costs (EUR) Unit Cost Total Fatalities Injured people (serious and slight injuries) 165 million 185 million Property damage and other costs - Total (EUR) 350 million Total as % of GDP 1,1%
Lithuania 323 5. Recent trends in road user behaviour Impaired driving Drink driving The general maximum blood alcohol content authorised in Lithuania is 0.4 g/l and 0.2 g/l for novice drivers (driving experience of less than 24 months) and professional drivers. Drivers controlled under the influence of alcohol (BAC above 0.4 g/l) have their licence withdrawn for 12-36 months and they must pay a fine (150-900 EUR). The most dangerous violations (and repeat drink-driving offences) can be punished by an administrative arrest for 10-30 days. In 2012, drink driving contributed to 9 % of road crashes. Between 2004 and 2012, the number of alcohol related crashes was divided by 2.5. However, the share of crashes due to drink driving has remained stable about 10 %. Figure 4. Injury crashes due to drinking and driving Drugs and driving Drivers controlled driving under the influence of drugs are subject to a fine (300-900 EUR) and a licence withdrawal between for 12-36 months. They can also be subject to 10-30 days administrative arrest. In 2012, it was estimated that 0.12 % of road crashes involved drivers under the influence of drugs.
324 Lithuania Distraction It is not permitted to drive using a hand-held mobile phone. Hands-free mobile phones may be operated. Fatigue In 2012, according to police reports, it was estimated that driver fatigue was the origin of 0.12 % of crashes. Speed According to police data, inappropriate speed is the main cause of traffic crashes in Lithuania. Speeding by 30 km/h above the limit is considered a serious violation, incurring severe sanctions, including immediate licence withdrawal for novice drivers. In 2012, on average between 13 and 23.5% of all drivers exceed the speed limit by more than 10 km/h on different types of state roads. The table below summarises the main speed limits in Lithuania. Table 5. Passenger car speed limits by road type, 2012 General speed limit Comments Urban roads 50 km/h - Rural roads Motorways 90 km/h (70 km/h on gravel roads) 70 km/h for novice drivers (driving experience of less than 24 months) 130 km/h (110 km/h in winter time) 90 km/h for novice drivers (driving experience of less than 24 months) Seatbelts and helmets Seat-belt wearing is compulsory in all seats. In the statistics, there is no distinction between rear and front seats. According to police data, in 2012 47% of killed car occupants and 31% of killed drivers were not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred. Table 6. Seat-belt wearing rate by car occupants 2013 Front seat - General 70 % Rear seats - Adults 71 % Children 60%
Lithuania 325 All riders of two-wheeled motor vehicles are required to wear a helmet. Cyclists under 18 years old must wear a helmet. 6. National road safety strategies and targets Organisation of road safety The main stakeholder is the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania, supported by the Lithuanian Road Administration. Police and municipalities are the main agencies responsible for road safety. They also work in close co-operation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Ministry of Health. Nominated by the Government, the State Traffic Safety Commission comprises representatives of governmental/state and municipal administration bodies, as well as representatives of NGOs, and makes recommendations on road safety policy. Road safety strategy for 2011-2020 Following the encouraging results in the past decade, Lithuania developed a new National Traffic Safety Development Programme for 2011-2017. Target setting The main goal is to reach a mortality rate of less than 6 killed per 100 000 population, in order to be ranked among the 10 best performing countries in the EU. To achieve this objective, it is planned to: further improve road users education in the field of traffic safety; increase road users and vehicle enforcement; improve the rescue service quality; improve the crash data collection system. Monitoring The figure below illustrates the trends towards the national target to reach a fatality rate of less than 6 fatalities per 100 000 population by the year 2017, and the EU target to halve the number of road fatalities between 2010 and 2020.
326 Lithuania Figure 5. Trends in road fatalities towards national and EU 3 targets Fatalities EU target Fatalities per 100 00 population 1 000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 less than 6 fatalities per 100 000 population EU target less than 150 fatalities 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 0 Evaluation of past road safety strategy Lithuania successfully implemented the target set in the EU White Paper of reducing, by 50%, the number of traffic deaths in the period 2001-2010. The number of fatalities was reduced from 706 to 299 i.e. a 58% reduction. 7. Recent safety measures (2011-2013) Road safety management All of the main road safety procedures of the DIRECTIVE 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management are applied in Lithuania. This includes the implementation of: road safety impact assessment; road safety audits; safety ranking and management of the road network in operation (high risk section and black spot management); and safety inspections. Driver behaviour Speed management Social advertisements to raise awareness among speeding drivers and aggressive drivers. National speed camera programme: 154 automatic speed cameras (141 radar speed cameras and 13 laser speed cameras) on important national roads were implemented. Also Lithuania has 11 mobile speed cameras. The first speed cameras were installed in 2005. 3. In 2010, the European Commission adopted the target of halving road deaths by 2020, compared to 2010 levels.
Lithuania 327 Penalties for speed violations were considerably increased in 2008. A pilot project for average speed cameras has been started. Impaired driving Penalties for impaired driving were considerably increased in 2008. Alcohol rehabilitation programme is under discussion. Seatbelt and helmet use Penalties for seatbelt use violations were considerably increased in 2008. Education and awareness Education of children through school programmes, competitions, TV shows; Public education and information through social advertisements; TV shows; media; Professional education by trainings, seminars, workshops, conferences. Vehicles Vehicle safety is of great concern in Lithuania, especially in regard to the average age of vehicles (17 years). The technical condition of the vehicle fleet is also a major concern, with a high share of post-crash repaired vehicles in the fleet. As an example, there is a high proportion of airbag failure in fatal crashes. Despite this growing concern, no specific measures have been undertaken in recent times to modernise the fleet and increase the safety of vehicles. Infrastructure Greater attention to pedestrian safety: a new design rules for pedestrian crossings was created and approved. Also a new design rules for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure have been approved. High attention to head-on collisions a pilot project for a new type of cross section, 1+1, has been implemented on the most dangerous state roads with transit function. 2+1 cross section projects are coming up. A huge amount of dangerous intersections were reconstructed into roundabouts or other safer intersection types, or at least have a project to be reconstructed. High attention to roadside safety the main problem is related with trees and high slopes. High attention to road network functionality various actions connecting road function, design and usage. An inconsiderate period of land privatisation and a lack of proper road network strategy in the past, made most of roads having no clear function and no available free land for improvement today.
328 Lithuania Useful websites and references Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of http://www.transp.lt Lithuania Road and Transport Research Institute http://www.ktti.lt Lithuanian Road Administration http://www.lra.lt Contact For more information, please contact: m.katkus@ktti.lt