Ani Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 A major traffic accident in Yerevan this week has focused attention on the chronic problem of overloaded public minibuses, traffic congestion and a transportation system that encourages hazardous practice. On Monday afternoon five people were killed and 13 injured, requiring hospitalization. Wednesday, the death toll rose to six, as driver David Manukyan, 45, died from injuries sustained when his minibus rolled over, striking four other passenger vehicles. The minibus, serving Route No. 81 which connects Avan with Erebuni was traveling on Heratsi Street when it flipped and struck cars parked on Koryun Street. Initially, the accident was being blamed on brake failure. After Manukyan's death, however, officials are now saying he simply lost control of the vehicle due to it being overloaded. Built to hold 14 passengers, the RAF minibus (known locally by their Russian name "marshrutka") was carrying 17 riders. Though police have criticized Manukyan's decision to exceed passenger limits, it is well known that having only three extra passengers is less than the norm for buses on many routes. Monday's crash is the fourth minibus crash in recent months on the same street, each resulting in fatalities. Since independence, the number of minibuses operating in the capital has increased from less than 200 to more than 2,000. According to the Municipal Transportation Department, numerous other minibuses operate illegally - meaning they are either not registered and/or the driver does not have a chauffeur's license. The accident that took six lives involved an illegally operated bus. The bus was not registered, and Manukyan's permit did not include authorization to be driving on that specific route. Jivan Fidanyan, director of J. Fidanyan Ltd., which owns operation rights to Route 81, has been arrested for violations in connection with the accident. The accident has caused police to crack down on minibus use. Since Monday's crash, overcrowded buses have been impounded and licenses confiscated. Drivers of public minivans complain that they must fill their vehicles with as many passengers as possible, in order to cover the costs of operation. State taxes, for example, cost about $50 a month. (Minibus fares are 100 drams - about 16 cents - per ride.) "The reason is that we want to live more or less normally," says 37 year old driver Karen Serobyan. "In addition to state taxes we pay the rent for cars, plus, we pay the route owner, route controllers and as a result we earn almost nothing. Plus if our vans have defects then we must repair them at our own expense." Drivers say that enforcement by police since Tuesday is mere formality. Republic of Armenia Police spokesperson Sayat Shirinyan says that the department is constantly patrolling against overcrowded buses. Shirinyan also says that, as vehicle traffic overall (including minibuses) has increased, so have the number of multiple-vehicle accidents like Monday's. Part of the reason, he says, is because of recent reconstruction and some re-routing of streets. "It turns out that streets have been reconstructed to restore normal traffic operations but they turned into something that gave impulse to the increase of accidents," he said, adding that since streets have been repaved, drivers drive faster. In the first nine months of this year 695 traffic accidents occurred, causing 174 deaths and 884 injuries. Hayeren tarberak . Variant Armyanski . Armenian version Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Unregistered - M Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 oh God... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ani Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Cartoon commentary by Agnes Avagyan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Шалапунька Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 ужас какой Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karmir Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Какой ужас. И это не первый случай. И самое печальное, что выводы так и не будут сделаны... Пару дней будут на дорогах ГАИ зверствовать, всех проверять и взятки собирать, а потом все благополучно забудут. До следующей аварии... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ani Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Какой ужас. И это не первый случай. И самое печальное, что выводы так и не будут сделаны... Пару дней будут на дорогах ГАИ зверствовать, всех проверять и взятки собирать, а потом все благополучно забудут. До следующей аварии... ← ha Karen jan,cavalin henc da e.... abidno je.... hesa GAI ner@ poxocnerum... karcum eq rnanq hacheli chen es avarianer@??? pox ashxatelu evs mek arit u mijoc ... de lav eli,,,hima ed mnacac mahacox ,zoheri mexq@ vorn er? eeeeeee fsyo ravno eto ne pervaya !! a vot poslednyaya li ona eto vashe ne nado dumat' ob etom... prochitayte chyo tam shofyor gavarit'..blin! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Шалапунька Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Интересно, хоть кто-то, начнет думать о людях Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Armenian Genocide Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Hayer jan es depq@ exel a 2 tari araj: Chnayac ahavor ban a, bayc de karcum eq texin a sksel arxivneric nman depqer hanel u cavakcakan poster sarqel? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M.Vahe Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 bayc de karcum eq texin a sksel arxivneric nman depqer hanel u cavakcakan poster sarqel? Сильно подколол. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nikkitta Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Vahe что за смайл в такой теме Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avshar Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Я вот все думаю: В Израиле , в отличие от Армении, дороги очень хорошие, полиция взяток не берет. права не покупаются. И все таки, на израильских дорогах погибло больше людей чем в войнах за всю историю Израуля. На прошлой неделе была авария, в которой погибл отец, мать и 5 их детей ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dina Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Я вот все думаю: В Израиле , в отличие от Армении, дороги очень хорошие, полиция взяток не берет. права не покупаются. И все таки, на израильских дорогах погибло больше людей чем в войнах за всю историю Израуля. На прошлой неделе была авария, в которой погибл отец, мать и 5 их детей ! ← da,konechno uzasno. No eto bilo, est i naverno budet vezde. Gde-to vinovati dorogi, gde-to nevnimatelnost, agressivnost, neustupchivost(poslednee ochen xarakterno na ulicax Moskvi).A tak, naverno nado bit ostoroznee, nichego drugogo ne predlozish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M.Vahe Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 (edited) Connie джан, мой смайл не кого отношнеия не имеет к этой ужасной трагедии двухлетней давностьи, просто я согласен с Немезисом, что странно открывать такие темы, нечего более. Edited April 3, 2005 by M.Vahe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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