Police to step up control on driving

TIRANA, Nov. 17 – Police held Friday a seminar on road safety focusing on the great number of accidents in the Albanian roads. President Alfred Moisiu also took part at the meeting appealing to police to set harsher legal rules and punishment. Under his care police held a week, Nov. 13-19, of campaign on road safety. The president said that the great number of victims from road accidents asks for a great public awareness, more commitment and other efforts to prevent them. Police chief Bajram Ibraj said that more than 1,000 persons are injured every year, with 300 of them dead and about 500 remaining handicapped thereafter. Road safety is one of the standards of the level of economic and social development in the modern times, said Ibraj. Police have compiled a 10-year strategy how to prevent traffic accidents. Besides their own efforts police will strengthen cooperation with local authorities, will try to improve road signals, will strictly apply the road code, especially prohibiting drivers using alcohol, try to lower speed use, increase steps in issuing driving licenses, set and check the use of more driving rules, and so on. Ibraj appealed to all institutions and the public opinion to cooperate for a safer road.