Most drivers in Latvia exceed the speed limit daily, according to a Norstat poll for insurance company ERGO, BNS reports. The survey showed that 67% of Latvian drivers violate speed limits every day, including 74% of male and 60% of female drivers. Meanwhile, 48% of drivers have never been ticketed for speeding, while 42% have…
Latvia’s State Police registered 781 road traffic accidents involving pedestrians in 2023, which was 60 more than in 2022, Baltic News Network reports. Of the total number of cases, 576 resulted in light injuries, 64 in severe injuries, and 30 in fatalities. Drunk driving and carelessness were the main reasons for the accidents, according to…
The number of traffic insurance cases registered in Estonia totalled 34,300 in 2023, which was almost unchanged from 2022, according to data from the Estonian Motor Insurance Bureau (LKF), ERR reports. The total volume of damages paid amounted to EUR 72mn, which was up 3% over a year. The average damage per case stood at…
A severe storm that hit Lithuania on 6-7 August 2023 toppled over 50,000 trees in forests, the state forest management enterprise, Valstybiniu Misku Uredija (VMU), announced, BNS reports. Valdas Kaubre, director general of VMU, said that the estimated total area of damaged forest amounted to around 2,000 hectares. Most of the trees fell in the…
A large fire broke out at Lithuanian waste management company Ecoservice’s sorting facility near the Gariunai marketplace in Vilnius on 5 August 2023, BNS reports. Mindaugas Sestokas, head of Ecoservice’s production division, said that non-hazardous waste had caught fire in the company’s sorting centre. Also, a fire broke out at state-owned hazardous waste management company…
One person was killed during a severe storm in Lithuania on 7 August 2023, LRT reports. Lithuania’s Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD) announced that a woman was crushed to death by a falling tree in the town of Zagare in Joniskis district. The storm caused widespread damage in northern Lithuania, as hail broke windows and…
One person died and eight were injured during a severe thunderstorm in Latvia on 7 August 2023, LETA reports. Wind speeds reached up to 33 m/s in areas. The Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) had to provide assistance to people who were injured by falling trees and heavy hail. The storm and lightning caused major damage…
Around 400 bicycles have been reported stolen in Estonia so far in 2023, ERR reports. Reported thefts in Harjumaa county number 300, which is 70% more than a year earlier. Kaido Atspol, detective at the East Harjumaa Police Department, said that most cases of bicycle theft took place in central Tallinn. Owners usually buy new…
An investigation of the wreck of the MS Estonia passenger ferry has found no evidence that would contradict the official report on the accident, ERR reports. Märt Ots, director of the Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK), said that the international investigation team would build a digital model of the vessel in 2024. The final report…