The number of road accidents in Russia dropped by 7.7% in the first 10 months of 2008 compared with the same period of last year, the head of the Russian Interior Ministry's Road Safety Department Victor Kiryanov said after the Commission meeting. The number of deaths in road accidents dropped by 11% and the total number of road accidents involving minors dropped by 9%, according to Mr Kiryanov.
Deputy Transport Minister Yevgeny Moskvichov said the meeting also discussed measures to prevent accidents on public passenger transport which carries 85% of passenger traffic in Russia. One of the issues discussed was monitoring the work of public transport drivers by municipal authorities. The Ministry of Transport has developed new standards of training for public transport drivers, Mr Moskvichov said. Under these standards all the drivers from abroad will take retraining courses.