Five passenger minibuses were withdrawn from routes on November 20 for the reason that these didn’t have winter tires. Patrol inspectors carried out inspections at bus and minibus terminals and on the national roads, IPN reports.

The National Patrolling  Inspectorate said about 80 units of transport at nine terminals were examined during several hours. Similar activities are performed on the national roads.

The Road Traffic Regulations provide the drivers are obliged to equip the vehicles with winter tires in unfavorable weather conditions, when there is snow, ice and glazed frost on the roadway.

The drivers who will not equip their vehicles appropriately risk fines of 900 to 1,500 lei in the case of private individuals and 4,500 to 6,000 lei in the case of legal entities.

On November 19, when snow fell and there was ice on the roads, three passenger minibuses overturned. No one was hurt in the accident that involved a minibus running on the Beșalma – Chisinau route that had 14 persons aboard. In the other two accidents with minibuses that overturned near Ustia village of Dubăsari district and on the Leova-Hâncești road, 23 persons suffered injuries and needed medical care.