Road Traffic Accidents and Road Deaths in Russia: A Statistical Approach

Kseniia A. Borzykh – Researcher of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (Moscow, Russia). E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Yury Yu. Ponomarev – Head of the Laboratory for Infrastructure and Spatial Research of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration; Senior Researcher of the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, Candidate of Economic Sciences (Moscow, Russia). E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Due to systematic work to improve safety on Russia’s roads, both as part of the implementation of national projects and other strategic and programmatic documents, a significant reduction in the number of fatal road traffic accidents (RTA) has been achieved. The article analyzes the determinants of traffic accidents and fatalities in Russia. The simulation results confirm the importance of bringing Russian roads to a standard state, improving lighting equipment, timely treatment and control of the condition of the pavement, the introduction of preventive measures in case of difficult weather conditions.

Of particular importance for reducing mortality in accidents is also ensuring control over the use of safety equipment and the quality of transport system management within the boundaries of municipalities, as well as the development of intelligent transport systems. Consideration of spatial effects due to geographical features and individual characteristics of regions, as the specifics of driving culture, is also necessary for the formation of policies aimed at reducing the number of accidents and deaths in accidents.

The article was written on the basis of the RANEPA state assignment research programme.

Key words: traffic accidents, morbidity, determinants.

JEL-сodes: R41, C54.