Regional deputies met to discuss the problems and developmental prospects of transport infrastructure in Sverdlovsk Region at the request of Sverdlovsk Region Duma Committee for Industrial, Agricultural, and Environmental Management Policies.

One of the reports was presented by Duma deputy and Committee member Rinat Sadriev, who spoke on the issues related to all kinds of transport, including cars, airplanes, steamers, railway carriages, and the underground.

Firstly, most vehicles (55% to 70%) are obsolete, which is particularly true of buses. About 70% of the region’s buses, trolley-buses, trams, airplanes, helicopters, and electric trains are worn out; as regards water transport, it needs to be replaced immediately.

Secondly, driving schools and maintenance facilities have no conditions for teaching skilled workers. Last year, only 2,046 D-drivers got their licenses, whereas the number of buses comes to 21,000. As for aviation, the crew are often not prepared enough even in terms of flight safety requirements.

Thirdly, bad roads are responsible for 25% of all accidents, with 32,500 people killed in Russia last year and 204 bus drivers responsible for deaths of 7 people and injuries of 300 adults and 25 children in Sverdlovsk Region in 2006. This is why the President said that car accidents were one of the greatest population protection problems.

Mr. Sadriev also proposed possible solutions to the problem, such as improved legal regulation of passenger transfers. The current legislation and financing of the field do not cater for the development of transport in Russia; they can only help it survive, he said.