On 23 January, a mass road traffic accident involving 19 vehicles occurred on the section of the 'Yekaterinburg–Almaty' highway under reconstruction, heading from Balkhash to Karaganda. The day before, traffic on the road had been restricted due to a severe blizzard.
According to the press service of JSC 'NC 'KazAvtoZhol', the decision to reopen the road was made due to improved weather conditions and an accumulation of vehicles. It was reported that traffic was escorted by police and 'KazAvtoZhol' officers.
"At 12:30, a mass road traffic accident involving 19 cars occurred at the 1630 km mark of the section. Emergency services and ambulance crews are working at the scene," the statement reads.
According to preliminary information, the cause of the accident was failure to observe the speed limit and maintain a safe distance.
To recall, on 3 January, on the 'Astana-Shchuchinsk' highway in the Akmola Region, between the villages of Kogam and Karatal, a mass road traffic accident occurred due to a severe blizzard and black ice, in which 95 vehicles collided. As a result of the crash, 21 people sought medical assistance, of whom 11 injured were hospitalised.
The incident occurred after snow clearance and the resumption of traffic on the highway. The police subsequently decided to escort the convoy of vehicles with a patrol car.
A few days ago, the editorial board of FBRK received video footage, allegedly filmed on the regional road 'Nura – Osakarovka' in the Karaganda Region. The footage shows numerous deficiencies in the maintenance of road signs and barriers: some signs missing, existing ones incorrectly installed, and obsolete signposts present along the highway.
We have sent an official request to the Department of Passenger Transport and Highways of the Karaganda Region asking them to comment on the video.
It should be noted that poor maintenance of road infrastructure creates additional risks of road traffic accidents on highways, especially in adverse weather conditions.