MOSCOW, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A total of 2,329 traffic accidents happened on Russia's roads during the New Year holidays, leaving 348 people dead and 3,515 others injured, the Russian State Traffic Inspectorate reported Monday.
Among the fatalities from Jan. 1 to Jan. 11, 2026, 289 were drivers and passengers of motor vehicles, said a statement posted on the inspectorate's official website.
It noted that drunk driving remained a critical issue during the holiday period, with 162 traffic accidents in Russia involving intoxicated drivers or those who refused to undergo medical sobriety tests, killing 12 people and injuring 226 others.
"In the first 11 days of the new year, 371 traffic accidents in Russia involved children, killing 20 children and injuring 461 children under the age of 16. Of the young fatalities, 19 were passengers of motor vehicles," the statement said.
It noted that the deaths of minor passengers were mainly caused by injuries sustained in head-on collisions after vehicles veered onto oncoming lanes.
The inspectorate added that in several cases, children were being transported without child restraint systems and seatbelts, often being held in adults' arms.
